The Auburn Bulldogs season didn’t start as they expected. The state semifinalists from just a year ago were one win away from playing in a state championship for head coach Tony Janssen. The Bulldogs, however, ran into the buzzsaw that was the Wahoo Warriors and unfortunately saw their season came to a close one win away from Memorial Stadium.

It’s a program that prides itself on winning ball games, playing for district titles, and earning state playoff berths. So it isn’t surprising that multiple people may have been asking “what’s going on with Auburn” after the Bulldogs fell to 0-4 with a loss Ashland-Greenwood on September 19^th.  Nearly a month later though? The Bulldogs have won three straight and are undefeated in District play!

That winning streak was extended on Friday night when the Bulldogs visited the Fairbury Jeffs and came away with a 28-6 win. It was a win partially aided by short fields and mistakes from the Jeffs. After a scoreless first quarter of play, Auburn received the first big break of the game in the second quarter. The Bulldogs were forced to punt it from their own territory and a lucky bounce saw the ball hit a Jeffs player and the Bulldogs recovered at the Jeffs 37 yard line.

After running multiple plays that covered just six yards, quarterback Brenton Wenzl found receiver Wyatt Tanner for the first of three touchdown connections on the evening. A failed PAT would make the score 6-0. Late in the first quarter, with the Jeffs driving, the Bulldogs were again aided by a mental miscue when the Jeffs center snapped a ball over quarterback Jacob Nippert’s head. The ball, which originally started in Auburn territory, ended up way back in Jeffs territory.

Auburn again capitalized on the Jeffs mistake with Wenzl again finding Tanner for a touchdown. After a successful two-point conversion, the Bulldogs would take their 14-0 lead into the half. The Jeffs came out of the half determined to make it a game and it didn’t take long for them to do it. Nic Smith took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and despite missing the PAT, the Jeffs found themselves down just eight minutes into the third quarter.

Auburn though would answer quickly on their next possession capped off by a Clayton Brown touchdown run. As was the case most of the evening, the Jeffs offense just couldn’t move the ball. Offense was hard to come by for the Jeffs and credit a Bulldog defense who would “bend” but not “break” all evening. Late in the 3^rd quarter, Wenzel again found Tanner -- this one from deep in Bulldog territory. A successful PAT would make the score 28-6 and like the first quarter of action, the fourth quarter saw no scoring as well.

The loss drops the Jeffs to 0-7 on the season albeit with two very winnable games (@Nebraska City and vs. Falls City) coming up. The win improves Auburn’s record to 3-4 on the season. However, Auburn is in a unique position heading into next week. The Bulldogs, now at 3-0 in District play despite a 3-4 overall record, will head home to take on an undefeated 7-0 Syracuse Rockets team next Friday. The winner will likely claim the District crown and punch their ticket to the state playoffs later this fall.

So despite the 0-4 start to the season, against a very tough schedule, Auburn finds themselves in a very familiar situation. A program that prides itself on winning ball games, competing for district titles, and earning state playoff berths has started to complete step one. Win ballgames. Next Friday they’ll have an opportunity to complete step two in winning a district title. Should the Bulldogs take care of business there – step three becomes a reality to a team many may have written off after four weeks of play.

You’ll be able to listen to the Auburn vs Syracuse game live on Sunny 101.3 next Friday night.