The Auburn Tigers started year two of the Hugh Freeze era on the right foot with a 73-3 victory over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs.
Payton Thorne only played the first half of the game with things well in hand by the break where the Tigers already held a 52-3 lead. It was Payton Thorne who had a huge first half to lead the Auburn offense, throwing 322 yards and four touchdowns.
Star running back Jarquez Hunter, who only carried the ball four times on the night, got things started with a 34-yard scamper into the end zone less than a minute into the game:
First carry of the season.
34 yard touchdown.That's @JArquez27 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rvSuLWQFaP
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) August 31, 2024
Penn State transfer wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith had a huge first half with two touchdowns on three receptions and 80 yards including the second score of the game which went for 67 yards:
Welcome to Auburn, @drelambertt 👀 pic.twitter.com/9NlLQSyLFp
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) August 31, 2024
Auburn’s third score was of note as well, with highly-touted freshman star Cam Coleman catching his first career touchdown on a 44-yard bomb:
First collegiate score for @CamColeman12 📈 pic.twitter.com/pG7lBLinPM
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) August 31, 2024
Coleman was far from the only freshman wide receiver to make an impact, however, with both Perry Thompson and Malcolm Simmons catching their first touchdowns as well:
Do your dance, @fhsperryt1 🕺 https://t.co/FTjzDKl31U pic.twitter.com/U5lrJY2j84
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) September 1, 2024
Turn on the burners, @MalcolmSimmons0‼️@Hankb_15 hits Malcolm for the 57 yard TD! https://t.co/Lfs25EsHuX pic.twitter.com/pXsA0dKmO1
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) September 1, 2024
Backup quarterback Hank Brown threw two touchdowns in the second half himself, one going to Simmons and the other to Sam Jackson to put the Tigers over the 70-point threshold.
It was a phenomenal night on The Plains as the Tigers get to 1-0 and will welcome California into town next week at 2:30 P.M. CST.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
