Malzahn OK with play-calling despite 17 straight 1st-down runs

Play-calling was the name of the game Saturday for Auburn, which ran the ball on 17 consecutive first-down plays while coughing up a 20-point lead and losing 27-23 to LSU.

"We were running the ball pretty effectively in the first half," head coach Gus Malzahn said postgame, according to Tom Green of AL.com, before admitting the Tigers couldn't get anything of substance going offensively after halftime.

Tailback Kerryon Johnson totaled 156 yards on the ground versus LSU, but found way more running room in the opening 30 minutes than he did in the final 30 minutes.

"They don't pay me enough to talk about play-calling," the junior told Brandon Marcello of 247 Sports after the crushing loss.

With the running game slowing down, Auburn's passing attack also faded in the second half. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham finished the contest 9-of-26 for 165 yards and a touchdown, with all but six of his yards coming before halftime.

"I do," Malzahn said, when asked if he still has complete confidence in his coaching staff. "It's not the end of the world. ... I'm frustrated we got beat. We were up. I'm disappointed, but we're going to rebound."

The loss dropped Auburn to 5-2, and will likely lead to a drastic fall in Sunday's AP Poll.

Auburn entered Saturday's game ranked 10th in the nation.