If you were inclined to believe San Jose State could travel cross-country and push No. 5 Auburn in Jordan-Hare Stadium, there was a moment where it seemed possible. Key phrase: a moment.
Auburn opened the scoring with a four-yard touchdown toss from Nick Marshall to Ricardo Louis, and the Spartans responded immediately with a 75-yard Blake Jurich touchdown strike to Tyler Ervin. There was your moment.
The Tigers rolled 60 yards in eight plays to take a 14-7 lead, and haven’t looked back from there. Cameron Artis-Payne has led the way, posting a fantasy-friendly line of 16 rushes for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Marshall has added 77 passing yards, 71 rushing yards and one touchdown, and Corey Grant has rushed six times for 57 yards. Sophomore quarterback Jeremy Johnson has yet to see the field, but with Auburn nursing a 38-10 lead and, given his play last week, that should change in the second half.
Outside of that 75-yarder, Jurich has completed 10-of-17 passes for 69 yards and two interceptions.
San Jose State gets the ball to open the second half.