AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburns starting quarterback was banged up, and the star tailback went down, too. One starting linebacker was out with an injury and another was ejected early in the game for targeting.Then the eighth-ranked Tigers had a field goal blocked.They managed to overcome all that and beat Vanderbilt 23-16 on Saturday, reminding coach Gus Malzahn of Auburns most successful recent teams.We had some guys that really stepped up and did a super job, Malzahn said after the game. In every year that weve won a lot of games, there has been a game like this where our guys found a way to win.The Tigers (7-2, 5-1 Southeastern Conference, No. 9 CFP) kept alive their hopes of winning the Western Division and staying in playoff contention.With games still ahead at Georgia and at No. 1 Alabama, Auburn still controls its own destiny in the West because Texas A&M, which beat the Tigers, lost to Mississippi State.Quarterback Sean White sat out the first half but came off the bench to lead a second-half comeback. Malzahn declined to disclose the nature of his injury but said he was hurt in a physical game against Mississippi.The biggest question leading up to Saturdays game at Georgia is the status of tailback Kamryn Pettway, who pulled up at the end of a 60-yard run in the fourth quarter, clutching his left leg. Malzahn said the SECs leading rusher obviously pulled something, but his status against the Bulldogs is unknown.No. 2 rusher Kerryon Johnson is still nursing an ankle injury and Malzahn said he was somewhere around 80 percent healthy for the game with Vandy (4-5, 1-4).Linebacker Tre Williams missed the game with an undisclosed injury and Deshaun Davis was ejected in the first quarter. Davis will be available for the Georgia game.Auburns potential game-sealing field goal attempt in the final minutes was blocked by linebacker Zach Cunningham, setting up a Vandy drive into Auburns territory. Josh Holsey picked off Kyle Shurmurs pass to end the last-minute threat.We learned how to fight through adversity in this game, safety Tray Matthews said. Were just growing as a team and continuing to fight through everything, all the obstacles. Im really proud of our team.(The Commodores) came in and fought their butt off but we fought back.Auburns recent history was built on surviving games like this. The 2013 team won the SEC title and made the national championship game with two famous plays: a tipped Hail Mary pass to beat Georgia and a 109-yard return of a missed field goal by Alabama. Cam Newtons 2010 team when Malzahn was offensive coordinator had a big comeback win in the Iron Bowl and won five games by a field goal or less.These Tigers have an awfully long way to go to match those teams feats, but they can win the SEC West with victories over Georgia and Alabama. Holsey likes what he sees so far from a group that has won six straight since starting 1-2.Its the will. Its the will of the team, he said. Its the teammates and the coaching staff. They preach this to us each and every week, that adversitys going to happen and you have to know how to overcome it.Theres a bunch of guys on this team that have a lot of fight in them.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25Cheap Paul George Shoes . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Clearance Paul George Shoes . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. https://www.cheappaulgeorgeshoes.com/ . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Paul George Shoes Outlet . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Paul George Shoes From China .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city.CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson had teetered on the edge of defeat most of the year, so when it finally occurred, the loss to Pittsburgh left the Tigers more puzzled than shocked.The Tigers perfectly planned structure, built on a foundation of last years dominance, showed cracks and instability since the season began. Too many turnovers, too few experienced defenders and some debatable coaching calls caught up to seemingly unflappable Clemson (9-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) in a 43-42 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday when Chris Blewitt nailed a 48-yard field goal with six seconds left.Clemson was among three of the top four College Football Playoff poll teams to lose undefeated seasons, sliding from No. 3 last week to No. 5 . And the first home loss since 2013 has left the Tigers questioning how quickly theyll rebound for a second consecutive national title run.We havent experienced any losses like that, especially at home, not in a long time, said Deshaun Watson, whose ACC-record 580-yard passing game will be overshadowed by his three interceptions, two near the end zone. Just have to keep our heads up, realize not everybodys perfect.Clemson captured college footballs attention last season with its dominant defense and unstoppable offense, led by Watsons knack for delivering the perfect pass. The Tigers rode that combo to a No. 1 ranking at 14-0, an ACC title and the national championship game, where Watson put on a dazzling show with 478 yards of offense and four touchdowns in a 45-40 loss to Alabama.Talk instantly began of a super offense, perhaps the games best ever, led by Watson and featuring proven playmakers like tailback Wayne Gallman and receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott.From the start, though, things were not the same. Clemson opened with underwhelming six-point wins over Auburn and Troy, and fans, analysts and even Watson wondering what was wrong.Clemson looked to gain momentum following a hard-fought, 42-36 win over then-No. 3 Louisville on Oct. 1 to start 4-0. The mistakes continued, though, and nearly cost the Tigers two weeks later against North Carolina State when kicker Kyle Bambard missed a potential game-winning, 33-yard field goal attempt at the end of regulation in a 24-17 overtime win .In that game, Clemson coach Daabo Swinney went for a fourth-and-one in OT -- a bold call because it worked -- with C.ddddddddddddJ. Fuller leaping ahead to keep the drive alive before Watsons winning 10-yard TD toss to Scott.That same, put-it-away attitude by Swinney cost the Tigers this time when Gallman was stopped on third- and fourth-and-one at the Pittsburgh 35 with a minute left. A punt into the end zone, at worst, wouldve left the Panthers 15 more yards to gain in the final 58 seconds.Instead, quarterback Nathan Peterman moved Pitt 34 yards into range for Blewitt, who kicked it straight through.We had been making those kinds of plays this year, Swinney said of failed runs.Clemsons mistakes are up from last year. Watson entered this year with 15 career interceptions and has 13 picks in 10 games this year. The Tigers have 21 turnovers this season after 27 in their 15 games a season ago.Two of Watsons interceptions came with Clemson deep in Pitt territory driving for scores. The last one by linebacker Saleem Brightwell came in the fourth quarter with the Tigers up 42-34 and in the red zone.Clemsons re-manned defense, which lost seven starters from last year, including six taken in the last NFL draft, was also gashed by the Panthers. The Tigers overachieved much of the year but allowed their most points and second most yards (464).Watson said its essential that Clemson regain its swagger and finish strong.At the end of the day, the attitude is still positive, he said.Clemsons championship goals, especially with losses by previously undefeated No. 4 Michigan and No. 7 Washington this weekend, remain intact, Watson said. The Tigers would clinch the ACC Atlantic by beating Wake Forest on Saturday. They close the season at home against rival South Carolina. Win the ACC title game and the Tigers, with all their flaws, likely head back to the playoffs.This team has the heart of a champion, and that will be revealed, Swinney said. I believe that adversity builds character and reveals it. I know what this team is made of, and well fight back, respond and move on.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '
