Arnold leads Auburn to 38-24 win at Baylor in season opener – Auburn Tigers

WACO, Texas – Friday Night Lights nonetheless deal with Jackson Arnold proper.

In his Auburn debut, the 2022 nationwide highschool participant of the yr returned to the Lone Star State and led the Tigers to a 38-24 victory over Baylor Friday at McLane Stadium.

Playing two hours south of his hometown in Denton, Texas, Arnold rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns whereas including 108 passing yards, securing Auburn’s win with a 27-yard TD rush late within the fourth quarter on fourth down. 

“Give Baylor credit, they wouldn’t go away,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze stated. “They’re a gritty, mature, tough football team. It says a lot about our grit and toughness to hang in there when we didn’t play our best and find a way to win our opener against what I think is a really good team.”

Arnold averaged 8.6 yards per stick with it 16 rushes whereas finishing 11 of 17 passes to tempo Auburn’s 307-yard speeding effort.

Leading 17-10 on the half, Auburn doubled its lead on a 70-yard drive with Arnold’s 21-yard run crossing midfield and organising Jeremiah Cobb’s 2-yard landing to place the Tigers forward 24-10 with 5:40 remaining in third quarter. 

Baylor answered with a 75-yard drive, chopping Auburn’s result in 24-17 on Sawyer Robertson’s landing go to Caden Knighten on fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line with 58 seconds left within the third quarter. 

Rayshawn Pleasant instantly regained momentum for the guests, fielding Baylor’s kickoff at Auburn’s 2-yard line exterior the proper hash mark, chopping to his left and racing 98 yards down the sideline to offer the Tigers a 31-17 lead with 35 family and friends members in attendance. 

Baylor responded with a 79-yard landing drive, once more trimming the Tigers’ result in seven factors on Robertson’s third landing go, a 4-yarder to Michael Trigg on the 11:48 of the fourth quarter. 

Auburn then consumed greater than half of the fourth quarter, placing away the sport with a 75-yard, 12-play landing drive, with Arnold changing three third downs earlier than beating the Bears at their very own sport, going for it on fourth-and-1 and scoring on a 27-yard run up the center for the sport’s closing rating with 4:32 remaining. 

“The offensive line put their will on it and dominated the line of scrimmage,” Freeze stated. “Jackson was patient and made the right decisions most of the night.”

Baylor took a 3-0 lead on the sport’s opening possession on Connor Hawkins 36-yard subject purpose. 

On their second drive, the Bears had first-and-goal at Auburn’s 8-yard line after a 57-yard go completion, however the Tigers held Baylor to five yards on three rushes, then compelled an incompletion on fourth all the way down to take over on downs. 

Auburn drove 96 yards on 12 performs to take a 7-3 lead with Arnold selecting up a primary down with a 9-yard run on third-and-7.

Consecutive false begin penalties gave Auburn first-and-20, however a 26-yard go from Arnold to Malcolm Simmons picked up a primary down at Baylor’s 37-yard line.

Two performs later, Arnold rushed up the center behind a block from middle Connor Lew and reduce to his proper for a 24-yard landing. 

Auburn’s protection recorded a three-and-out, then the Tigers claimed a 14-3 with a run-heavy, seven-play, 65-yard drive that Damari Alston capped with a 9-yard landing run on the 10:29 mark of the second quarter. 

Auburn’s protection once more stopped Baylor on fourth down, giving the Tigers a brief subject at Baylor’s 44-yard line. 

Arnold’s 23-yard go to Cam Coleman arrange Alex McPherson’s 21-yard subject purpose with 5:45 left within the first half, giving the Tigers 17 consecutive factors. 

Baylor reduce Auburn’s result in 17-10 on the half with 3:21 to play within the half on Robertson’s 33-yard landing go on fourth-and-8.

Keyron Crawford led the Tigers with seven tackles and one of many Tigers’ 4 sacks in entrance of hundreds of orange-clad Auburn followers in attendance on a sweltering night.

“They’re incredible,” Freeze stated. “The band had to be in 120 degrees and sunshine for an hour before the game in those uniforms. Thank you, and thanks to our incredible fans.”

Auburn (1-0) performs its dwelling opener subsequent Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT when Ball State visits Jordan-Hare Stadium for Kickoff on The Plains.

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer