Aug 31, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Sammie Coates (18) makes a catch in spite of the defense of Washington State Cougars cornerback Anthony Carpenter (4) at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Tigers defeated the Cougars 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
The Auburn Tigers survived a thrilling 4th quarter and game when they thwarted two separate Washington State attempts inside the final 6 minutes to tie the ball game.
The Cougs began the 4th with the ball but did nothing and punted early to the Tigers. Then Auburn went on a time consuming, 5:00 drive that took 13 plays, started at the Auburn 15 and ended in another Cody Parkey field goal, this one from 42 yards out to make it 31-24, which would end up being the final tally.
But then the Cougs would answer with their own 11 play drive that included a 4th down conversion that took them down to the Auburn 8. Unfortunately for WSU, Connor Halliday saw the wrong coverage and threw his third interception of the game, on first down no less, lofting a pass to Rickey Galvin but getting picked by Star backer Robinson Therezie in the front corner of the endzone. At the time there was 4:46 remaining.
That play looked to end the Cougs chances when Corey Grant rushed for 19 yards and then Tre Mason ripped off a 12 yarder, but Mason coughed up the ball for the second time in the game when he was crunched by Taylor Taliulu and Deone Bucannon recovered around the 50. Unfortunately the Coug chances ran out for real two minutes later when Halliday overthrew a well covered receiver on the second 4th down and 5 of the drive inside the Auburn 20.
Auburn got an easy 1st down and ran out the clock, giving new coach Gus Malzahn his first official win as an Auburn Tiger.