Nov 5, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Kamryn Pettway (36) carries against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the third quarter at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Tigers beat the Commodores 23-16. Photo Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn kept on pace to what could be a classic Iron Bowl match with Alabama in the regular-season finale with its 23-16 win over Vanderbilt last week, but goes into this weekend with some key health issues.
Running back Kamryn Pettway looked to have pulled a muscle on his final carry of the game against Vanderbilt.
If he isn’t able to play, or is limited, that could add to the load starter Kerryon Johnson will have to carry when the No. 8 Tigers (7-2, 5-1) face unranked Georgia (5-4, 3-4) Saturday. And Johnson himself is not completely recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him for one game and limited him to nine carries for 36 yards against the Commodores.
In addition, the Tigers were without wide receiver Tony Stevens and linebackers Tre’ Williams and Andrew Williams last week, and quarterback Sean White didn’t start because of what has been reported — but not confirmed by coach Gus Malzahn — as a shoulder injury.
“We’re a pretty beat-up team,” Malzahn said. “We’re just about out of linebackers.”
White did come in in the second half and rallied the Tigers to the comeback win over the Commodores, who led 13-10 at the break.
“We faced probably about as much adversity as we faced in a win in a long time,” Malzahn said. “We had some injuries and some guys weren’t able to play. We had one of our top defensive guys kicked out of the game early.
“We had some guys that really stepped up and did a super job. In every year that we’ve won a lot of games there has been a game like this where our guys found a way to win.”
“Our team has a lot of heart, a lot of a gut, and a lot of fight.”
Linebacker Deshaun Davis was ejected for targeting in the first quarter but will be able to start at Georgia.
The victory over Vandy was the sixth in a row for the Tigers, who have moved into second place alone behind undefeated Alabama in the SEC West. They now control their own fate in the race to the conference championship game with only the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide left on their conference card.
The Tigers also have a non-league affair against Alabama A&M Nov. 19 as a tuneup for the game against the Tide on Nov. 26.
Alabama plays Mississippi State this week and Chattanooga on Nov. 19 before hosting the Tigers in Tuscaloosa.
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Sean White didn’t start against Vanderbilt after not taking a snap in practice the week before because of a reported shoulder injury (officially, coach Gus Malzahn refused to give details), but he came off the bench to connect on his first two passes in the second half. He was a key as the Tigers rallied from a 13-10 halftime deficit to the 13-16 victory.
–RB Kerryon Johnson may face a bigger workload at Georgia if backup Kamryn Pettway is kept out of the game because of the apparent pulled muscle he had against Vanderbilt. Johnson himself is recovering from an ankle injury and has seen his workload cut to 10 carries for 39 yards a game his last two outings.
–CB Joshua Holsey continues to make plays for the defense. He had a key interception for the second straight week with his pick with 36 seconds left deep in his own territory helped preserve the one-touchdown win over the Commodores.
