Auburn routs ULM

November 16, 2024 – AUBURN, AL – the Auburn University football team performed up to expectations in their rout of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The Tigers blew out ULM 14 to 48 at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday.

Senior Running back Jarquez Hunter was too much for ULM's defenders to handle. Hunter, one of the best running backs in the nation, rushed for 102 yards on just 14 carries. Hunter passed a thousand yards on the season. Hunter has 3,185 yards in his Auburn career with two games left. Auburn has a long history of excellence at the running back position and Hunter is the number six rusher all time on the Plains.

While Auburn has had a disappointing season winning just 4 wins, while picking up six losses. Freshman wide receiver Cam Coleman has lived up to every expectation in his first year on the plains. Coleman put an exclamation point on that Saturday with his first 100 yard receiving game on eight receptions - three of them for touchdowns.

The six foot three freshman receiver went up in the air to pull down a catch with one hand for a 22-yard touchdown, wowing fans with his athleticism, concentration, and determination.

Auburn played nearly perfect football going the entire game without a single penalty

Auburn Senior Quarterback Payton Thorne had a stellar five touchdown day. Thorne completed 22 passes on 32 attempts for 286 yards. Thorne could have eclipsed 300 yards on the day, except he was substituted for freshman Walker White late in the game with the game well in hand. White did have the ball taken away from by a ULM defender for Auburn's lone turnover on the day.

Thorne opened the scoring early in the first quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Coleman. Auburn tacked on a field goal to take an early 10 to 0 lead. Thorne threw a 3-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the second quarter to go up 17 to nothing. That 16-play drive went 99 yards. With time running out in the half Thorne completed a 30-yard pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for Auburn to lead by 24 points at halftime. Lambert-Smith also had over 100 yards receiving on the day.

ULM scored first in the third quarter; but that was followed by two more Auburn touchdown drives. The Tigers led 38 to 7 at the start of the fourth quarter. Auburn scored 10 more points in the fourth quarter. ULM completed a 65-yard touchdown pass with just second in the game and Auburn playing substitutes on defense.

Ian Vachon kicked for Auburn on Saturday. The coaching staff made the change because of what they saw in practice. Vachon was the kicker for Birmingham Southern last year. Unfortunately, the small liberal arts college in Birmingham closed in May leaving Vachen without a team and working as a roofer until Auburn called.

Vachon made both his field goals in his Auburn debut and all six of his extra point attempts.

For Coach Hugh Freeze, who is 10 and 13 in his tenure at Auburn, the win gives a respite from the negativity around the program from both the fans and the media.

Auburn is 3 and 1 in nonconference games; but is just 1 and 5 in SEC games. Auburn plays Texas A&M next at 7:30 p.m. in Auburn. They close the season in Tuscaloosa against the University of Alabama. If Auburn wins both of those games, they will be bowl eligible but that is a tall order given that Texas A&M is 8 and 2 and the number 15 team in the country and that Alabama is 8 and 2 and the number seven team in the country.

To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com