Resurgent Auburn 52 roughs up La.-Monroe

Posted 8:28AM on Sunday 10th November 2002 ( 22 years ago )

AUBURN, ALABAMA - Auburn's leading rusher Ronnie Brown spent much of Saturday's game against Louisiana-Monroe watching as reserves took over in a 52-14 homecoming rout. ``It was pretty good to distribute the ball a little more and get it to the receivers little more and let them make some plays,'' Brown said. Most of the starters joined Brown on the sideline after Auburn (7-3) scored on their first four possessions and took a 35-0 halftime lead over Monroe (2-8). Jason Campbell threw touchdown passes on Auburn's first two possessions and completed 8-of-10 passes for 184 yards, with backup Daniel Cobb taking over early in the second quarter. Cobb completed 13-of-20 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He threw one interception. Auburn's top rusher was backup Tre Smith. He rushed nine times for 65 yards, including a touchdown, and caught a pass for another TD. Ronnie Brown rushed nine times for 41 yards and one touchdown in the first half before giving way to reserves. Auburn was able to get 58 players into the non-conference game. Coach Tommy Tuberville said it was good to see so many people get a chance to play, particularly seniors. ``This is a good group of seniors. They have worked hard and I was glad to see them have a good day,'' Tuberville said. Tuberville said he was not trying to run up the score when Damon Duval kicked a 24-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter with Auburn leading 49-14. He said he was trying to bolster the confidence of Duval, who has missed some kicks in recent weeks. ``Normally I wouldn't take chances with a field goal like that at the end of a game, but we had the opportunity to do it today and I think it really helped his confidence.'' Louisiana-Monroe took the opening kickoff and drove 62 yards before Auburn stopped the Indians on a fourth down at the 18. The big play in the drive was a 30-yard pass from Steven Jyles to Drouzo Quillen. Jyles completed 19-of-37 for 193 yards and one touchdown. He also was the Indians' leading rusher with 193 yards. Auburn set the tone on its first offensive play as Campbell passed to Robert Johnson for 30 yards. Five plays later, Campbell passed 33 yards to Jeris McIntyre for the first of five first-half touchdowns for the Tigers. Auburn's other first-half scores came on a 21-yard pass from Campbell to Ben Obomanu, a 2-yard run by Brown and a 5-yard pass from Cobb to Johnson. In the second half, Cobb threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Smith and reserve fullback Michael Owens ran five yards for a touchdown. Damon Duval added a 24-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter for the Tigers. Louisiana-Monroe's touchdowns came in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Krish Williams and a 3-yard pass from Jyles to Ben Wright. Auburn held the Indians to 83 yards rushing and 276 yards total offense.

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