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Marshall leads No. 5 Auburn past Louisiana Tech

Sep 28, 2014 - 12:21 AM Auburn, AL (SportsNetwork.com) - Nick Marshall threw for three touchdowns to lead the fifth-ranked Auburn Tigers to a 45-17 victory over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Saturday.

Marshall finished with 166 yards on 10-of-17 efficiency and rushed for 105 more yards on 13 carries. Quan Bray finished with 189 all-purpose yards and three scores, including a 76-yard punt return touchdown for Auburn (4-0), which won its 300th game at Jordan-Hare Stadium

D'haquille Williams and C.J. Uzomah both caught receiving touchdowns and Cameron Artis-Payne led the ground game with 116 yards on 22 carries and a score.

Cody Sokol completed 20 of his 35 passes for 216 yards with an interception and Kenneth Dixon had two rushing touchdowns for Louisiana Tech (2-3), which has dropped its last two games.

Auburn took advantage of a Sokol miscue to record the game's first points. A Sokol pass was deflected at the line and intercepted by Montravius Adams, who took it back 37 yards to Louisiana Tech's 4. Artis-Payne found the end zone on the very next play for a 7-0 lead halfway through the first quarter.

On Auburn's next drive, Marshall broke free for a 31-yard dash to get the Tigers into their opponents' territory, but Daniel Carson missed a 41-yard field goal attempt. Carson, however, split the uprights from 25 yards out early in the second for a 10-0 lead

The Bulldogs marched down the field on a 55-yard drive before Jonathan Barnes' try from 37 yards steered wide right.

Marshall ran the ball four straight times for 33 yards down to Louisiana Tech's 8. After a penalty backed the Tigers up 10 yards, Williams hauled in an 18-yard strike between two defenders for a 17-0 lead with under two minutes to play in the first half.

Adams continued his strong defensive play by recovering Trent Taylor's fumble three plays into Louisiana Tech's ensuing drive. Marshall then aired out a 37- yard TD pass to Bray for a 24-0 lead.

Barnes' got Louisiana Tech on the board with a 25-yard field goal heading into halftime.

Louisiana made it a 24-10 game with 6:54 to play in the third. Jarred Craft broke a tackle and raced down the right sideline for a 36-yard run, placing the Bulldogs at Auburn's 13. Dixon picked up a first down on a 3rd-and-2 and then dove over the line of scrimmage from a yard out for a touchdown.

Marshall rolled out to his right to avoid being sacked and heaved a 44-yard pass to Bray, who made a leaping catch over a defender in the end zone to cap an 11-play, 92-yard trek less than a minute into the fourth.

The Bulldogs were forced to punt after going three-and-out. Bray caught Logan McPherson's 48-yard punt and returned it 76 yards down the right sideline for a 38-10 lead.

Louisiana Tech needed just six plays and 62 yards to score on their next drive. On 4th-and-1, Sokol lofted a 36-yard pass to Josh Gaston and Dixon ran it in from nine yards out two plays later.

Jeremy Johnson took over at quarterback and led the Tigers 75 yards down the field, finishing with a 15-yard TD pass to Uzomah to cap the scoring with 7:53 to play.

Game Notes

Auburn gave up a touchdown in the third quarter for the first time this season ... The Tigers lead the all-time series, 12-0-1, and have won nine straight against the Bulldogs ... Auburn extended its home winning streak against non- conference opponents to 25 games ... The Tigers outgained the Bulldogs, 473-321.