Forty-six yards. All in the air.
That was all the offense Auburn could muster Saturday in the first quarter against Kentucky, who jumped out to a 10-0 start. Not a single rushing yard.
Auburn coach Hugh Freeze was asked about it, and he stated the obvious.
“We got to run the ball some,” Freeze said at the of the first quarter Saturday night. “We tried to come out throwing, and we’re not protecting very well. We have to keep it balanced, but we need to establish the run.”
Payton Thorne was 6 of 11 for 46 yards and an interception in the first quarter.
Freeze, who needed an IV before the start of the game, said he was fine after he didn’t travel to Lexington with the team on Friday.
Meanwhile, Kentucky rolled up 107 yards and five first downs to jump out to the early lead.
“You get in these games, and the adrenaline takes over,” he said.
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.
