Casagrande: Auburn had a tummy ache but Hunter ate to end the skid

Those 278 from Hunter also easily eclipsed Kentucky’s total output of 224 yards. It was also the fourth-highest single-game total in Auburn history and that’s a story involving some impressive running backs.

As a team, Auburn’s 326 rushing yards were the most against SEC competition since rushing for 345 against Arkansas in 2017.

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Kentucky (3-5, 1-5) hasn’t allowed that many rushing yards since Georgia racked up 331 in 2018. according to the Herald-Leader.

So yeah, running the ball was a good idea.

Even more impressive? That total of 326 rushing yards included a first quarter that ended at minus-8.

Hunter’s record-breaking 278 goals on the night came in the final three quarters, as his only touch in the first 15 minutes was a no-gain run.

Then the light bulb went on.

After that, he had 10 carries of more than 10 yards. That includes three over 40 years old.

The last four races of the Hunter game:

• 45 yards (TD)
• 10 yards
• 11 yards
• 46 yards

The last one created a moment that no one had seen in a long time. Auburn showed mercy in the final moments of an SEC game, opting to take a knee inside the 10-yard line to run out the clock. That brought the Tigers’ total offensive yards under 500 yards and the statement was made.

A team that blew 11-point fourth-quarter leads twice in its four SEC losses to date this season made its point without a garbage-time touchdown.

This wasn’t a trash Kentucky defense either. Last month he held Georgia to 13 points when it beat Ole Miss, 20-17. The Wildcats entered the night with the 22nd-best rushing defense that allowed just 102 rushing yards against Georgia (3.4-yard average) and 92 against Ole Miss (3.2 average). Auburn averaged 6.5 per carry overall, while Hunter had 12.1.

Running the ball, a good idea.

The Tigers did that 50 times in total Saturday night and 47 came after that forgettable first quarter. Kentucky led 10-0 after that opening statement, outscoring the visitors 115-38. Auburn ran him only twice on purpose and one sack accounted for a total of eight negative yards.

Payton Thorn threw it 11 times before the second quarter began, was intercepted once and sent the Tigers right into the hole they’ve occupied since beating Arkansas last November.

But then he started running the ball. Auburn outscored Kentucky 313-36 in the middle two quarters in a statistical show of strength.

After all, this is still modern-day Auburn, so there was no consolation until Hunter’s 45-yard touchdown run with 12:11 left.

This is because Auburn had two impressive but scoreless drives in that span, like the ones that have punctuated this losing streak. First, there was a 10-play, 66-yard possession to close the first half that ended with a sack and a failed attempt to get the field goal drive down the field before time expired. The Tigers, out of a timeout when Thorne was sacked, had 14 players in the field goal formation before letting time expire.

Unsurprisingly, Freeze blamed Thorne during halftime interviews, but this column is about his stroke of genius, not about bus driver Hugh.

The drive of the night, a 14-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half was the masterpiece. Auburn ran 11 of those 14 plays for an average of 4.2 per pop. The possession lasted 7:53 of the third quarter when Hunter’s 1-yard plunge gave the Tigers their first and last lead of the night.

The next drive was another unfortunate ending, but the missed field goal after a seven-play, 61-yard drive did not haunt Auburn this time.

Because? Because Hugh Freeze is a genius.

He saw Jarquez Hunter in the huddle after the first quarter and decided his veteran running back deserved a chance.

Freeze was right.

Hunter hunted.

And, for the first time since Nov. 11, 2023, Auburn emerged winners from the field of SEC competition.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @PorCasagrande or in Facebook.