A handful of Auburn Tigers took advantage of their first opportunity to play in front of their home crowd, which led to a massive 43-8 win over Southern Miss.
It was a magical night for several Tigers, including quarterback Byrum Brown, wide receivers Jeremiah Koger and Chas Nimrod, and defensive lineman Cody Sigler, who all played inside Jordan-Hare Stadium for the first time. However, the player who perhaps had the best night of all was cornerback Andre Jordan Jr., who set a personal record by reeling in two interceptions after entering Saturday's game with zero on his docket.
Jordan set the tone of the game by picking off Southern Miss quarterback Ethan Hampton, returning it 22 yards to give Auburn the 7-0 lead just 10 seconds into the game.
A few drives later, Jordan struck again by picking off Jordan on a 4th-down play.
"I saw the ball go in the air and I tried to break on it," Jordan said postgame. "I was thinking if it got tipped or something I could go get my hands on the ball."
Offensively, running back Omar Mabson had a breakout game by rushing for 108 yards, and he scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard rush with just a few seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Mabson, a native of Auburn, says that he is blessed to have the opportunity to play for the Tigers and is thankful for the opportunity to break out on Saturday.
"I thank God for being able to put me in the opportunity and all the hard work that led to it. Just knowing that my preparation was key, knowing that my process was right. Like (Alex Golesh) said, just having a great process, you see the results."
Which players stood out the most in Auburn's win over Southern Miss? Here is a look at which players Auburn Wire voters and fans voted for as their "Tiger of the Game" in Auburn's 43-8 win over Southern Miss on Saturday.
Taylor Jones: Andre Jordan Jr.
Ethan Hampton will need to check under his bed for Andre Jordan Jr. every night. UCLA transfer Andre Jordan Jr. set the tone of the game by picking off Southern Miss quarterback Ethan Hampton and returning it 22 yards for a touchdown just 10 seconds into the game, and would intercept him again later in the quarter.
He entered Jordan-Hare Stadium with zero career interceptions, and he leaves with two.
Phillip Jordan: Byrum Brown
Byrum Brown did it all for Auburn in the Tigers' 43-8 win over Southern Miss. He completed 18-of-29 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns, and added 88 yards on the ground. He also showed off his inner Cam Newton by catching a touchdown pass, doing so in the 3rd quarter on a reverse play. Brown played very comfortably on Saturday and it played a giant role in Auburn's win.
Jac Myrick: Elijah Melendez
In a game where many players saw the field, Elijah Melendez emerged as the Tigers' leading tackler with 6, which included a sack. Melendez now has 18 total tackles through two games.
Fan vote: Byrum Brown
Auburn fans have spoken, and they have selected Byrum Brown as the "Tiger of the Game" in Auburn's 43-8 win over Southern Miss in Week 2. Brown won 43% of the vote, beating out Andre Jordan Jr., Omar Mabson, and Elijah Melendez. To have a say in who wins "Tiger of the Game" next week, head over to Auburn Wire's X account after every game to cast your vote.
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Tigers of the Game: Jordan, Mabson make names for themselves
