Auburn shuts out W. Carolina

AUBURN, ALABAMA - Western Carolina proved the perfect opponent for a weary Auburn team. <br> <br> Carnell Williams rushed for first-quarter touchdowns of 20 and 42 yards as the Tigers beat the Catamounts 56-0 on Saturday, five days after losing their opener. <br> <br> ``This shows what kind of ballclub we&#39;ve got,&#39;&#39; said Williams, who watched the final three quarters from the sideline. ``We could have hung our heads down, but we came back and pitched a shutout.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Backup quarterback Jason Campbell passed for one TD and rushed for another for the Tigers (1-1). He completed 12 of 14 passes for 147 yards against the Division I-AA Catamounts (1-1). <br> <br> The Tigers, who stopped a four-game losing streak dating to last season, racked up 335 yards in the first half, after gaining just 35 in the second half of a loss at Southern California. <br> <br> It was exactly the kind of game the Tigers needed after getting bruised and battered in Los Angeles on Monday night. Auburn started nine new players from the opener, resting several starters with minor injuries. <br> <br> ``This game was just what the doctor ordered,&#39;&#39; coach Tommy Tuberville said. ``We played well even though we had them overmatched. I thought we looked good on both sides of the ball.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Tigers won their 11th straight nonconference home game and their 23rd home opener in 24 years. <br> <br> Auburn, which finished with 621 yards, hadn&#39;t scored 50-plus points since getting 62 against Fresno State in 1996. The Tigers all but eliminated any chance for a Western Carolina upset with a 21-point first quarter barrage. <br> <br> ``We had opportunities early, and the opportunity disappeared as the game went on,&#39;&#39; Catamounts coach Kent Briggs said. ``I am very disappointed in the way we played, and we didn&#39;t earn a chance to win.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Williams carried only four times for 67 yards and didn&#39;t play after the first quarter. He was held to minus-3 yards in the second half on Monday. <br> <br> Butler, the third-teamer, led all rushers with 12 carries for a career-high 91 yards and freshman Tre Smith gained 73 yards on 14 carries. The Tigers gained 345 yards on the ground even with Williams mostly a reluctant spectator. <br> <br> ``I was trying to sneak back on the field,&#39;&#39; he said. ``Those guys got a chance to show what they can do.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Campbell hit third-team tight end Cooper Wallace on a 17-yard score, and tailback Chris Butler another third-teamer added a 10-yard score in the third. <br> <br> Cobb was 9-of-16 for 129 yards and a touchdown as Auburn converted 8-of-11 third-down plays. <br> <br> Western Carolina, which rushed for 257 yards in its opener against Liberty, managed just 86 yards on the ground as the no-huddle offense was largely ineffective against the bigger, faster Tigers. <br> <br> Brian Gaither was 19-of-32 for 135 yards with an interception while Pat Cilento was 7-of-13 for 40 yards. <br> <br> ``We didn&#39;t come here to lose this game,&#39;&#39; Gaither said. ``We had high expectations and we didn&#39;t meet our own expectations.&#39;&#39;