Auburn Tigers quarterback Hank Brown had a breakout performance, throwing four touchdown passes while running back Jarquez Hunter took over on the ground in Auburn’s 45-19 rout of New Mexico. The Tigers’ offense came alive in the second half, piling on 28 points to secure the victory after a tight first half.
In his first start, Brown demonstrated poise and accuracy, completing 17 of 25 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions. Auburn’s offense was nearly unstoppable, scoring touchdowns on all but one of their possessions, where they simply ran out the clock. Brown’s command of the offense helped the Tigers pull away in the second half, building on a slim 17-13 lead at halftime.
Brown set the tone for the second half, throwing a three-yard touchdown to tight end Micah Riley on Auburn’s opening drive after the break. He followed up by finding Jarquez Hunter on a 14-yard check down for another score and then connected with tight end Rivaldo Fairweather on a 26-yard strike early in the fourth quarter, allowing Fairweather to sprint past the Lobo defenders for the touchdown.
Damari Alston capped off the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown run around the left side, sealing Auburn’s dominant victory with just under six minutes left. Auburn’s offense was efficient throughout the game, only stalling in the second quarter as the Lobos defense forced a field goal and a punt and then capitalized on a fumble recovery by Alston.
New Mexico, led by quarterback Devon Dampier, kept the game close in the first half. The Lobos opened the scoring with a field goal and briefly reclaimed the lead after running back NaQuari Rogers punched in a three-yard touchdown. Dampier’s ability to escape pressure and extend plays gave the Auburn defense trouble, especially in the first half. He finished with 291 passing yards, including 203 in the first two quarters alone.
However, after halftime, Auburn’s defense tightened up. Despite failing to record a sack or tackle for loss until late in the third quarter, the defense limited New Mexico to just six points in the second half, a marked improvement from the first. This echoed their performance from last week’s game against California, where the Tigers also improved defensively after the break.
On the ground, Jarquez Hunter had a career day, carrying the ball 20 times for 152 yards and a touchdown. Hunter’s physical running helped Auburn control the clock and wear down the Lobos defense. Damari Alston complemented him with 80 yards on 10 carries, including his late touchdown.
Auburn’s balanced attack, with 235 passing yards and 232 rushing yards, showcased the offense’s potential under Brown’s leadership. Though there were some early hiccups, the Tigers found their rhythm and delivered a complete performance, putting them back on track after a tough early-season stretch.
Looking ahead, if Brown can continue to lead the offense with the same efficiency, and the defense sustains its second-half improvements, Auburn has a strong foundation to build upon as they head into the more challenging part of their schedule.