Sean White fires Auburn past Kentucky

Sean White fires Auburn past KentuckySean White fires Auburn past Kentucky

Oct. 15, 2015

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

Auburn's Ricardo Louis goes high for one of his seven catches

Game 61st2nd3rd4thF
Auburn Tigers1490730
Kentucky Wildcats7310727

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Quick StatsAUUK
Total Plays7577
1st Downs2125
3rd down efficiency11-185-13
4th down efficiency0-01-2
Total Yards405497
Passing Yards255359
Comp-Att17-2827-44
Yards per pass9.18.2
Rushing Yards152138
Rushing attempts4733
Yards per rush3.24.2
Penalties-Yards5-495-37
Turnovers01
Fumbles lost00
Interceptions thrown01
Time of Possession29:2830:25

Stat Leaders
PassingC-AttYdsTDInt
AU - White17-2725500
UK - Towles27-4435900
RushingCarYdsTDLong
AU - Barber2692212
UK - Williams16113260
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
AU - Louis7154041
UK - Johnson9160039

2015 Schedule
09/05W(6) Auburn 31, Louisville 24
09/12W(6) Auburn 27, JSU 20 (OT)
09/19L(18) Auburn 21, (14) LSU 45
09/26LAuburn 9, Miss. State 17
10/03WAuburn 35, San Jose State 21
10/15WAuburn 30, Kentucky 27
10/24-Auburn @ Arkansas
10/31-Auburn vs. Ole Miss
11/07-Auburn @ Texas A&M
11/14-Auburn vs. Georgia
11/21-Auburn vs. Idaho
11/28-Auburn vs. Alabama

By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sean White teamed up with Ricardo Louis for big plays, and Auburn rode a fast start and a good finish to beat Kentucky 30-27 Thursday night in Commonwealth Stadium.

White, confirmed as the starting quarterback only an hour before kickoff, hooked up with Louis early to help Auburn to a 23-10 halftime lead.

Louis had five catches for 114 yards in the first quarter, and seven in the game, and Daniel Carlson hit three field goals in the first half. Peyton Barber scored on two touchdown runs, including a big one on a 3-yard run with 7:56 remaining.

Auburn held Kentucky on fourth down with 25 seconds remaining.

Auburn improved to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky fell to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the league.

White completed 17 of 27 passes for a career-best 255 yards in his third college game.

"We had some explosive plays, really for the first time all year. We actually got into a rhythm," said coach Gus Malzahn. "We were very good on third downs in the first half."

Auburn converted eight of 11 third-down conversions in the first half, and finished making 11 of 18.

That fast start may have been the difference. White promptly led Auburn to two quick touchdowns. Peyton Barber scored first, on a 1-yard run; and then Kerryon Johnson came in to take a direct snap, sprinted right and scored on a 6-yard run for a 30-20 lead. Kentucky cut it to three with just over four minutes remaining.

Kentucky running back Boom Williams ran for 60 yards on one play, then scored on a 1-yard run and scored again later.

Carlton Davis' interception in the end zone - his second INT in the last two games - turned away Kentucky early in the second quarter, and the Tigers' offense took it down field setting up a Carlson 34-yard field goal for a 17-7 lead with 8:59 left in the half.

Austin MacGinnis kicked a 28-yard field goal for Kentucky to make it 17-10, but Carlson hit a 29-yard field goal to give Auburn a 20-10 lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter. Carlson hit a 52-yard field goal on the last play of the half.

His three 50-plus-yard field goals this year ties Auburn's single season record for field goals of 50 or more yards.

Auburn led 23-20 at the half, but Williams' 6-yard touchdown run cut Auburn's lead to 23-17 with 11:49 left in the third quarter.

McGinnis wasn't finished, either. He kicked a 31-yard field goal with 1:03 left in the third quarter to cut the Auburn lead to 23-20.

Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @AUGoldMine