Rapid Reaction: Bo time! Nix rallies Auburn to upset over Oregon with game-winning pass
By Chris Wright
Published:
Oregon missed its chance to put away Auburn.
And Bo Nix rallied to deliver a decisive late-round knockout, throwing a game-winning TD with 9 seconds left. Just like that, an era and legend was launched.
In one sense, Auburn’s 27-21 victory Saturday night wasn’t stunning. After all, the Pac-12 hasn’t defeated a ranked SEC team since 2008, but how it unfolded was.
Oregon had the higher ranker and the superior quarterback. The Ducks dominated the opening half but only led 14-6. It should have been more, especially considering that Nix was just 6-for-18 with 2 interceptions to that point.
Credit Auburn’s defense for making life difficult enough for pro prospect Justin Herbert. Credit Auburn’s physical offensive line for eventually wearing out the Ducks. And credit Gus Malzahn for sticking with his struggling freshman, too, when he might have been tempted to give Joey Gatewood a shot.
That’s essentially how the second half played out as Auburn erased a 21-6 deficit in the final 20 minutes.
Nix drew the Tigers within 21-13 with his first career TD pass, an 11-yarder to an uncovered Eli Stove. Nix’s IQ and recognition were key factors on the play. Stove had just ripped off a 36-yard run on a jet sweep. On the TD, Stove lined up on the other side, and no Oregon defender went with him.
Auburn’s defense forced 2 more punts before Nix and Co. pulled even closer early in the 4th quarter — with a little help from Gatewood.
Nix delivered a huge throw on 2nd down to keep the chains moving. Auburn’s running game did the rest. Boobie Whitlow ran for 31 yards, then 8 and finally 7 more to give Auburn a 1st-and-goal at Oregon’s 2. Whitlow was injured on the play, however.
Gatewood made his first appearance and dived over the top for a TD to make it 21-19 with 9:48 left. Nix re-entered for the 2-point conversion, but a false start forced the Tigers to kick the extra point.
No harm, not with Auburn’s defense taking over the game.
The came play came on 4th-and-1 at Auburn’s 41. Herbert had been knocked out on the previous play. Auburn stuffed a run for a loss of downs.
Auburn took over at its 43 with more than 5 minutes left. Oregon held to force a punt, but Auburn’s defense forced its 4th punt of the half, giving Auburn one final chance.
The Tigers took over at their 40, needing only a couple of first downs to get in Carlson’s range.
On 4th-and-3, Nix rolled right, took on 3 defenders and dived for the first down.
A Nix completion moved the ball to Oregon’s 41. Auburn called its final timeout with 31 seconds left.
Then he delivered the dagger — a 26-yard strike to Williams for the game-winning TD with 9 seconds left.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
