Pettway carrying the entire load for Tigers
AUBURN | For two-straight games it’s been a one-man show at running back for No. 15 Auburn.
Junior Kamryn Pettway has received every carry at tailback including 34 in a 24-10 win over Mercer Saturday.
“We feel that Kam Pettway is one of the best in our league, and the way the game unfolds sometimes, it was a close game, so I feel that the offensive coaches wanted Pettway in the game. I think that the score dictated a lot of that,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said.
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Kam Martin ran for 136 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in Auburn’s opening 41-7 win over Georgia Southern, but hasn’t had a carry since. Same for Malik Miller, who rushed for 15 yards on three carries against the Eagles.
Pettway, who was suspended for the GSU game, finished with 128 yards and three touchdowns against Mercer. He had 22 carries for 74 yards a week earlier in a 14-6 loss at Clemson.
“Whatever I have to do to help my team that’s what it is but, you know, I’d like to share the love,” Pettway said. “I think if those guys do get in it would be good. I have lots of confidence in those guys.”
Two of his touchdowns against GSU came from the Wildcat formation, which Pettway ran for the first time in practices last week.
“I like it,” Pettway said. “It’s an extra blocker and we don’t have to worry about a handoff.”
Pettway has been bothered by plantar fasciitis in his right heel.
“I feel 100 percent now,” Pettway said.
Auburn finished the Mercer game with 146 rushing yards on 43 carries, an average of 3.4 yards per rush. That’s not close to good enough for Malzahn.
“We have to run the ball better. We’ve got to solve that one,” Malzahn said.
