Auburn wore down Conference-USA foe Western Kentucky and came away with a 41-17 victory on Senior Day at Jordan-Hare Stadium. It was the 2nd victory in 3 games for Auburn interim head coach Cadillac Williams.

The Tigers, 5-6 overall and 2-5 in SEC play, now look forward to the Iron Bowl next Saturday in Tuscaloosa, on a 2-game win streak and a chance to become bowl eligible with a victory.

Auburn pulled away late, scoring 2 TDs in the 4th quarter, to break open what had been a relatively close game.

Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter both went over 100 yards rushing, which had to make Williams — part of Auburn’s famed running back duo with Ronnie Brown — smile. They also combined for 3 rushing TDs.

Auburn grabbed a 20-17 lead midway through the 3rd quarter on a 28-yard field goal by Alex McPherson. The score was set up by a 29-yard pass from Robby Ashford to Ja’Varrius Johnson.

The Tigers began to wear down their visitors, going 78 yards on 7 plays, all on the ground, to extend the advantage to 27-17. They went old school, lining up Ashford under center in the I-formation with a toss sweep to Bigsby, who found the alley and dashed 35 yards for the touchdown. They stayed on the ground and Hunter ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run and the lead grew to 34-17 midway through the 4th quarter.

Though Auburn controlled most of the first half, the teams played to a 17-17 draw at halftime.

Following a missed field goal on the Hilltoppers’ initial drive of the game, Auburn put together a 13-play drive, going 68 yards to take a 7-0 lead. Bigsby slammed in from a yard out to put the Tigers on the scoreboard.

McPherson boomed a 51-yard field goal on Auburn’s next possession to increase the lead to 10-0. That was a lead they took into the 2nd quarter after holding the ball for 11:03 of the initial period with a balanced attack of 11 runs (37 yards) and 10 passes (6-10, 61 yards).

The Tigers answered a Hilltoppers field goal with a 7-play, 66-yard touchdown drive and a 17-3 lead. Auburn scored on a trick play with Hunter taking a pitch and then throwing 20 yards to Koy Moore for the touchdown.

Auburn ran for 253 yards.