The Sports Xchange
By Forrest Lee, The Sports Xchange
EditorsNote: will be re-led after fourth quarter Auburn 21, Florida State 13 (after three quarters)
PASADENA, Calif. — After holding Florida State to a season-low 10 points in the first half, Auburn’s defense continued to set the tone in the third quarter of the BCS National Championship Game on Monday at the Rose Bowl.
Auburn allowed a 41-yard field goal by Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo in the third quarter, but Tigers still held a 21-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
After a three-and-out on Florida State’s first drive after halftime, quarterback Jameis Winston drove the Seminoles 67 yards in 11 plays to the Tigers’ 24 before the drive stalled. Florida State settled for Aguayo’s field goal with 6:06 remaining in the third quarter. It was the only score of the quarter.
The Tigers’ offense couldn’t muster much in the third, managing just two first down and 45 yards. Florida State produced 96 yards and five first downs in the quarter.
Auburn running back Tre Mason rushed for 101 yards on 21 carries through three quarters. Quarterback Nick Marshall was 10 of 20 for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Winston was 11 of 24 for 120 yards heading into the fourth.
With the Tigers looking to give the Southeastern Conference its eighth consecutive national title, Marshall threw for two first-half touchdowns and ran for another.
Auburn jumped ahead 21-3 before Winston, the Heisman Trophy winner, led the Seminoles on a 66-yard touchdown drive that ended less than two minutes before halftime.
Florida State got a 35-yard field goal by Aguayo on its first drive, but Auburn dominated the rest of the half.
After pinning the Seminoles at their own 2 and forcing a punt, the Tigers got possession at the Florida State 25 after Chris Davis returned Cason Beatty’s kick 22 yards.
Six plays later, Mason caught a short pass from Marshall and strolled 12 yards into the end zone for a 7-3 Auburn lead with 3:07 left in the quarter.
The Tigers struck again as Marshall found wide receiver Melvin Ray for a 50-yard touchdown pass and a 14-3 lead at 13:48 of the second quarter.
A fumble by Winston, forced by defensive tackle Angelo Blackson and recovered by linebacker Anthony Swain at the Seminoles’ 27, led to Auburn’s next score. Marshall outran the Seminoles to the corner of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown run for a 21-3 advantage with 5:01 remaining in the second.
Florida State, buoyed by running back Karlos Williams gaining 7 yards to convert a fake punt on fourth-and-4, marched 11 plays for a touchdown. Running back Devonta Freeman scored on a 3-yard run to cut the deficit to 21-10 with 1:28 remaining in the half.
The Tigers harassed Winston into completing just six of 15 passes for 62 yards in the first half. Forty-three of the yards came on the first drive.
Marshall went 7-for-13 for 113 yards before halftime. Mason rushed for 96 first-half yards on 18 carries. Overall, Auburn finished the half with 232 yards in offense compared to 156 for Florida State.
NOTES: The two teams previously met 18 times. Auburn claimed the last meeting, a 20-17 decision in 1990 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. However, the Seminoles won three of the past four matchups, a 13-7 win in the 1989 Sugar Bowl being their last victory in the series. … The game marked the 54th clash between No. 1 and No. 2 teams, with No. 1 teams owning a 29-21-3 advantage entering the game. In BCS matchups featuring the top two teams, No. 2 teams held an 8-7 edge. … The winning team led at halftime in 14 of the 15 previous BCS National Championship Games. The lone exception was 2009, when Florida and Oklahoma were tied at intermission.
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