Nashville TN (EETV)- The final game of the 2018 season pitted the Auburn Tigers against the Purdue Boilermakers in the Music City Bowl. Auburn's defense would be tested as the Boilermakers brought in the 24th best offense in the country led by quarterback David Blough.
In the first quarter, Auburn started fast on the first drive of the game as Jarret Stidham found Jatarvious Whitlow for a 66 yard touchdown pass on the third play from scrimmage.
After a three and out from Purdue, Auburn took a 14-0 lead on an 87 yard drive capped off by a 2 yard run from Whitlow.
On Purdue's next drive, Auburn's Javarius Davis intercepted an errant throw from Blough and returned it to the Purdue 18 yard line. Jatarvius Whitlow would score his third touchdown of the game as he took it in from one yard out to give Auburn a 21-0 lead.
The Boilermakers got things going offensively as Rondale Moore capped off a 78 yard drive with a 7 yard rushing touchdown to cut Auburn's lead to 14.
Auburn would regain the 21 point lead as Jarret Stidham found Darius Slayton for a 74 yard score. The score was Auburn's fourth straight touchdown on offense and the longest of the 2018 season.
In the second quarter, the defense held Purdue on fourth down. Auburn's offense needed one play to score their fifth straight touchdown as Stidham found Darius Slayton for his second touchdown reception of the game.
The defense got in on the scoring as Big Cat Bryant intercepted a deflected pass and returned it for 20 yards to give Auburn an astounding 42-7 lead.
Auburn's offensive attack did not stop as they tacked on two more touchdown's to give them a 56-7 lead at halftime. The Tigers set a school record for most points in the first half since they scored 49 against Chattanooga in 1995.
Auburn opened the second half with their ninth touchdown of the game as Ryan Davis took a jet sweep for five yards to give Auburn a 63-7 lead. The Tigers defense would give up one touchdown, but would go on to win 63-14.
Auburn's offense put up a bowl record 586 yards of total offense, which is the most since the 1971 Gator Bowl.
Jarret Stidham had a solid performance in his last game throwing for 373 yards and 5 touchdowns. Darius Slayton set a Music City bowl record with three touchdown grabs as well as 160 yards receiving in the game. Jatarvius Whitlow also had three touchdowns and accounted for 76 all-purpose yards.
Auburn's defense gave up 79 yards rushing and forced two turnovers. Purdue's quarterback David Blough was held to just 184 yards and had one rushing touchdown.
Auburn's overall bowl record goes to 24-17-2 and they are 2-0 at the Music City Bowl. Auburn finishes their season at 8-5 and they will return in the spring for the A-Day game.
