It is halftime in Starkville and despite the challenge of playing on the road in November, the Auburn Tigers have silenced all the maroon and white in Davis Wade Stadium as they lead 27-7.
The Tigers have forced four turnovers in the first half and are clicking on all cylinders after another slow start to the game, getting four fumble recoveries.
Auburn has 201 total yards in the first half of play, 89 of which have come on the ground. Keshaun Singleton meanwhile leads in the receiving game with 54 yards and a touchdown.
It is a performance that Alex Golesh is likely happy about, but with still 30 minutes left to play, the Tigers will look to finish things out and secure a bowl game.
Here are the three big traits of the first half in Starkville.
Defense with four turnovers
Auburn has forced five fumbles on the day against Mississippi State, four of which it has recovered. Cody Sigler, Jared Smith, Darrion Smith, Nate Johnson and Shadarius Toodle have played big roles in those plays, and the Tigers have capitalized in the end. Auburn has earned 24 points off of those four turnovers, getting some positive result on each ensuing possession. It has been a nightmare night for the Bulldogs offense as a result, putting it farther and farther behind the eight ball.
Red zone execution
While the red zone drives for the Tigers have come as a result of the turnovers, executing in the red zone is still important in order to win a game. In all four red zone trips for Auburn, it has executed and made the most of its opportunities. It is a large reason why the Tigers have a 20-point lead, as Auburn has driven the ball with ease to pay dirt.
Executing on first down
One of the biggest things Alex Golesh has preached is his offense not staying behind the sticks. The Tigers have had 19 first-down plays and gained an average of 5.6 yards on them. That has put Auburn in manageable situations in the downs to follow, which is a reason why it has gained 13 first downs in the first half. That has been a big momentum push for the offense and yet another reason for the success after the slow start.
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
