GDW Analysis:
AUBURN: Given a chance to make a great impression in his first start at quarterback, freshman Deuce Knight thrilled the Auburn crowd Saturday at Pat Dye Field/Jordan Hare Stadium against Mercer University.
Knight went on a scoring spree with four rushing touchdowns and threw for a pair of scores as Auburn ended a two game slide by outscoring Mercer 62 to 17.
A 21 point 2nd quarter was huge for the Tigers as they erased an early 14 to 7 deficit.
Knight erupted for 162 yards on nine carries and four touchdowns, A 75 yard romp to the end zone was the first in a superb afternoon by the freshman.
After Auburn got an interception late in the 2nd, Knight threw a 10 yard TD to Cam Coleman and the Tigers went to the locker room ahead 35 to 17.
Two touchdowns were added on the Tigers' side of the scoreboard in the 3rd quarter to put this game well out of reach.
“Deuce went out there and had fun,” Auburn interim coach DJ Durkin said. “He was smiling all morning in the hotel and out there warming up. You might wonder about that. Is he really ready? He was ready. He was playing like he was in the backyard.”
The effort from Knight equaled the performance of Cam Newton who scored 4 TDs in a game for the Tigers during the 2010 season.
Knight was 15 of 20 for 239 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
In what has been a roller coaster season for Auburn is showing signs of life against a Mercer team that came to the plains with a 9 game winning streak and had the Tiger faithful on edge throughout the first half.
Now the Tigers prepare to battle Alabama Saturday evening on the plains.
Game time is 6:30 p.m. with the contest to be carried live on WKUL FM (92.1).
Auburn is 5 & 6 with Alabama 9 & 2 and 6 & 1 in the Southeastern Conference. Alabama is very much in contention to play in the conference championship game and is currently 10th in the college football playoff standings.
The Tigers have gone 3 & 3 this season at home.
Photo of Auburn QB Deuce Knight scoring a TD in Tigers' 62 to 17 victory over Mercer Saturday afternoon at Pat Dye Field/Jordan Hare Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Auburn University.
