OUTSIDE EVENTS
Since halftime was approaching, the network didn’t get another commercial break before the kickoff. The USC place kicker sent the pigskin high into the still air of the domed stadium, and Max fielded it four yards deep. This time he brought it out, though the gunner to his right had already slipped a block by the time Woodson crossed the ten. The return man evaded him with a burst of speed to his left, but there was no crease to be found there, either. He slipped between two Trojans, but they sandwiched Max and brought him down at the seventeen. When the bodies cleared, Max didn’t rise.
The talking heads quickly queued up a replay, and pointed out how a body landed right on Max’s lower leg at just the wrong time causing his ankle to bend a little more than it should. #2 waited for the trainers on the field, but then eventually was helped up and curled arms around shoulders of two of his teammates to get off the field to light applause from everyone. They didn’t stop at the small medical tent on the sideline, but rather went straight to the locker room with Max.
In his absence the Tigers’ offense got to work. They started with a heavy 22 look, and pounded three runs between the tackles, exerting their will on the middle of the USC defense, pushing out over the thirty-five as the clock rolled under two minutes. They didn’t seem to be in a great deal of hurry knowing they would get the ball to start the second half. They also didn’t want USC scoring again, and both teams had a full complement of timeouts.
With the clock rolling under two, Auburn sent out Zipper Willis and Scooter McGee to man double slots in 10 personnel. SC brought in their dime package, which was up to the task on first down, pushing Scooter OB after only a three yard gain on a little bubble screen. On second down from the 38, the Tigers dropped back and had their four wideouts all heading on outs and flags, but the call was for a wrap-around draw. The dime LB read it perfectly, but with the pass rush heading upfield, the lone LB got two guys in his face and had no chance. Carver broke through the line like he was leaving a burning building and was off to the races! The two USC safeties converged on him eventually, toppling the big man as he crossed the SC twenty.
The clock briefly stopped, but still no timeout from Auburn as the clock ticked under a minute. The next play was very well covered by SC, so Dempsey evaded the DE, sidestepped the DT, and then looked downfield again for an open receiver. He faked a pass to the left side and then tucked the ball and barreled ahead. His receivers had started blocking, so he crossed the ten before he met resistance. The Auburn QB lowered his left shoulder as the dime back came up to meet him, and Dempsey dragged the smaller defender a couple yards before hitting the turf at the five. Finally, Auburn called timeout with 24 seconds left.
The Tigers brought all the fatties in again, going with their 23 goal line look. This time, though, Derek Shaw came out to play fullback. The Tigers occasionally brought their all-conference DT in on offense, and did so again here. On first down, Carver pushed the pile to the three. Auburn burned its second timeout. On second and goal it was more of the same. USC didn’t allow even a crease of daylight, so Carver just pushed as hard as he could and got a yard down to the two. Timeout, Auburn, their third and last.
The Tigers came out with the same personnel, but this time went to hand the ball to Shaw. The big man barreled into the line, but he didn’t have the ball! Dempsey had pulled it and looked up for one of his three TE, but couldn’t find anyone. The pass rush got to him immediately for a sack, ending the half!
Or it would have if there weren’t laundry on the field. Two instances of defensive holding were called, and on replay it looked like you could have chosen three. Apparently the SC defense had been instructed to intentionally hold any receivers given the clock situation. Auburn was now faced with first and goal from the one, but with 2 seconds left. SC coaches wanted the Tigers to have to think about this one. But the same 23 personnel stayed on the field and the place kicker stopped practicing, choosing instead to watch.
Auburn faked the dive to the fullback, then pitched the ball out to Carver, hoping to get the edge. But SC was ready for it. Carver had nowhere to go, but he turned and threw back to Dempsey at the ten! The QB seemed to be expecting it, found the laces, and floated a high rainbow toward the corner of the end zone. The only person there was one Derek Shaw. The big man did have one interception to his name, but never a reception.
Until now. He bobbled it once, but then clutched it with both hands and fell backwards onto his prodigious backside. Touchdown! Auburn! The XP was good! 24-23 Tigers as the clock showed all zeroes and the teams headed to the tunnels!
This message was last edited by the player at 17:19, Thu 27 Oct 2022.