Johnson, Martin Close Home Schedule in Style
Quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6) (Photo: Auburn Athletics/Dakota Sumpter)
Auburn entered Saturday’s home finale with Alabama A&M a very injured-filled team. With Sean White, Kamryn Pettway, Marcus Davis, and a host of others not available for play, Coach Gus Malzahn needed to rely on depth in key positions. Many players stepped up and helped their team pick up their eighth win of the season, 55-0. Jeremy Johnson got the start at quarterback, and his first drive of the season got off to a great start in the first quarter. He completed his first pass to Darius Slayton for 18 yards, which set up a seven-yard run by Johnson that went for a touchdown with 11:24 remaining in the first quarter. Carlson’s extra point gave Auburn a 7-0 lead to cap off an 8-play 65 yard drive. Auburn’s second touchdown was set up by the defense. Lineman Montravius Adams, who has a defensive touchdown this season, reeled in an interception after Alabama A&M quarterback De’Angelo Balla’s pass was deflected. The drive would end with Johnson tossing a touchdown pass to freshman Kyle Davis with 9:11 to go in the first. Auburn would end the quarter on top of Alabama A&M, 14-0. Other highlights of the drive include John Franklin III getting his first snap of the game, Rudy Ford getting his first carry of the season, and Auburn blocking an Alabama A&M field goal attempt. Sophomore running back, and Madison County native, Kerryon Johnson had a solid second quarter. He scored Auburn’s third touchdown with 3:51 to go until halftime to put the Tigers up, 21-0. Johnson would end the first half with 108 yards on 18 carries. Daniel Carlson nailed a 41-yard field goal attempt to make the halftime score 24-0 in favor of Auburn. At the end of the first half, Auburn had outgained Alabama A&M 292 yards to 86. Jeremy Johnson had a solid all-around half, passing for 141 yards, and rushing for 39 more. Jeremy Johnson would continue his marvelous performance in the third quarter, as he would score his second rushing touchdown of the game with 9:50 remaining in the third quarter to extend Auburn’s lead to 31-0. Newcomer Kam Martin would join the fun as well in the third, as his 18-yard touchdown rush with 8:50 to go in the quarter would give Auburn a 38-0 lead. The score was set up by cornerback Stephen Roberts when he picked off Balla. Quarterback John Franklin put Martin in the position to score, when he had a rush of 45 yards, and Martin scored on the next play. Speaking of Franklin, he showcased his speed in Auburn’s next drive. Franklin rushed 39-yards for an Auburn touchdown untouched from the near side of the field to give Auburn the 45-0 lead. By the end of the third quarter, Franklin had 81 yards on 4 carries. Carlson capped the scoring in the third quarter when he connected on a 19-yard field goal. Auburn led Alabama A&M 48-0 heading into the final quarter, and Kam Martin continued his dominance on the ground. Martin, who had 118 yards rushing at the end of the third quarter, scored the game’s final touchdown with 9:52 remaining in the fourth quarter for his second and final score of the night, and Auburn went on to pick up their 8th win of the season, 55-0. Jeremy Johnson ended with 147 yards passing, and a touchdown in his final game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Freshman Kam Martin was the team's leading rusher with 176 yards and two touchdowns. All-in-all, 8 players carried the football at least once in the win. Auburn heads into next week’s game at Alabama with an 8-3 record, 5-2 in the SEC. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 P.M. inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.