Washington State Cougars vs Auburn Tigers Match Player Stats On Aug 31, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Aug 31, 2013

Auburn 31, Washington State 24: Tre Mason had a rushing touchdown and a 100-yard kickoff return for a score and Corey Grant ran for 146 yards and a score to lift the host Tigers to a win in head coach Gus Malzahn's first game at the helm.

Junior-college transfer Nick Marshall was 10-for-19 for 99 yards in his first game under center for Auburn (1-0). The Tigers intercepted Cougars quarterback Connor Halliday three times, including once in the end zone with 4:46 remaining to end a prime scoring chance for the visitors.

Halliday completed 35-of-66 passes for 344 yards and had an early scoring connection with Bobby Ratliff to give Washington State a 14-8 lead. Jeremiah Laufasa had a pair of short TD runs in the first half as the Cougars (0-1) opened up a 21-15 lead midway through the second quarter.

On the Tigers' first play from scrimmage following Laufasa's second TD, Grant took a handoff and dashed down the left sideline for a 75-yard touchdown that put the hosts up by a point. Three Cody Parkey field goals gave Auburn a 31-24 advantage early in the fourth before Washington State drove to the Tigers' 8 in the closing minutes with an opportunity to tie it.

On first-and-goal, Halliday forced a pass into double coverage and Robenson Therezie hauled it in for the hosts. The Tigers gave Halliday another chance by fumbling it away on the next possession, but the Cougars turned it over on downs in Auburn territory and the Tigers ran out the clock.

GAME NOTEBOOK: While Halliday had 245 more yards through the air than Marshall, Auburn outgained Washington State on the ground by a 295-120 margin. ... This marked the first time since 1969 that the Tigers had a head coach and a quarterback making their debut in the same game. ... Gabe Marks had nine catches for 81 yards to lead the Cougars. Ratliff hauled in three catches for 66 yards.