The Auburn Tigers (3-2 SEC: 1-1) took on the LSU Tigers (4-1 SEC: 2-0) on the first of October in the 57th rendition of the Tiger Bowl. Auburn would lose the matchup, their first of SEC play, 21-17.
There is magic in Jordan-Hare, ask any Auburn fan what’s the hardest part of being an Auburn fan and they’ll properly tell you the constant memories of near heart attacks the way the Tigers give and taketh away.
The week before this game for instance Missouri’s kicker Harrison Mevis misses a chip-shot that all but forces the game into overtime in which Auburn would go on to win. Harrison the following week is five for five with a long of 56.
The point I am trying to make is crazy plays always seem to happen to Auburn, the key for past Auburn teams have been to weather the storm and “Control what you can control” as Auburn head Coach Bryan Harsin so eloquently put it in his post-game press conference.
Some of the plays that can be highlighted is one of the first ones as Robby Ashford threw a beautiful 53-yard touchdown to Ja’varrius Johnson with 12:57 remaining in the first quarter as Auburn was leading 7-0.
Auburn would continue to build on the ups of the first half, with a 99-yard drive that ended with a Robby Ashford 18-yard touchdown to freshman Camden Brown Auburn extended their lead to 14 with 14:04 remaining in the first half.
Robby Ashford would have a career night with 337 passing yards on 19 of 38 attempts. The passing yards were the most set so far by a QB this season.
“What Robby Ashford was able to do out there helped us out a lot,” Coach Harsin said.
An Anders Carlson field goal with 9:38 left in the first half would be it for the Tigers in terms of scoring. Auburn would start the downward spiral with a fumble that was recovered and scored by Jay Ward which began shifting the tides in LSU’s favor making the score 17-7 with 6:33 to play in the first half.
Auburn would attempt to save some time for themselves by calling timeouts at the 1:48 and 1:43 mark in the second quarter, which would have worked perfectly if Derick Hall did not pick up a facemask penalty allowing LSU to pick up the first with added time on the clock.
LSU would go on to finish the drive with a QB keeper by Jayden Daniels that made it 17-14 with 15 seconds left in the first half.
“We were trying to save time,” coach Harsin said “and a penalty that extends the drive that’s going to be an impact on your team.”
LSU would score on their third drive of the third quarter with a John Emery Jr 20-yard touchdown run, which would be the final score of the game as LSU held their 21-17 lead for the rest of the game.
Auburn would have a chance to score with 12:03 left to go in the game when on the LSU 10 when a trick play went bad when Koy Moore threw a interception to LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr.
“I don’t know exactly what happened it was on the other side of the field obviously it was turnover and that was not good,” Coach Harsin said “but we’ll look at that play.”
There was just no magic left for Jordan-Hare to give in this game, and it’ll go down as a loss for Auburn, and many will talk about what needs to happen for this team and program need to do better.
Whether it be the idea that many on twitter hold of getting a new head coach, which Coach Harsin addressed in his press conference.
“That’s my job, everyday I’m prepared and have this football team prepared,” Coach Harsin said, “That’ll be not different.”
No matter what happens I want to point out who I accredit with the magic inside Jordan-Hare, The Auburn University Marching Band, in case you did not know the band makes sure they are the band playing in Jordan-Hare, in the Penn State game that was challenged, and the band stayed extra hours to make sure they did not let them take over.
The same thing happened after this game, Auburn would just not leave and by there honorable pride and decisions I just hope Auburn fans all learned a thing or two from the Marching band, to stand with this team through thick and thin no matter what the scoreboard says, no matter who has on a headset, and no matter who is behind center.
Because at the end of the day there will always be magic in Jordan-Hare even if the scoreboard doesn’t look like it.
Auburn will have to wait to be back in Jordan-Hare as they have the deep souths oldest rivalry against Georgia in Georgia this Saturday October 8 2022, and then a battle in Oxford Mississippi against the Rebels of Ole Miss on Saturday October 15 2022.
