Bulldogs Continue Winning Ways with Defeat of Unbeaten Lincoln Christian
In week one of football, the Auburn Bulldogs found themselves up 14-0 over the now #2 rated Bluejays of Ashland-Greenwood with less than five seconds before halftime. Unfortunately for Auburn, the Bulldogs watched the lead slip away in the second half resulting in a 21-20 loss in their season opener. Fast forward five weeks to the next serious test for the Bulldogs in an undefeated Lincoln Christian team. The Bulldogs went to the locker room at halftime trailing the Crusaders, and would have to not only win the second half, but make up the Lincoln Christian lead.
Friday night’s game at Auburn High School started slowly and negatively for the Bulldogs. After forcing a turnover on downs on the opening drive, the Crusaders used most of the first quarter clock marching downfield to the red zone. After the Bulldogs, with their backs against their own endzone, forced a stop on 3rd and 14, Lincoln Christian converted on a 14-yard field goal with just over 3:00 left in the opening quarter.
When the Bulldogs took control of the ball again, it only took two plays for one of Auburn’s playmakers to make an impact. That playmaker was senior receiver Connor Clark. Clark took a hand off 65 yards before he was eventually tripped up at the Crusader’s 12-yard line. Clark would go on to lead the Bulldogs in all purpose yards with 172. Senior quarterback Brody Darnell finished off the drive with a 12-yard rushing touchdown, along with the point-after kick, putting the Bulldogs up 7-3.
Auburn’s lead lasted only a few minutes, as the Crusaders would score the final points of the half on the following drive. But the Bulldogs’ touchdown led by Clark was key for Auburn as it kept the Crusader’s halftime lead to only 3 points at 10-7, as opposed to a multiple score lead that Lincoln Christian would have had.
Nevertheless, Auburn trailed at the midway point, and to win the Bulldogs would need to outperform the Crusaders and make up a 3 point deficit.
The Crusaders received the ball to start the second half and took up almost half of the third quarter clock driving downfield. The Bulldogs eventually had Lincoln Christian in a tough third and 12 situation on Auburn’s 39- yard line. On the third down play, junior Bret Baltensperger forced a fumble, which senior Brad Hall recovered, giving the Bulldogs the ball with the chance to take the lead.
The Bulldogs didn’t disappoint.
Junior Ryan Dixon opened the following drive with back-to-back runs totaling 25 yards, and two first downs. On the next series, Auburn faced a third and 6 and called Dixon’s number again to convert the first down. He did. Darnell added a 15 yard run to the drive, and Clark ran 5 yards for Auburn’s second touchdown of the game and a 14-10 lead.
On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Wyatt Rowell made two big tackles, forcing Lincoln Christian to punt the ball away. Back in possession of the football, Auburn drew up some trickery with a double pass from Darnell to Dixon to Clark for a 44-yard reception, setting up Darnell and Dixon to finish off the drive and take a commanding 20-10 lead.
Cam Binder, who currently leads Auburn in tackles, sniffed out a fake punt on the next Crusader drive once again providing an opportunity for the Bulldogs to score in the fourth quarter. The 1-2 punch of Darnell and Dixon on the ground proved too much for the Crusaders for a final time on Friday night as they combined for 42-yards for Auburn’s fourth and final touchdown of the game. Darnell would proceed to find Dixon in the endzone for a final two-point conversion on Friday night. As a cherry on top of Auburn’s flawless
As a cherry on top of Auburn’s flawless second half defense, Darnell ended the game with an interception, allowing himself to kneel out the remaining clock. Darnell joined junior Ryan Binder as the other Bulldog with an interception on Friday. Binder’s interception came in the first half on a potential Crusader touchdown pass. Add to those plays Hall’s fumble recovery, and Cam Binder’s fourth down stop, and Auburn’s defense has a lot of reasons to be happy with their second half shutout.
The Bulldogs hande Lincoln Christian their first loss of the season and a 4-1 record, as the Bulldogs improve to 4-1. Auburn will be back in action on Friday, October 2 against the Eagles of Milford. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Milford High School.
Statistics
Rushing yards: Brody Darnell led Auburn in rushing with 85 yards. Connor Clark had 77 yards on 6 carries. Ryan Dixon had 61 rushing yards.
Receiving yards: Connor Clark had 44 yards on one catch. Ryan Dixon had 43 receiving yards.
Tackles: Cam Binder had 18 tackles for the Bulldogs. Bret Baltensperger and Wyatt Rowell each had 13. Daniel Frary had 12 tackles, Ryan Dixon 9, Brad Hall 7, Ryan Binder and Austin Lavigne 6, Brody Darnell 5, Blake Allen 3, Braden Gerdes and Tate Hug 2, Maverick Binder, Connor Clark, and Stetson Neiman 1 tackle each.