Winners and losers of Auburn’s win over Samford
There were plenty of highs, as well as a few lows in Auburn’s 45-13 win over Samford on Saturday night.
Auburn fans and alumni were treated to an easy home win in an effort that saw Auburn outgain Samford, 562-218 in the yards department.
The game did not start off as grand for Auburn as the final score would indicate, however. The game was scoreless through one quarter, and one of the Tigers’ top offensive players had another disappointing game.
There was plenty of upside as well, as quarterback Payton Thorne showcased another skillset.
Here is a look at the highs and lows of Auburn’s win over Samford.
Winner: Pass rush
There were almost zero concerns with Samford heading into the game, but the Tigers needed to watch out for Bulldog quarterback Michael Hiers. Hiers had thrown for 626 yards and six scores prior to Saturday’s game, but Auburn found ways to contain him. Hiers exits Jordan-Hare Stadium with just 141 yards passing, a touchdown, and two interceptions.
Loser: Another slow start
Sure, Auburn earned a 32-point win over an in-state foe, but the game featured a 0-0 tie at the end of the first quarter. Auburn has found ways to finish strong in its first three games, but it has taken them a while to get there. As SEC play begins, Auburn will need to work on setting the tone early.
Winner: Payton Thorne's legs
We knew that Payton Thorne could run if he needed to, but we had no idea what he was capable of. He rushed for 123 yards and two scores in Saturday’s win, and he looked solid doing it. He took a giant step forward as a quarterback on Saturday.
Loser: Payton Thorne's passing decisions
It is rare to see someone who passes for 282 yards go down as a “loser”, but there are still several concerns with Thorne’s passing decisions. Both of Thorne’s interceptions took place in the end zone, and he connected with his leading receiver, Jay Fair, on just 70% of intended throws. If Thorne’s passing IQ matches his rushing output, he will lead Auburn to several important wins this season.
Winner: Auburn's receivers
Saturday’s game was the busiest day passing for Payton Thorne this season, and Auburn’s receivers were rewarded. Ten receivers hauled in at least one pass in the win, with Jay Fair leading the way with seven receptions for 93 yards. Rivaldo Fairweather, the hero of last week’s win over California, raked in five passes for 57 yards. Both Thorne and Robby Ashford completed 75% of their attempted passes, which is indicitave of how available each receiver was in the game.
Loser: Robby Ashford
Ashford is listed as a loser for multiple reasons. He did not make an appearance in the game until the second half, and it makes us wonder how many points were left on the field because he was not there in his traditional “red zone” package. Thorne was picked off twice in the end zone, Auburn also failed to convert a fourth down attempt and were forced to kick a field goal from the red zone in the first half.
The second instance is Payton Thorne’s performance. Thorne passed for 282 yards and rushed for 123 yards. How does that bode for the quarterback rotation going forward?
Winner: Jaylin Simpson
Jaylin Simpson is having a great start to his season. He picked off Samford quarterback Michael Hiers in the 2nd quarter of Auburn’s win for his third of the season. He now has six in his career.
Loser: Jarquez Hunter
Through two games, Hunter has yet to find rhythm. He was expected to be the Tigers’ premier back this season, but had another ho-hum performance in the backfield by rushing for just 37 yards on 11 carries on Saturday.
