New Mexico Lobos at Auburn Tigers
· NCAA - FootballNew QB Hank Brown throws for 4 TDs, leads Auburn to 45-19 win over New Mexico
Brown, a redshirt freshman who originally committed to play for Tigers coach Hugh Freeze at Liberty, claimed the starting job after Payton Thorne was intercepted four times in a loss to California. It remains his job to lose.
Brown threw for three second-half touchdowns, and Freeze said he “had a solid, solid first game” as starter.
“I made the decision,” Freeze said, adding that he made the call Monday and told the team on Thursday. “I’ve stood with Payton and still believe that he’s a good football player.
“You never know if his number gets called again and he’s handled the disappointment very well.”
Auburn (2-1) still struggled to put away the Lobos (0-3) until the second half. New Mexico came in as 24-1/2-point underdogs, according to , but trailed just 17-13 at the half.
Brown came into the game having completed 3 of 5 passes for 96 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions. He was 17-of-25 passing with no major mistakes and will remain the starter heading into Southeastern Conference play, Freeze said.
“It's definitely surreal,” Brown said. “It's encouraging. I think I've got a lot to build on from this week and from this game. I'm excited. I love when the competition level is raised, and I think that's when I'm at my best when we're playing the best.”
Hunter had a touchdown rushing and receiving.
New Mexico's Devon Dampier passed for 291 yards with a touchdown on fourth-and-4 to Caleb Medford early in the fourth. He was intercepted twice. Ryan Davis had six catches for 100 yards.
New Mexico's upset bid pretty much ended when Dampier was picked off by Antonio Kite on a fourth-and-5 pass from the Auburn 25 in the third quarter.
“We were aggressive. We worked hard to get touchdowns rather than field goals but our numbers weren't great,” Lobos coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "But we certainly were aggressive, and that was the intent.”
Brown's success, including the Tigers' 503 total yards, was put in perspective with the Lobos coming in ranked last among 133 FBS teams in total defense. They were allowing 597 yards per game.
Auburn: Freeze said Brown earned another starting shot against Arkansas, avoiding big mistakes and throwing a perfect strike on a 50-yarder to KeAndre Lambert-Smith down the right sideline. The Tigers' play still doesn't inspire much confidence heading into Southeastern Conference games.
Auburn opens SEC play at home against Arkansas on Saturday.
How To Watch
How can I watch New Mexico Lobos vs. Auburn Tigers?
- TV Channel: Lobos at Tigers 2021 College Football, week 3, is broadcasted on ESPN2.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Matchup Prediction
Scoring Summary
FG | 1st Period 11:12 | Luke Drzewiecki 33 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 1st Period 7:45 | Camden Brown 10 Yd pass from Hank Brown (Towns McGough Kick) | |
TD | 1st Period 4:14 | Naquari Rogers 3 Yd Run (Luke Drzewiecki Kick) | |
TD | 1st Period 1:12 | Jarquez Hunter 2 Yd Run (Towns McGough Kick) | |
FG | 2nd Period 13:34 | Towns McGough 24 Yd Field Goal | |
FG | 2nd Period 10:01 | Luke Drzewiecki 21 Yd Field Goal | |
TD | 3rd Period 9:58 | Micah Riley 3 Yd pass from Hank Brown (Towns McGough Kick) | |
TD | 3rd Period 4:55 | Jarquez Hunter 14 Yd pass from Hank Brown (Towns McGough Kick) | |
TD | 4th Period 13:50 | Caleb Medford 4 Yd pass from Devon Dampier (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) | |
TD | 4th Period 12:08 | Rivaldo Fairweather 26 Yd pass from Hank Brown (Towns McGough Kick) | |
TD | 4th Period 5:51 | Damari Alston 22 Yd Run (Towns McGough Kick) |
Statistics
UNM | AUB | |
---|---|---|
22 | 1st Downs | 27 |
4-13 | 3rd down efficiency | 4-9 |
1-3 | 4th down efficiency | 1-1 |
448 | Total Yards | 503 |
291 | Passing | 235 |
22/44 | Comp/Att | 17/26 |
6.6 | Yards per pass | 9.0 |
157 | Rushing | 268 |
26 | Rushing Attempts | 40 |
6.0 | Yards per rush | 6.7 |
16-112 | Penalties | 8-88 |
2 | Turnovers | 2 |
0 | Fumbles lost | 2 |
2 | Interceptions thrown | 0 |
32:31 | Possession | 27:29 |
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