The Auburn Tigers had a chance to claim its first SEC win of the season on Saturday, but hope faded in the game’s final minute.
After taking a 3-3 tie into halftime, Auburn scored two quick touchdowns in the 3rd quarter to take a convincing 17-3 lead over the home-standing Tigers. However, a four-yard touchdown rush from Missouri running back Jamal Roberts with 0:46 remaining in the game erased their 14-point deficit to claim the 21-17 win over Auburn on Saturday at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.
Momentum began to swing in Auburn’s favor at the 13:55 mark in the 3rd quarter when Auburn quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] exited the game after taking a tough hit. He returned one play later and delivered a 47-yard pass to [autotag]Cam Coleman[/autotag] to give Auburn the 10-3 lead with 12:34 to go in the quarter.
Both teams traded a possession each before Auburn earned its next score. The Missouri defense forced Auburn to punt following a three-and-out. Missouri returner Luther Burden III fielded the punt at the 15-yard line, but ultimately fumbled with Auburn’s [autotag]Antonio Kite[/autotag] recovering in the end zone to extend its lead to 17-3 with 11:08 remaining in the quarter.
Missouri added a field goal to cut the Auburn lead to 17-6 to end the 3rd quarter, but became a threat in the early stages of the 4th quarter. Missouri running back Marcus Carroll found the end zone from two yards away with 14:57 remaining in the game, with a successful two-point try putting Missouri within three points, 17-14. Missouri punted on its ensuing two possessions before Roberts closed a 17-play, 95-yard drive with the go-ahead score.
The first half was virtually uneventful as both teams traded field goals to take a 3-3 tie into the locker room at halftime. Missouri’s Blake Craig put Missouri on the board with a 51-yard field goal at the 8:24 mark in the 1st quarter, with Auburn’s [autotag]Towns McGough[/autotag] answering at the 11:12 mark in the 2nd quarter.
Four of Auburn’s five offensive drives in the first half lasted fewer than seven plays and totaled 59 yards. Auburn’s lone scoring drive covered 64 yards on 11 plays and resulted in three points. After allowing Missouri to score on its initial drive that covered 41 yards in 12 plays, Auburn’s defense did not allow Missouri to piece together a drive lasting longer than six plays, with its longest drive covering 33 yards.
Missouri held the edge in the rushing department, out-gaining Auburn, 353-286. The home-standing Tigers also committed four fewer penalties than Auburn and held the ball for five fewer minutes than Auburn.
Auburn’s hunt for its first SEC win continues next Saturday on the road at Kentucky. Kickoff from Kroger Field in Lexington is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. CT on Oct. 26 on SEC Network.
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