After torrential rain and lightning delayed the start of the game for more than an hour, the Tigers were victimized by West Virginia big plays and their running game was slowed to a crawl. Before the first quarter was over, they were hanging on for dear life. They trailed 14-0, then 14-3, then 21-10.
Through it all, they believed they would find a way. And they did. They left the story blazing in the scoreboard lights. Auburn 41, West Virginia 30
And the Tigers went to 3-0 in Gene Chizik's first season as head coach. A team widely written off proclaimed again it is still around.
"I am really, really proud of our football team," Chizik said. "We had to overcome probably more adversity than we did the first two weeks. It is a sign of a football team that is believing and coming together."
The defense forced six turnovers, intercepting four Jarrett Brown passes and forcing him to fumble on a withering hit by defensive tackle Mike Blanc.
And senior quarterback Chris Todd made the Mountaineers pay for loading up on the run, passing for 284 yards and throwing four touchdown passes.
Sophomore receiver Darvin Adams, rapidly becoming a star, caught three of those touchdown passes. The other one was a deftly executed screen pass. Todd avoided a heavy rush and tossed it to H-back Mario Fannin, who split two defenders and raced 82 yards for the touchdown that tied the game.
Not even rain and lightning could chase the students from their seats. And soon after the game started, the place was packed with a sellout crowd of 87,451.
"I wish I had 87,000 game balls, because our fans were a huge reason we won this game," Chizik said. "I want them to know that. Everybody came early and nobody left because of the weather. I promise you that is one of the huge reasons we won the game."
By halftime, the Tigers had gotten to within 21-20. They took the lead, gave it back, took it and gave it back again. But Todd threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Adams after defensive tackle Jake Ricks intercepted a pass at the 19.
And finally, with 3:41 left in the game, linebacker Craig Stevens tipped a Brown screen pass, snatched it out of the air and ran 15 yards for the touchdown that put the game away.
And the crowd howled with glee.
When it was over, Auburn players hugged, they jumped, they celebrated with the fans. They were 3-0 and the bitter memories of last season’s 5-7 record faded further into history.
It didn’t matter that West Virginia had 509 yards offense. It didn’t matter that they gave up a 71-yard run to Noel Devine and a 58-yard pass. Not on this night.
They were tested and they answered.
Here’s how the scoring went:
FIRST QUARTER
12:52: WVU Noel Devine 1-yard run, Tyler kick.
10:19: WVU Devine 71-yard run, Tyler kick.
7:24: AU Wes Byrum 46-yard field goal.
5:16: AU Darvin Adams 17-yard pass from Chris Todd, Byrum kick.
2:01: WVU Jock Sanders 6-yard pass from Jarett Brown, Tyler kick.
SECOND QUARTER
9:15 AU Byrum 42-yard field goal.
1:34: Adams 4-yard pass from Todd, Byrum kick.
THIRD QUARTER
8:51 WVU Devine, 12-yard run, kick failed
8:02: AU Fannin 82-yard pass from Todd, Byrum kick.
1:07: WVU Tyler 28-yard field goal.
FOURTH QUARTER
12:07: AU Adams 17-yard pass from Todd, Byrum kick.
3:41: AU Craig Stevens 15-yard interception return, Byrum kick.
