Saturday night’s game between Auburn and No. 14 Texas A&M ended in typical “night game in Jordan-Hare Stadium” fashion.
Auburn led by 21 points early in the game before Texas A&M stormed back to take a 31-28 lead over the Tigers in the late stages of the 4th quarter. Auburn kicker later [autotag]Ian Vachon[/autotag] nailed a 29-yard field goal with 0:05 remaining in the game to force overtime with a 31-31 tie.
Chaos continued into the overtime as each team traded touchdowns and field goals in the first two periods before missing out on a chance to win in the third period.
Auburn finally emerged victorious when quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] connected with wide receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] [autotag]in the 4th overtime period to push Auburn ahead, 43-41[/autotag]. Texas A&M failed to convert on their opportunity, thus solidifying the win.
Following the game, the duo behind one of the most memorable plays in Auburn history broke down the steps leading up to the play. Lambert-Smith says that the play has been practiced several times before and felt confident that the call would work.
“We have run that play since I’ve been here, since the summer. We hit it every day in practice against the defense. I was lowkey pitching for them to call it,” Lambert-Smith said postgame. “We tried it on one of the previous overtimes, I think it was the one where Payton scrambled and threw it out of bounds, and then we came back to it, and I’m like, ‘P, just throw it, it’s just like practice, just throw it and I’m ready to catch.’ He threw it, and I had to win, and I won. We won.”
Thorne broke down the play postgame by saying that his throw was less than perfect, but had confidence that Lambert-Smith could make the play.
“First off, it was a heck of a catch (by Lambert-Smith). The ball was a little behind him, and I had to throw it a little earlier than usual,” Thorne said. “We dressed up the boundary side more than we usually do on that play, and I was a tad late getting back but not too late. I put it up there and Dre had a few contested catches tonight, so obviously a great play by him.”
The game ended with Auburn fans rushing the field to celebrate with the team as their postseason hopes remain alive. Lambert-Smith, who is in his first, and last, season as an Auburn Tiger, says that the night was one he will never forget.
“I don’t know, it felt different. I put on my story, ‘last one in Jordan-Hare, let’s make it memorable,” and that is definitely something I will never forget,” Lambert-Smith said. “I was in the crowd, I was surfing, it felt like a movie. I felt like it was a great way to send the seniors out, the guys who have been here four or five years. I’m happy that I could be the one to do it, I don’t take it lightly.”
Thorne ended the game with 301 passing yards and two touchdowns while Lambert-Smith reeled in two passes for 104 yards. The duo, as well as the rest of the Auburn Tigers, will look to pull off another upset next Saturday on the road in Tuscaloosa against No. 15 Alabama. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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