Lagway’s 333 Yards Not Enough as Auburn Holds On for 17-16 Win

A Game Decided by Inches

Baylor’s offense generated significant yardage through the air, yet it was not enough to overcome a defensive stand in the final moments of Saturday’s contest. The Baylor Bears fell to the Auburn Tigers 17-16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Despite DJ Lagway connecting on 27-of-54 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns, the visiting team could not complete the scoring drive needed to tie or take the lead.

Scoring Breakdown

The game was a defensive struggle early on. Auburn struck first in the opening quarter with a 43-yard field goal by Alex McPherson, taking a 3-0 advantage. Baylor answered in the second period when Jeremiah Cobb rumbled for a 15-yard touchdown run, followed by McPherson’s kick, putting the Tigers ahead 10-7.

However, Baylor rallied before halftime. DJ Lagway connected with Louis Brown IV on a 14-yard pass, and Rhett Armstrong’s extra point tied the game at 10-10.

The fourth quarter saw both teams trade scores. Rhett Armstrong kicked a 22-yard field goal to tie the game again at 10-10. Auburn then reclaimed the lead when Byrum Brown scored on an 11-yard run, extended by McPherson’s kick, making it 17-10 with time remaining.

Baylor’s Late Rally Falls Short

Baylor mounted a furious comeback attempt in the final period. Lagway orchestrated the drive, finding Gavin Freeman for a crucial 5-yard touchdown pass that trimmed the deficit to 17-16. The Bears needed just two points to force overtime or take the lead. They attempted a two-point conversion, but the pass fell incomplete, leaving Baylor with only six points from the drive.

The final score stood at 17-16 in favor of Auburn. Lagway finished with two passing touchdowns and one interception, while Freeman caught 12 passes for 154 yards. For Auburn, Byrum Brown was efficient in the air with 259 yards but threw three interceptions. Keshaun Singleton led the receiving corps with seven catches for 89 yards.

Records Update

The loss drops Baylor to 0-1 on the season. Auburn improves to 1-0. The game drew an attendance of 55,068 spectators to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401856636