AUBURN, Ala.– Just 24 hours before Saturday’s kickoff, Mississippi State head football coach Jackie Sherrill turned in his resignation, effective at the end of the season.
If Sherrill thought that his team would respond positively to his announcement, he was proven wrong.
The No. 19 Auburn Tigers were more physical, focused and prepared. The result: a 45-13 bashing of the Bulldogs in front of a capacity crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“They dominated us right of the bat on both sides,” said a disappointed Sherrill. “We just got whipped.”
Coming into the game, the Bulldog defense was ranked 113th in the nation giving up 475 yards. It’s safe to say that they will remain at the nation’s caboose.
Auburn put up 553 total yards on the MSU defense, which also allowed two 100-yard rushers.
Auburn tailback Carnell “Cadillac” Williams rambled for 161 yards and an Auburn-record six touchdowns, while averaging over 10 yards a carry. Third string running back Brandon Jacobs racked up 182 rushing yards on 31 carries. Williams and Jacobs combined for more than half of the Auburn offense. Sherrill credited most of the AU rushing success to the offensive line.
“They had their hats on the right people,” Sherrill said. “It seems like they had watched us practice as well as they accounted for everybody every time.”
Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell only attempted 18 passes, but completed 12 of those for 148 yards. Campbell did not get sacked and didn’t throw an interception.
“Jason was pretty sharp,” Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said. “Overall he was good enough to score that many points.”
Missed tackles were a key factor in Saturday’s game. The Tigers eluded at least one Bulldog on almost every play.
Williams took a toss sweep 72 yards, dodged two Bulldog defenders, ran over a third and scored his first touchdown 72 yards later.
“He’s probably the best back in the SEC,” linebacker T.J. Mawhinney said. “Maybe even in the top two or three in the country.”
Auburn’s next score took all of 32 seconds. The Tiger’s went 47 yards on three plays capped by a three-yard run by the Cadillac.
“Carnell got us into a rhythm,” Tuberville said. “There was good execution offensively, especially by the offensive line. It was fun to watch us be able to move the ball on the ground at will.”
On the ensuing drive Mississippi State running back Nick Turner galloped 15 yards and followed with a 77 yard scamper to pay dirt with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. Sherrill said the touchdown run was mostly Turner.
“We didn’t block very well,” Sherrill said. “That was probably on his own.”
Turner finished with 123 yards on only 13 carries for a 9.5-yard average.
The problem was that State had nothing else. Running backs Jerious Norwood (injured with back spasms) and Fred Reid had a disturbing four yards rushing combined.
Auburn scored 31 unanswered points after Turner’s touchdown. The Dawgs would not score again until a late fourth quarter touchdown reception by Justin Jenkins from backup quarterback Kyle York.
Before the second quarter began Auburn had 229 yards to MSU’s 89 (77 on Turner’s TD run).
The Dawgs gained 53 total yards, picked up one first down, and allowed 21 points to the Tigers in the second quarter.
MSU quarterback Kevin Fant was sacked twice and hurried out of the pocket on practically every play. Fant finished eight of 22 for only 73 yards.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge coming in,” Fant said. “Auburn’s been playing really good lately and they came ready to play. They just dominated the game.”
York led the Bulldogs on a five-play, 73-yard drive against Auburn’s second-team defense.
Sherrill said that York was put in because Fant was banged up. He added that Fant will start next week when the Dawgs travel to Kentucky.
“We had a hard time protecting,” Sherrill said. “Kevin got beat up. If Kyle had been in there early he probably would have gotten beat up.”
York discussed how Sherrill has been taking the losses.
“Losing is difficult on Coach Sherrill. He’s a winner. He’s been a winner all of his life,” York said.