Ben Tate leads Auburn in rushing yards/AuburnUndercover.com staff
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Auburn went back to its football roots in the second half Saturday night. It didn't look the same as in years past, because every offensive snap came out of the shotgun. But it was on the ground that the Tigers took control.
The Tigers shredded Louisiana-Monroe's tiring defense for 321 yards on the ground, getting just 85 through the air. The opposite might have been expected from offensive coordinator Tony Franklin's spread scheme.
But when it was over, No. 10 Auburn had opened Coach Tommy Tuberville's 10th season with a 34-0 victory before a capacity Jordan-Hare Stadium crowd of 87,451.
"You win games on defense and special teams if you play hard," Tuberville said. "And that's what we did.
While the offense huffed and puffed, the defense roared in Paul Rhoads' first game as coordinator.
On the Warhawks' first offensive play, end Antonio Coleman lit up quarterback Kinson Lancaster. The ball bounced free and end Michael Goggans, making his first start, scooped it up and went 9 yards for a touchdown.
Senior Robert Dunn, demoted to fourth team on the depth chart at slot receiver, returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown and it was 14-0. It was Dunn's first touchdown return and the first for Auburn since 1996.
After that, there really wasn't any question about the outcome.
After managing just 150 yards offense in the first half, the Tigers got 256 in the second half.
"We played much better in the second half," Tuberville said.
But the game was not without its costs.
Quarterbacks Kodi Burns and Chris Todd alternated by series until Burns suffered a laceration on his lower left leg after a 16-yard run in the third quarter. He required stitches and did not return to the game. He is expected to be ready for next Saturday's game against Southern Mississippi.
Freshman receiver Philip Pierre-Louis suffered a knee injury returning the opening kickoff. The seriousness of his injury is uncertain. Wide receiver James Swinton suffered a sprained knee after catching a pass on the first play of the game. His injury is not thought to be as serious.
Linebacker Merrill Johnson suffered a hamstring injury in the second half and had to leave the game.
Junior Ben Tate led Auburn's offense with 115 yards on 13 carries, his fourth career 100-yard game. Burns had 60 yards on six carries and freshman Eric Smith 66 on nine carries.
Sophomore Chris Slaughter caught the game's only touchdown pass, a 3-yarder from Todd in the fourth quarter.
Senior Rod Smith was the leading receiver, catching five passes for 57 yards.
Todd completed 9-of-18 passes for 70 yards and threw an interception. Burns was 4-of-9 for 15 yards.
Reserves played much of the second half for Auburn.
"The effort was good," Tuberville said. "We found out a little more of what we need to do on offense. We didn't get the ball up the field very well and we tried to force some things."