AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Interceptions by Jermaine Whitehead and Neiko Thorpe led to third-quarter scores that helped Auburn stamp out a Florida Atlantic upset bid 30-14 on Saturday night.
With the defending national champion Tigers (3-1) leading by just four points, Whitehead stepped in front of a Graham Wilbert pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown and a 17-6 Auburn lead 1:26 into the second half.
After Onterio McCalebb took a Barrett Trotter screen pass 51 yards for a touchdown several minutes later, Thorpe intercepted another Wilbert pass and returned it 46 yards to the 19 of Florida Atlantic (0-3) midway through the third quarter, setting up Cody Parkey’s 31-yard field goal.
Auburn’s offense managed only 315 yards.
The Owls’ first touchdown this season came midway through the fourth quarter, a 12-yard screen from Wilbert to Alfred Morris, but they managed only two Vinny Zaccario field goals against Auburn’s first-team defense.
