FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2017 STUDENT MEDIA
DEFENDING
KYLE FIELD Aggies look to break home game losing streak against Auburn Saturday morning
A&M VS. NO. 14 AUBURN: Nov. 4 @ 11:00 a.m. ESPN
By Heath Clary @Heath_Clary Playing at home is supposed to be an advantage in the SEC, a conference where some of the largest and rowdiest fan bases in the country reside. That home field advantage has been absent in the Texas A&M-Auburn matchup. As recent history proves, the road team has always won each of the five meetings between the schools since A&M joined the SEC in 2012. The Aggies (5-3, 3-2 SEC) will try to end that streak Saturday as Kevin Sumlin looks to put on a better showing after last weekend’s 35-14 drubbing at the hands of Mississippi State. “We really need [a win] this week — it’s going to be a big-time test for us,” wide receiver Christian Kirk said at Tuesday’s press conference. “They’re going to come in here with the right attitude and a lot of energy, and we’re going to have to match it and go out there and execute.” The Tigers (6-2, 4-1 SEC) are coming off a bye week and crushed Arkansas on the road 5220 in their last game. Auburn, ranked 14th in the first CFB Playoff rankings, boasts the SEC’s third-most potent offense and have a slew of weapons that can do damage to opposing defenses. The running back duo of Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway give defenses fits with Johnson’s speed and Pettway’s power, and the ground game has opened up the aerial attack for redshirt sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Stidham is playing in his first season at Auburn after transferring from Baylor, and he leads the conference in completion percentage and has only been picked off three times this season. For A&M, the offense struggled to move the ball against the Bulldogs under the direction of Kellen Mond. The freshman quarterback completed only eight passes for the second game in a row, and came out of the game late in Saturday’s game after a late hit. Sumlin said Mond will start against the Tigers even though redshirt freshman Nick Starkel threw for 133 yards including a 70-yard touchdown in relief. With Mond back under center, Sumlin said the emphasis remains on getting consistent production on the ground to open up the passing game. “He is an effective runner — we’ve seen that all year,” Sumlin said of Mond. “There are other ways for us to create running lanes and seams, GAME PREVIEW ON PG. 4
No. 14 Auburn comes in to Saturday’s game favored to win by 15 point against A&M. C. Morgan Engel — THE BATTALION