Auburn Defense Fights TAMU, But Moot Without Competent Offense

Auburn linebacker Eugene Asante's impressive play on defense was not enough to save the team from a loss against Texas A&M.

In a surprising turn of events, Auburn's victory over Cal in Berkeley on September 9th brought attention to Eugene Asante. Auburn fans witnessed Asante's exceptional performance and athleticism, but they also witnessed the struggles of the Tigers' offense. This led some fans to jokingly suggest that Asante should play on offense as well.

Ironically, this suggestion became somewhat of a reality during Auburn's game against Texas A&M. Auburn freshman Kayin Lee managed to dislodge the football from Texas A&M's Rueben Owens, and it fell right into the hands of Eugene Asante. Asante then returned the fumble for a 67-yard touchdown, the only touchdown Auburn scored in the game. This brought the Tigers within 10 points of the Aggies with just over 12 minutes remaining.

During the play, Asante even sprinted past Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher, who found himself inadvertently in the middle of the action. Fisher humorously admitted that he was lucky he didn't get run over. The video of Fisher's poor tackling form quickly went viral on social media, sparking numerous "12th man" puns.

While the comedic aspect of the play shouldn't be overlooked, Asante's performance in the fourth quarter showcased the resilience of the Auburn defense. This resilience was also evident in their win against Cal, where the defense carried the team to a 14-10 victory. It's worth noting that Cal lost to No. 8 Washington 59-32 later that night.

Unfortunately, the Auburn offense struggled against Texas A&M, cycling through three quarterbacks who collectively threw for less than 60 yards. The offense consistently found themselves in third-and-long situations, despite coach Hugh Freeze's warnings leading up to the game. Penalties further hindered their progress, with the average distance to go on third down exceeding 17 yards in the third quarter alone. The offense failed to convert a single third down and only had 10 offensive snaps in the entire quarter.

This lack of offensive production meant that the Auburn defense had little time to rest. They had to continually return to the field, which eventually took its toll. The defense had initially performed well, allowing just 121 yards of offense in the first half. However, as the third quarter progressed, the defense began to break under the strain. They fought valiantly, but the lack of support from the offense ultimately drained their energy.

Meanwhile, Auburn's starting quarterback, Payton Thorne, stood on the sideline dejected and pouting after being benched. In contrast, players like Eugene Asante showcased their unwavering determination to win games for Auburn. Asante's effort and commitment were evident each time he stepped on the field.

After Asante's touchdown brought Auburn within 10 points, one might wonder if he had even the slightest belief that the offense could follow suit and score another touchdown. This had been the case in the game against Cal, where Thorne connected with Rivaldo Fairweather for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. However, against SEC competition, the offense failed to rise to the occasion.

As a result, the sarcastic questions about Asante playing on offense are likely to continue. Unless significant changes occur within the offense, Auburn will heavily rely on turnovers and the hustle of players like Asante to stay competitive.