Touchdown Auburn: Joey Gatewood Time

Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images

He may be gone but doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy watching him demolish Kent State’s defense.

Auburn scored 53 touchdowns in 2019 and over the coming weeks we are going to breakdown each one.

Following the flea flicker, it was pretty much game over for the Golden Flashes. As such, Auburn decided to turn it over to its former backup, not Kentucky Wildcat quarterback Joey Gatewood. The results were quite humorous.

Unsurprisingly, Gus Malzahn elected to just pound Kent State viciously with the rushing attack. Most of that punishment came via 6’5” 230 lb freakazoid Joey Gatewood however sometimes equally destructive yet much more diminutive Shaun Shivers delivered the first blow.

This is GT Counter once again. Here’s a chance to see two possible starters this fall on the offensive line in action as Brodarious Hamm at right tackle and Jalil Irvin at right guard pull around to seal two Golden Flash defenders. The scraping backside linebacker has a momentary shot at holding this run to just 10 yards but Worm shrugs off the attempt and picks up 15 more on the carry.

Ah Joey.... What might have been...

I think Auburn picked the right quarterback but it’s hard not to watch a massive athlete like Gatewood make defenders look dumb in space and not want more of it. The Tigers are running the Zone Read. Joey makes the initial correct read with the end man on the line of scrimmage crashing inside. However, Kent State is getting clever on this play sending a cornerback on a backside blitz. In most situations, a free rusher with this clear a shot at the QB means a loss of yards but Gatewood isn’t your average QB. He pump fakes the throw, getting the DB in the air and then just runs right around him for the first down.

A couple of plays later he’s in the endzone.

I feel bad for Matthew Hill on this snap. If he gets the ball he scores easily. Instead, Joey just keeps the ball and follows him into the endzone for six points.

In fact, Hill could have had two touchdowns that night as Auburn’s final score of the game looks durn similar.

Quarterbacks get to have all the fun.

War Eagle!

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