Auburn outlasts Washington: Highlights, scores from huge Week 1 game

Zac Al-Khateeb

•
Auburn outlasts Washington: Highlights, scores from huge Week 1 game image

Out of a fantastic slate of Week 1 games of college football, perhaps no matchup had bigger College Football Playoff implications than the one taking place in Atlanta where Auburn edged past Washington 21-16 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game.

Jarred Stidham led the way for the Tigers on offense, completing 26-of-36 passes for 273 yards and one TD. However, it was the Auburn defense that proved the difference maker in the end, sacking Washington's Jake Browning on 3rd and 4th down to force the turnover on downs with 1:31 left in the game. Stidham and the offense managed to convert on 3rd down with :54 seconds left, letting Auburn run out the clock and end the game.

MORE: Washington-Auburn Game Center

Here are all the highlights you'll need from one of the biggest Week 1 games of the year:

Fourth quarter: Auburn 21, Washington 16

7:10 pm.: Auburn converts on 3rd down with :54 seconds left. Washington has no timeouts left and Auburn will run the clock out. Auburn wins 21-16\

7:07 pm.: Officials rule it an incompletion and put 10 seconds back on the clock. Auburn ball at their own 43 with 1:31 left. 

7:02 pm.: Browning is sacked on a 3rd and 13 at the Auburn 43. Washington opts to go for it on 4th and 16, and Browning is sacked again by the Auburn defense and loses the ball along the way. Looked like a forward pass, but the play's under further review with 1:21 left to go.

6:58 pm.: Washington gets the ball back and Jake Browning completes to Andre Baccellia for 19 yards and 1st down at midfield.

6:52 pm.: Auburn's JaTarvious Whitlow punches it in from 10 yards out to put the Tigers back in front. The ensuing two-point conversion fails. Auburn leads 21-16

6:49 pm.: Stidham completes a 3-yard pass to Ryan Davis, then Washington's called for pass interference. Auburn gets the ball at the Washington 46-yard line after the penalty.

6:47 pm.: Out of the timeout, Stidham's able to convert on 3rd down with a 12-yard throw to Chandler Cox.

6:44 pm.: Auburn uses a timeout after a Jarred Stidham incompletion and a 1-yard run by Kam Martin, Auburn's facing a 3rd and 9 from its own 25 with 8:55 left.

6:40 pm.: Browning tries convert on third down with an 11-yard pass to Aaron Fuller, but he's short of the marker and the Washington has to punt it away.

6:38 pm.: Jake Browning completes a 23-yard throw to Ty Jones for a first down, but Jones is flagged for offensive pass interference. 

6:32 pm.: The call is overturned, and McIntosh will stay on the field. On the ensuing play, Jarrett Stidham is called for intentional grounding. Auburn will have it third-and-22 from its own 28.

6:30 p.m.: Auburn with the ball back, and Jarrett Stidham looks long for Ryan Davis long on first down. Pass is incomplete but Washington's JoJo McIntosh is flagged for targeting. The play is under review.

6:25 p.m.: Huskies get their first lead of the game with a 30-yard field goal from Payton Henry, who bounces it off the right post. Washington leads 16-13.

6:24 p.m.: Auburn's Darrell Williams saves what would have been a sure touchdown by deflecting a Jake Brown pass to a wide-open Myles Gaskin in the end zone. Huskies to settle for a field goal attempt.

Third quarter: Auburn 15, Washington 13

6:20 p.m.: An Auburn offside penalty and 5-yard from run Washington's Salvon Ahmed gives Washington first-and-goal at the Auburn 10. That'll do it for the third quarter

6:18 p.m.: Myles Gakin runs for a 2-yard loss, but another Auburn personal foul gets the ball to the Tigers' 22. It seems like both teams are trying their hardest to give the game away.

6:13 p.m. Auburn and Washington have penalties on three consecutive plays. This game is a mess. Washington driving at the Auburn 47.

6:12 p.m.: An Auburn punt gives the ball back to Washington.

6:05 p.m.: Washington just can't seem to get out of its own way. The Huskies have it third-and-goal when Jake Browning attempts an option to Myles Gaskin. Instead, he fumbles the ball, Auburn's Darrell Williams recovers and takes it to the Tigers 19. The score remains 15-13.

5:57 p.m.: Aaannnd we have another missed field goal, this one from Auburn's Anders Carlson from 54 yards out. Auburn maintains a 15-13 lead and will give Washington the ball at their own 37.

5:40 p.m.: Woof. An 8-yard touchdown connection between Jake Browning and Aaron Fuller is called back due to a holding penalty. Huskies fail to convert on third-and-21 and miss the ensuing 40-yard field goal attempt. Auburn takes over and that's a back-breaker right there.

Second quarter: Auburn 15, Washington 13

5:23 p.m.: Halftime stats:

Total yards: Auburn: 278 | Washington: 217
Passing: Jarrett Stidham: 15 of 19, 1 touchdown | Jake Browning: 10 of 18, 1 touchdown, 1 INT
Pass yards: Auburn: 184 | Washington: 177
Rush yards: Auburn: 28 rushes, 102 yards | Washington: 12 rushes, 40 yards
Penalties: Auburn: 5 penalties, 54 yards | Washington: 2 penalties, 20 yards

5:20 p.m.: Auburn tries to march the ball down the field (including using a fake kneel) but ends up stalling at around midfield. Auburn takes a 15-13 lead into halftime.

5:15 p.m.: Really want to stress how impressive Browning was on that drive: He hit four different receivers (Aaron Fuller, Andre Baccellia, Ty Jones and Quinten Pounds) for gains of 12, 14, 36 and 13 yards, respectively. Very impressive.

5:11 p.m.: Washington finally gets a touchdown! Jake Browning's fourth straight completion of the drive goes to Quinten Pounds for a one-handed 13-yard touchdown. Washington went 75 yards in four plays to make it 15-13 with 43 seconds left in the half.

5:05 p.m.: Whew, looks like Anders Carlson has a leg like his brother. He puts Auburn up 15-6 with a booming 53-yard field goal with under two minutes left to play in the half.

4:57 p.m.: Seems neither team can punch it in the end zone in the second quarter. Washington settles for the 29-yard field goal from Peyton Henry to make it 12-6.

4:50 p.m.: And now Jake Browning hits Aaron Fuller for a 42-yard gain to the Auburn 8! That's exactly what the Huskies needed.

4:47 p.m.: Washington finally making some headway on offense, with Jake Browning hitting Aaron Fuller for 13 yards and Salvon Ahmed getting 22 yards on the ground to the Washington 38.

4:39 p.m.: Washington using a bend-don't break game plan. Auburn drives to the Huskies 11 but fails to convert third-and-7. Anderson Carlson hits a 28-yard second field goal (he's 2 of 3 today) to make the score 12-3 Auburn.

4:35 p.m.: Wow, Auburn on fourth-and-1 gets a 19-yard gain from Kam Martin to get deep into Washington territory. That's demoralizing.

4:31 p.m: Another great punt return from Auburn ... or at least, it would have been if it wasn't called back. Tigers take over at their 27.

First quarter: Auburn 9, Washington 3

4:26 p.m: And that'll do it for the first quarter. Auburn outperforming Washington in pretty much every category, including out-gaining the Huskies 135-43. Jarrett Stidham is 10 of 12 for 135 yards and a touchdown.

4:22 p.m.: Auburn's Anders Carlson misses on the 33-yard field goal that would have made it 12-3. Washington to take over at its 20. They'll need to score again soon — the Tigers are not having much trouble moving the ball, getting three consecutive plays of 17, 17 and 19 yards.

4:17 p.m.: Huskies can't capitalize off the big play but do manage to get a field goal out of it. Washington cuts Auburn's lead to 9-6.

4:15 p.m.: Big play for Washington right there. Jake Browning hits Aaron Fuller for a 32-yard gain, then the Huskies get another 15 yards after Auburn's T.D. Moultry gets called with roughing the passer. Washington driving at Auburn's 14.

4:13 p.m.: Myles Gaskin with a nifty 14-yard run gets Washington to their 39-yard line. They'll need more of that from him going forward.

4:07 p.m.: Washington holds, but Jarrett Stidham nearly hit Darius Slayton for a 14-yard touchdown even though the Huskies dropped eight into coverage. Tigers settle for a field goal from redshirt-freshman Anders Carlson — yes, Daniel's little brother. Auburn leads 9-0.

4:06 p.m.: Auburn moving the ball with relative ease, having converted all four of its third-down conversation attempts. Tigers are driving at the Washington 18-yard line.

3:59 p.m.: Another offensive miscue from Washington. Jake Browning is forced to throw on the run and hits a wide open Jamel Dean ... who plays defensive back for Auburn. Tigers will take over at their own 36.

3:53 p.m.: And Auburn has drawn first blood! Jarrett Stidham hits tight end Sal Cannella for an acrobatic touchdown in the back of the end zone! Tigers try to catch Washington off guard with a 2-point conversion, but the Huskies hold. Auburn leads 6-0.

3:46 p.m.: And Auburn gets a 32-yard punt return to set them up well in Washington territory. Look out.

3:45 p.m.: Ugly, ugly opening drive for Washington, if you can call it that. Three plays, no yards and Auburn's defense is flying around. The loss of Trey Adams is pretty noticeable. 

3:43 p.m.: Washington to receive. And here we go.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.