They finally did it.
When Marcel Reed’s pass fell through Amari Daniels' hands in quadruple overtime to secure a 43-41 win for Auburn, there was a tangible pressure release inside of Jordan-Hare Stadium. It came in the form of thousands of Auburn fans charging onto the field.
It was the first time Auburn fans had stormed the field since its 2019 Iron Bowl win over Alabama, and the program’s first ranked victory since a 31-20 win over No. 10 Ole Miss in 2021.
Not only was it a special moment for the celebration-starved fans, but a chance for Auburn’s seniors to finish their careers at Jordan-Hare Stadium with a win.
For some of those seniors and many of the underclassmen, it was the first time they had been a part of a field storming.
“That was the first time I got to experience that and obviously last year we were one play away from probably a field storming. So that was tough, that’s something you deal with the whole offseason," Payton Thorne said after the game, referencing Auburn’s heartbreaking loss to Alabama in 2023. “So, to finish that one the right way and have that experience, it’s something to look back on when you’re stinking 90 years old.”
Thorne played a pivotal role in Auburn securing the win, leading a 15-play, 74-yard drive that set up a game-tying field goal to put the game into overtime. He finished with 301 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Another Auburn veteran who enjoyed the win and field storm in his last home game was running Jarquez Hunter. He was just as critical as Thorne to Auburn’s performance, rushing for 130 yards and three touchdowns.
Unlike Thorne, Hunter spent his entire career at Auburn, but hadn’t been a part of a field storming until Saturday.
“Oh, I was hoping we’d win, so I could get my first experience of rushing the field,” Hunter said. “I mean, it was such an exciting experience with all the fans on there just cheering us on.”
Senior Buck linebacker Jalen McLeod had a different field rushing experience to Thorne and Hunter, being on the field for the final play of the game. It was his first field storming experience too, and he admitted he was scared for a second in the immediate aftermath.
That fear didn’t last long, though, and Reed’s pass hitting the ground still triggered a passionate response from McLeod.
“He dropped it, I was like ‘Oh man,’“ McLeod said. ”So I went to the sideline and started talking trash. That was the first instance."
For freshman wide receiver Cam Coleman, it was a taste of what college football can be.
“Before you know it, I looked around and we’re getting swarmed,” Coleman said describing the moment fans stormed the field. “I see Dre getting tossed up in the air and I’m like ‘Man this is crazy. This is college right here.’”
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The game was another huge one for Coleman, going for over 100 receiving yards for the second week in a row and setting a new season high (128).
His performance and various others were what led Auburn to its wild 43-41 win to close out the home schedule. It was a celebration that Auburn will have to play for (literally) but one hardy anyone didn’t want.
Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com
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