Auburn defeats Alabama A&M 73 to 3

Auburn opened its football season with historically Black college Alabama A&M. The game was not expected to be competitive and it wasn't. Auburn jumped out to an early lead and never looked back strolling to a 73 to 3 win.

This is Coach Hugh Freeze's second year on the Plains and Tigers fans are hoping that this season will be an improvement on the 6 and 7 finish of last year.

Auburn jumped out to a 28 point lead in the first quarter and another 24 points in the second quarter to go to halftime with a 52 to 3 lead. If there was a mercy rule in college football they would not have played the second half. There isn't so they did and Auburn added another 21 points in the second half.

Alabama A&M dominated time of possession 36:47 to 13:43 but that was largely because A&M's defensive backs could not keep up with the speed of Auburn's receivers so the Tigers scored early and often.

Auburn threw for 451 yards and rushed for 177 more; while holding A&M to just 204 yards of total offense.

Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne threw for 13 completions on 22 attempts for 322 yards and four touchdowns – all in the first half. Thorne also rushed the ball four times for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter rushed the ball four times for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Malcolm Simmons was the Tigers' leading receiver with three catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. Perry Thompson contributed two catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. KeAndre Lambert-Smith has two catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Cam Coleman added two catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. Ten Tigers had catches on the day.

29 Tigers defenders recorded tackles in the game. The leading tackler was Nose Tackle Jalen McCleod with five sole tackles including a quarterback sack.

Quarterbacks Hank Brown and Holden Geriner both got in time in relief of Thorne.

The Tigers has an upgrade in opponent this week when California (formerly of the now defunct PAC 10) comes to town Saturday at 2:30 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Cal (1 and 0) defeated U.C. Davis 31 to 13.

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