Auburn football notes: Despite victory, Tigers' performance against Utah State 'unacceptable'

AUBURN, Ala. -- Coach Gene Chizik didn’t mince words. Neither did defensive coordinator Ted Roof.

There was only one way to describe Auburn’s defensive effort in a 42-38 win against Utah State on Saturday.

“It’s unacceptable,” Roof said. “It wasn’t how we play defense at Auburn. And we’re going to get it fixed.”

The Tigers gave up 448 yards to a Utah State offense led by a true freshman quarterback, Chuckie Keeton.

The stats were ugly. Utah State finished with 227 rushing yards, scoring all five of its touchdowns on the ground.

The Aggies controlled the line and the clock, possessing the ball for nearly 38 minutes.

They were 13-for-20 on third- and fourth-down conversions, and four of their five touchdown drives lasted 14 plays or longer.

“Some of it is we probably weren’t as physical at the point of attack that we needed to be,” Chizik said. “And again, that’s going to be young guys learning how to play out there.”

Auburn, which had eight new starters on defense, rotated personnel in throughout the game, but the Tigers didn’t make many plays, unable to rattle Keeton on quick throws out of a variety of formations.

The Tigers’ only sack came when the Aggies were in a do-or-die situation.

“We’ve just got to get penetration,” defensive end Nosa Eguae said.

Roof took only one good thing out of the game.

“I’d much rather be sitting here 1-0 and talking about what we need to do to get better, as opposed to 0-1 saying we played a great game,” he said.

One in the books

Barrett Trotter became the fifth straight Auburn quarterback to win his first start.

The fourth-year junior, who beat out Clint Moseley and Kiehl Frazier for the job, went 17-for-23 for 261 yards and three touchdowns, engineering a fourth-quarter comeback.

“I thought he did a solid job, but I’m sure if you asked him there would be some he’d like to have back,” offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said.

Young ones

Twenty-one Tigers played for the first time in their college careers, including 13 true freshmen.

One was Frazier, who entered the game for one play, burning his redshirt. He took a shotgun snap in the third quarter and lateraled the ball to fellow quarterback Clint Moseley, who completed a swing pass to Onterio McCalebb for a 25-yard gain.

The other 12 true freshmen who played were center Reese Dismukes, defensive tackles Angelo Blackson, Devaunte Sigler and Gabe Wright, receivers Quan Bray and C.J. Uzomah, safety Erique Florence, tight end Brandon Fulse, linebacker Justin Garrett, running back Tre Mason and cornerbacks Robenson Therezie and Jermaine Whitehead.

Eleven players made their first college start: Trotter, Dismukes, running back Anthony Morgan, wide receiver Travante Stallworth, right tackle Chad Slade, cornerback Chris Davis, safety Demetruce McNeal, linebacker Jake Holland and defensive tackles Jeffrey Whitaker and Ken Carter.

Kick return lift

Of the freshmen, Mason made the biggest impact, returning a first-half kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown after Auburn had fallen behind by 14.

“We felt like he would have a chance to break one,” Chizik said. “He’s got a knack for that, and a lot of times at that position that’s what it takes.”

Mason, who shined in August scrimmages as a tailback, was the first Auburn freshman to return a kick for a touchdown since Brad Lester did it against Ball State in 2005.

“It wasn’t just me that took it to the house,” Mason said. “Everyone did their assignment, and it was wide open. The hole took me to the prairie land, and I was gone.”

Mason’s 176 kickoff return yards are tied for the third-most in a game in school history.

Freeman ineligible

Senior linebacker Eltoro Freeman was declared ineligible for the opener by the NCAA because of an administrative oversight.

The error, which the school said was in regard to the initial eligibility certification required of all students, was recently discovered.

Freeman will be available for next Saturday’s SEC opener at home against Mississippi State.

“I hate it for Eltoro that this occurred because this is on Auburn, but I am glad that he is only missing one game,” Chizik said. “Eltoro has handled this extremely well.”

Extra points

Junior linebacker Jonathan Evans made a career-high 14 tackles before leaving the game late with an injury. His status was not immediately known. … Place-kicker Cody Parkey had four touchbacks that went out of the end zone. … Stallworth, who struggled with lingering effects of a knee injury last year, had four catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. … Receiver Emory Blake finished with 95 receiving yards, 56 coming on a first-quarter touchdown catch.