Auburn cruises to victory against in-state foe ASU

AUBURN, AL (WSFA) - The No. 7 Auburn Tigers (2-0) took care of business in their home opener against in-state opponent Alabama State (1-1) Saturday. Gus Malzahn's Tigers rushed for 429 yards in the 63-9 win over the Hornets.

Two Auburn tailbacks rushed for over 100 yards in the win, Boobee Whitlow with 122 - all in the first half - and Shaun Shivers' 117 yards.

Saturday was an opportunity for Alabama State just as much as it was for Auburn.

Donald Hill-Eley's Hornets came out and showed they could move the ball on several drives, but they just didn't have the points to show for it. The Hornets totaled 205 yards of offense in Saturday's contest, but the Auburn Tigers were just on a different level.

Auburn had 12 penalties in the opener against Washington and wanted to clean that up going forward. Saturday, the Tigers only had four penalties.

Jarrett Stidham kept his arm fresh as Auburn prepares for a big Tiger showdown against LSU next week. He was 6 for 11 with 113 yards and a touchdown.

Another big thing for the Auburn Tigers in Saturday's game was the return of one of the team's most impactful players from a season ago. Senior wide receiver Will Hastings returned to the field for Auburn. He missed Auburn's opener as he continued his recovery from off-season knee surgery.

Alabama State can take success from Saturday as well. The Hornets forced four turnovers, all fumbles, and an Auburn safety. The Hornets added a touchdown pass at the end of the third quarter to cap out the scoring for the game.

The No. 7 Auburn Tigers will welcome the No. 11 LSU Tigers into Jordan-Hare Stadium next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. As for Alabama State, the Hornets travel to Kennesaw, Georgia, where they will play Kennesaw State. That game will kick at 4 p.m.

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