AUBURN, Ala. — Arkansas State might have had its chance early Saturday night. Twice, in fact.
But any semblance of momentum for ASU at Jordan-Hare Stadium was erased by two game-turning plays that got the 86,825 fans in attendance roaring in an eventual 51-14 Auburn victory.
First, came what looked like a busted play for the Tigers. ASU had just recovered a fumble, but stalled to give it back to Auburn. Then Auburn quarterback Sean White flipped a pitch to Kerryn Johnson while falling down. Johnson broke a tackle, reversed field and then tiptoed the ASU sideline before falling into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown.
Then, after ASU tied the game with a 68-yard strike from Chad Voytik to Christian Booker and Voytik’s 1-yard touchdown plunge, Kyle Davis made a leaping, one-handed catch on the ASU 5 with two defenders on him.
Two plays later, Johnson went in for a 14-7 touchdown, and after an ASU punt, White connected with Darius Slayton for a 24-yard touchdown pass to kickstart the rout by Coach Gus Malzahn, who beat a team consisting of players he recruited to ASU for the second time in four seasons.
For good measure, Auburn added a 20-yard touchdown run from kicker Daniel Carlson, who took a pitch flipped from over the shoulder of holder Tyler Stovall to make it 28-7. Then, Little Rock native Will Hastings caught a 29-yard touchdown pass and Carlson kicked an 18-yard field goal as ASU
ASU, a week after a home loss to Toledo, gave up 706 yards to Auburn, the most against a Blake Anderson-coached ASU team. The Tigers rushed for 462 yards and got 244 yards passing from White, who was reaffirmed as their starter this week by Malzahn.
Warren Wand, a sophomore who made his first start, was held to 37 yards on 16 carries. Wand was left to do most of the work by himself on Saturday. Johnston White didn’t dress because of a hamstring injury and Armond Weh-Weh left with a one injury and watched most of the game on crutches.
Without a running game, the passing game had trouble taking hold. Voytik completed 15 of 21 passes for 215 yards and scored two touchdowns rushing.
Sean White, who last week alternated with two others, played through the third quarter and completed 17 of 23 passes for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Johnson gained 124 yards and scored 2 touchdowns, while Kamryn Pettway rushed for 152 yards, much of it coming on a 64-yard rumble just before halftime to the ASU 2. That set up Carlson’s 18-yard field goal right before halftime that made it 38-7.
ASU added one touchdown in the second half when Voytik connected with tight end Blake Mack for a 34-yard gain and then scored on a 5-yard run to make it 41-14.
Read Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.