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The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry is renewed at high noon Saturday when Georgia and Auburn get together in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
It can also be considered the most competitive rivalry as well. Both teams own 55 victories in the storied history of the game, with eight ending in a tie. We all remember what happened the last time these two teams played there. The legend of the “Prayer at Jordan-Hare,” a miracle play that propelled Auburn towards a national championship, will live on for many years to come.
But both teams bring in very different storylines to the Week 11 matchup. There are no national championships on the line, not even conference or divisional titles hang in the balance. Survival would better describe Saturday’s contest between Auburn (5-4, 2-4) and Georgia (6-3, 4-3).
Here are five Auburn players to watch in Saturday’s college football classic:
- QB Jeremy Johnson: Though coach Gus Malzahn hasn’t officially announced a starter for Saturday’s game, Johnson has stepped up and produced nicely while stepping in for the injured Sean White. He looks like a more confident quarterback than the one who started the season under center but was benched three games into the season. He completed his first nine passes last week at Texas A&M and directed the Tigers to touchdowns on their first two possessions.
- WR Tony Stevens: Given the opportunity, Tony Stephens is emerging as a deep threat in the Tigers’ passing game. His ability to make explosive plays in heavy traffic is why more passes are being thrown in his direction. Stephens is seizing his opportunity. His 32-yard reception in the fourth quarter last Saturday set up a late field goal as Auburn pulled away from Texas A&M. Stephens didn’t have a pass reception this season until the Oct. 15 Kentucky game. Since then, over four games, he has totaled seven catches for 120 yards.
- OL Shon Coleman: The junior offensive tackle played a key role in last week’s breakout victory over Texas A&M. Coleman led an offensive line that blew open holes for Auburn running backs, resulting in a season-high 320 rushing yards. Coleman also led a wall of protection for QB Jeremy Johnson. The Coleman-led line did not allow a sack and afforded Johnson time to compile an efficient 13-for-17 passing day, good for 132 yards and a touchdown.
- PK Daniel Carlson: Named one of the Lou Groza Award’s “Stars of the Week” for the second time this season, Carlson connected on all four field goal tries against Texas A&M, extending his streak to 12. He also added two PAT kicks and lengthened that career-long streak to 83. One of the most reliable place-kickers in the game, Carlson is the only kicker in the country with four field goals of at least 51 yards and he is second in the FBS with 18 field goals this season.
- DE Carl Lawson: Malzahn calls him a “disruptor.” Lawson worked his way back onto the field after a hip injury kept him sidelined since the season opener. Considered among the best in the game at coming off the edge, Lawson continues to round back into shape with more and more playing time each week. He started against Ole Miss and last week against Auburn, the 6-foot-2, 257-pound sophomore recorded five tackles, including three solos.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
