Auburn Football: Rally In Cali

BERKELEY, Calif. — Before Auburn traveled 2,200 miles to the San Fransisco Bay to play the Cal Golden Bears, the Tigers previous two games against the Pac-12 came at neutral sites against the crème de la crème of the conference: Oregon and Washington, respectfully, both Auburn wins, disrespectfully. In fact, Auburn had an impressive 7-2 record versus the Pac-12 going in to the Cal game.

Through the first 3 quarters it appeared that Auburn would fall to 7-3 against the conference before the Tigers went from fair to middling with a change in weather, figuratively speaking, when junior FIU transfer tight end Rivaldo Fairweather, all 6-foot-4, 250-pounds of ‘em made a couple tremendous catches to help lead Auburn to a 14-10 comeback win over Cal in a Pac-12 After Dark game that saw the two teams combine for 7 turnovers, and Cal possess the ball 10 minutes longer than Auburn, running 78 plays to Auburn’s paltry 55 plays. Yet, it was the Tigers who stood alone at the top as victors when the final horn sounded.

A win is a win is a win. And you certainly celebrate the dubs, but in doing so, douse the offensive game film with gasoline, set it afire and throw it into the bottomless pit where there’s weeping and gnashing of teeth. Yes, it was that bad. It was a win so ugly it’d make a train take a dirt road.

For most of the game, Payton Thorne looked like a deer-in-headlights true freshman quarterback who was rushed into the spotlight too soon instead of the uber-experienced captain who threw for 6,500 yards and 49 touchdowns in two years as a Power 5 starting quarterback.

Thorne calmed down late when Auburn needed him most. With the game on the line, on 3rd and 17 he found Fairweather deep for a 28 yard completion. A few plays later Thorne connected with Fairweather again on a fade in the left corner of the end zone from five yards out scoring the go-ahead touchdown leading to a hard fought road win where Auburn’s character and toughness were challenged. Make no mistake, the out-of-conference road dub was a big one for the Tigers in their 2023 quest to ‘Flip The Script’. Auburn showed amazing resiliency in the face of adversity when it appeared that nothing could go their way.

The Tigers had every reason to lose to Cal based upon the offensive offense, but Auburn had every reason to win the game because of the tenacity of Ron Roberts’ defense.

Auburn junior linebacker Eugene Asante looked like the best football player on the field late Saturday and became a star over night. He was making plays all over the field resembling a heat seeking missile and an All-American linebacker. If Asante plays like he did against Cal for the rest of 2023, he will put together a spectacular season and become the heartbeat of the entire team. We cannot say enough good things about Eugene Asante in the way he approaches the game and certainly the passion with which he plays it. They call him “Mr. Let’s Work” for a reason.

Asante transferred to Auburn from North Carolina prior to the ‘22 season when the potato farmer was in charge, who thought it was a good idea to regulate Asante to scout team. In fairness, Asante requested being put on the scout team considering he wasn’t receiving any actual playing time. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see Asante’s immense talent and the speed at which he plays the game, but it certainly must take more than a potato farmer to realize it.

The Alexandria, Virginia native registered 12 total tackles, 10 by which were solo, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and for his efforts Asante was named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

Auburn’s defense made critical stop after critical stop, time and time again after the Tigers’ offense turned the ball over four times serving up scoring opportunities on a silver platter for Cal’s offense, but Auburn’s defense stood strong throughout the game and especially when it mattered most.

And when the going got tough, Auburn got going before the game deciding drive when Auburn running back Damari Alston challenged his offensive mates: “Dig deep, drop your nuts and just get it.” Auburn dropped its nuts alright, right on Oski’s chin.