NCAA Game Summary - Clemson Vs. Auburn
POSTED: 12:16 am EST January 1,
2008
Atlanta, GA -- (Sports Network) - Kodi Burns' seven-yard touchdown run on the second possession of overtime gave 22nd-ranked Auburn a 23-20 win over 15th- ranked Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl at Georgia Dome. Clemson's first chance in overtime produced a 25-yard field goal from Mark Buchholz. Auburn then got the ball, but found itself in a 4th-and-inches from the 16-yard-line, and quarterback Brandon Cox squeezed across for a first down. Two plays later, Burns spun up the middle for the winning score. Burns gained 69 yards on 13 carries and his only pass completion of the game was for a touchdown. Cox completed 25-of-39 passes for 211 yards and a pick for Auburn (9-4), which closed the year with four wins in its last five games. Mario Fannin caught five balls for 53 yards and a score. Cullen Harper turned in a subpar game, completing only 14-of-33 passes for 104 yards for Clemson (9-4), which lost two of three to finish the season. C.J. Spiller rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown, and James Davis added 72 yards and a rushing TD in defeat. Auburn opened the second half by taking the ball and rolling 78 yards in 10 plays, capped when Burns hit Fannin over the middle for a 22-yard TD and a 10-7 lead. However, Clemson responded with 10 straight points within the first 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter to assume the lead. First, a 22-yard field goal by Buchholz tied the game, then Davis' one-yard plunge to cap an 11-play, 70-yard drive put Clemson ahead 17-10 with 11:24 left. But Auburn answered, as Ben Tate capped a drive with a one-yard touchdown run of his own, pulled the teams into a 17-17 tie with 8:27 remaining in the contest. Neither team could score from there and the game slipped into overtime. Wes Byrum nailed a 36-yard field goal to put Auburn on the board early in the first quarter. After Buchholz pulled a 45-yarder wide right late in the quarter, Auburn gained possession on its own 23-yard line, but they went nowhere with their drive. Clemson turned around and went ahead 7-3 when Spiller bounced off tacklers up the middle, spun and sped down the left sideline for an 83-yard score early in the second quarter. The four-point difference remained at the half.Game Notes:Auburn leads the all-time series 33-11-2, including the last 13 games and a 21-17 win in the Chick-fil-A in January, 1998...Clemson has not won 10 games in a season since 1990.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.




