Recap: Auburn 43, Virginia 24
SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 31, 2011
Losing its starting quarterback to an ankle injury in the first quarter didn't slow down Auburn, which used big games from several offensive stand-ins and its special teams for a 43-24 victory over Virginia on Saturday in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.
Starter Clint Moseley was 1-for-4 passing before leaving with an injured right ankle, but veteran Barrett Trotter and freshman Kiehl Frazier took over and proved a difficult duo to defend.
Trotter was steady, passing for 175 yards and a touchdown, and Frazier rushed for 55 yards and two scores as Auburn won its fifth straight bowl game.
The Tigers (8-5) were also short-handed in the backfield without leading rusher Michael Dyer, who was suspended for violating team rules. But Onterio McCalebb responded with his first 100-yard rushing game since 2009 and scored two touchdowns - one rushing and one receiving.
Playing in their first bowl game since 2007, the Cavaliers (8-5) got off to a good start, with sophomore Michael Rocco hitting Kris Burd for a pair of touchdown passes in the first 17 minutes.
But Auburn's special teams unit kept the Tigers in it and eventually turned the tide.
Garrett Harper's blocked punt set up Auburn's first score and tied it at 7, and the Tigers took their first lead at 21-14 five plays after kicker Cody Parkey recovered his own onside kick.
The Tigers' also stopped the Cavaliers on a fake field goal attempt and blocked another punt that went through the back of the end zone for a safety.
The 43 points were the most ever in a bowl game for Auburn, which has won 74 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points, a streak that dates to 1996.
Dec 31, 2011
Losing its starting quarterback to an ankle injury in the first quarter didn't slow down Auburn, which used big games from several offensive stand-ins and its special teams for a 43-24 victory over Virginia on Saturday in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.
Starter Clint Moseley was 1-for-4 passing before leaving with an injured right ankle, but veteran Barrett Trotter and freshman Kiehl Frazier took over and proved a difficult duo to defend.
Trotter was steady, passing for 175 yards and a touchdown, and Frazier rushed for 55 yards and two scores as Auburn won its fifth straight bowl game.
The Tigers (8-5) were also short-handed in the backfield without leading rusher Michael Dyer, who was suspended for violating team rules. But Onterio McCalebb responded with his first 100-yard rushing game since 2009 and scored two touchdowns - one rushing and one receiving.
Playing in their first bowl game since 2007, the Cavaliers (8-5) got off to a good start, with sophomore Michael Rocco hitting Kris Burd for a pair of touchdown passes in the first 17 minutes.
But Auburn's special teams unit kept the Tigers in it and eventually turned the tide.
Garrett Harper's blocked punt set up Auburn's first score and tied it at 7, and the Tigers took their first lead at 21-14 five plays after kicker Cody Parkey recovered his own onside kick.
The Tigers' also stopped the Cavaliers on a fake field goal attempt and blocked another punt that went through the back of the end zone for a safety.
The 43 points were the most ever in a bowl game for Auburn, which has won 74 consecutive games when scoring 30 or more points, a streak that dates to 1996.
