'I keep my eyes on the ball at all times' - Touchdown dream comes true for Montravius Adams

'I keep my eyes on the ball at all times' - Touchdown dream comes true for Montravius Adams'I keep my eyes on the ball at all times' - Touchdown dream comes true for Montravius Adams

Oct. 9, 2016

By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Montravius Adams was perhaps the least surprised person in Davis Wade Stadium to see himself in the end zone Saturday.

He had dreamed about it Friday night.

"I always said, ever since La Tech, if I ever got it again, I wasn't going to let anybody stop me from making the touchdown," Adams said. "Once I got it, I knew I was going to get that touchdown."

Two years ago, against Louisiana Tech, Adams intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards before getting tackled at the 5.

This time, Adams needed to run only 13 yards.

One play after Kamryn Pettway's third touchdown gave Auburn a 28-0 lead late in the first half, Carl Lawson sacked Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, causing a fumble. Adams recovered and returned it for a touchdown to give Auburn a 35-0 halftime lead.

"I'm just grateful," Adams said. "I just want to say, 'Thank you' to Carl. If it weren't for Carl getting the good rush and a strip, I would have never been able to get it."

It was Adams' second fumble recovery of the first half. In the first quarter, freshman Marlon Davidson blindsided Fitzgerald, with Adams recovering at Auburn's 40.

Right place, right time?

"That's what all of the players have been saying," Adams said. "I keep my eyes on the ball at all times.

Montravius Adams says he keeps his eyes on the ball at all times." style="width:100%; height:auto;" class="imported_image" legacy-link="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_a_storywide/12156467.jpeg"> Montravius Adams says he keeps his eyes on the ball at all times.

"I really don't think either one of them, the first one or the second one, nobody really saw the ball," he said. "The first one, I was the only one who really saw it so I went and got it, then their lineman tried to get it. The second one, I don't think anybody saw the ball. I'm just happy being in the right place at the right time."

Davidson was happy to see his fellow defensive lineman put points on the board.

"It was amazing, because it took all of the energy out of me," Davidson said. "Running around, celebrating with Montravius and Carl, the amazing play that they made. Then you have to turn around and go right back on defense. I was tired, but you can't even think about that in the game. It's all about the effort that you give."

Marlon Davidson and Rudy Ford celebrate with Montravius Adams after defensive touchdown." style="width:100%; height:auto;" class="imported_image" legacy-link="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/aub/sports/m-footbl/auto_a_storywide/12156488.jpeg"> Marlon Davidson and Rudy Ford celebrate with Montravius Adams after defensive touchdown.

Before the season, Auburn's defensive line was viewed as a position of strength. Halfway through the 2016 campaign, that forecast has proven to be accurate.

"Everybody can stay fresh throughout the whole season," Adams said. "With us having all of this depth, there's no excuse for whoever's in not to play to the best of their ability."

After a week off, Auburn returns to Jordan-Hare Stadium to host Arkansas on Oct. 22.

"We feel really good," Adams said. "The offense did pretty well today. Every week, just make sure everybody improves, from special teams to defense to offense. I feel like we did that. Now, we're going into the bye, we're going to correct some things and move on to the following week."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer