Write On Sports LLC - "Bliss' punts save Auburn" by Frank Sita

Bliss' punts save Auburn

2006-09-18 23:51:21 | By: Frank Sita

Kody Bliss knew his kicks would be important. However Bliss could not have dreamed anything like what happened this past Saturday in Auburn’s 7-3 victory over Louisiana State.

Bliss was named Specialty Teams Player of the Week after his booming punts changed the field position against LSU, giving the Tigers a chance to win the defensive struggle at Auburn.

“We were playing for field position,” Bliss said after the game Saturday. “We came in and knew LSU had a strong defense. With the way the game figured to be, we’d (Auburn kickers) be a big factor in the outcome. I had some good punts. We started with the rugby punts to keep them from blitzing, and it backed them off. After that, I was just feeling it.”

The Auburn senior had six punts for a 48.2 average against LSU with his first three punts traveling 50, 60 and 62 yards.

“This was a great game for us to win on a national stage,” Bliss added. “This was sheer redemption for us after what happened to us last year in Baton Rouge. LSU is one of our biggest rivals.

“We knew we’d have to come out with a street-fighter mentality against LSU because they were so physical. Coach (Tommy) Tuberville told us all before the game that this would be a fistfight and be prepared to battle for 60 minutes.”

Tuberville praised the Auburn kicking game.

“One guy told me that the difference in our game today was the punting of Kody Bliss,” Tuberville said. “I have never seen a punter change the field position like he did today. He did just an unbelievable job.”

Tuberville had to defend Tiger kicker John Vaughn, who missed a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter after hitting the left upright – the same one he missed in Baton Rouge last year in Auburn’s 20-17 loss to LSU.

“There is going to be some talk about John (Vaughn) missing his field goal, but he did make his extra point, and that is all that counts. It did give us a four-point lead where we didn’t have to go in one of those long overtimes again.

“I didn’t ask him (Vaughn) about the missed field goal. There is nothing to say. It hit the crossbar. I am proud for John that is finished that was and it wasn’t a point where it cost us. I think our guys picked it up. They saw where they needed to pick it up and play better and harder. You can’t worry about those little things, especially that early in the game.”

Bliss was Auburn’s best weapon in the first quarter against LSU, which held Auburn without a first down until the 11:52 mark of the second quarter. The three first-half punts swapped the field position for Auburn and kept the visiting Tigers from taking an early lead in the contest.

Auburn’s first punt was from its own 13 and 50 yards later, LSU had the ball at its own 37. No points were scored. Auburn’s second punt went 60 yards from the Auburn 14 to the LSU 18. No points were scored. Finally, the 62-yard punt went from the AU 15 to the LSU 23 with no return. No points were scored after that final punt of the first period.

All three first-quarter punts came after LSU quarterback sacks on Tiger junior Brandon Cox.

“Our offense struggled because of their defense,” Cox said. “They have a heck of a team, and they played a heck of a game. We were able to grind out one touchdown, and our defense and kickers both came up big.

“They were geared to stop the run, and they did a good job of it. On our touchdown drive, we ran it pretty well and passed it successfully, too. All we needed was seven.”