Sept. 6, 2014
Sept. 6, 2014
Auburn, Ala.----- #5-ranked Auburn University scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions in the first and second quarters en route to a 59-13 win over San José State.
The Tigers (2-0) used a methodical ground game to build its lead. Auburn finished with 358 yards rushing. Cameron Artis-Payne, who rushed for 112 yards on 16 carries, scored on runs of 2, 5 and 1-yard in the Tigers' scoring flurry.
San Jose State (1-1) had early life when cornerback Jimmy Pruitt stripped the ball from Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall near the Spartans' goal line with the ball landing beyond the end line for a touchback. Marshall would atone for the fumbled opportunity with a 27-yard scoring run in the third quarter to extend Auburn's lead to 45-13. The nifty Auburn signal caller ran for 103 yards on 11 carries.
The Spartans tied the game at 7-7 when quarterback Blake Jurich found Tyler Ervin open along the San José State sideline. Ervin eluded one possible Auburn tackler and raced the rest of way for a 75-yard touchdown play.
The offense moved the ball into Auburn territory twice more before halftime, but only came away with an Austin Lopez 27-yard field goal.
Though the Spartans had a decisive upper-hand in time of possession, 34:49 to 25:11, Auburn took advantage of its opportunities with the ball including scoring a touchdown and a field goal on a pair of interceptions by Johnathan Ford and Jermaine Whitehead. The Tigers outgained San José State,
Blake Jurich played into the fourth quarter and completed 16-of-27 with two interceptions for 218 yards and the first-quarter touchdown pass to Ervin. Jurich was sacked four times, compared to none in the North Dakota win on August 28. Joe Gray finished up completing 3-of-5 with an interception for 36 yards.
San Jose State has a bye week the week of September 13 before taking on Minnesota on September 20.