After a sluggish win over Tulane, Auburn found their run game and defeated Kent State 55-16 during the Homecoming game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The first half featured a heavy dose of the run and it led to Auburn rushing touchdowns from running backs JaTarvious "Boobie" Whitlow and Kam Martin.
“I thought our offensive line played their best game of the season,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said.
Quarterback Bo Nix also contributed to the ground game with some impressive runs leading to Auburn points.
“We found our identity running the ball, and it led to me finding the outside throws,” Auburn quarterback Bo Nix said.
Kent State was able to score a touchdown to make it an interesting game at 14-10, but that was as close as they’d get to catching the Tigers.
The second half was a continuation of the Tigers run game, and Whitlow ran for his second touchdown of the game.
Malzahn also became creative with the play call, as he dialed up a flea flicker that set up Nix throwing a dime to Eli Stove for an Auburn touchdown in the third quarter. Nix finished the game completing 12 of 16 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Auburn quarterback Joey Gatewood got some late game action, as he was able to run for 102 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Whitlow finished the game with 135 yards on 17 carries, and Shaun Shivers also contributed over 100 yards on the ground.
Auburn defensive lineman Marlon Davidson had a stellar game with 2.5 sacks, and the team as a whole had 5 sacks in the game.
“It felt good to go out there and have the quarterback in your arms,” Davidson said in reference to his sacks.
Next up for Auburn (3-0) is their SEC opener at Texas A&M. Kickoff is at 2:30 P.M. CT on CBS.
