Auburn flips game vs. Texas A&M with timely fourth-quarter interception
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Sometimes all it takes is one play.
Auburn’s defense kept the Tigers in Saturday’s game against No. 9 Texas A&M. Despite being on the road and getting next to nothing from the offense, Auburn went to the fourth quarter down just 10 points. With Texas A&M knocking on the door of the red zone, a high pass from quarterback Marcel Reed and a heads-up play from linebacker Xavier Atkins completely flipped the complexion of the game.
Reed was looking for Terry Bussey on a short screen to the outside. Reed’s throw was too high and Bussey couldn’t bring it in. After bouncing off Bussey’s fingers, Atkins snatched the loose ball out of the air and returned it 73 yards.
If you can believe it, Atkins’ interception return gained more yards (73) than the Auburn offense had in the entire second half (71) to that point.
The defense set the offense up at the 2-yard-line.
Auburn scored its first touchdown of the game on the ensuing play.
The interception was just the second of the season for Auburn. It was also the first of Atkins’s career.
The 6-foot sophomore from Houston began his collegiate career at LSU before transferring to The Plains this offseason.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
