Auburn Makes a Goal-Line Stand, Stops Vanderbilt

Auburn Coach Terry Bowden had worried that Vanderbilt’s rushing offense could give No. 23 Auburn fits. But the Tigers stopped the Commodores when it mattered.

“We got a few more points in the end, and in the fourth quarter when we had to stop them on fourth down and goal, that was a big play,” Bowden said after the Tigers rallied for a 14-10 victory Saturday night in a Southeastern Conference game at Vanderbilt.

James Bostic ran for a touchdown and Auburn’s defense made a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter.

Vanderbilt (1-3, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) trailed Auburn, 14-10, as the third quarter ended with the Commodores inside Auburn’s 10. But the Tigers (5-0, 3-0) stopped Kenny Simon a yard short of the end zone, then downed Jermaine Johnson twice and Royce Love once outside the goal line.

Johnson thought he had scored on his second leap on fourth and one.

Vanderbilt Coach Gerry DiNardo felt he had to gamble with less than 13 minutes left.

“On the goal-line drive, we decided to go for the touchdown because the clock was moving so fast,” he said. “And both (teams) were running the ball so much we didn’t know what Auburn would do later in the game.”