[Tuck4Bama]

AUBURN - With weary legs and aching muscles, they answered the call once. Then again and again and yet again.

When the offense came unraveled, Auburn's defense hung stubbornly on last Saturday night against South Florida. In the second half, the Bulls started drives at the Auburn 21, 23, 3 and 32 and got only three points for their trouble.

Auburn offensive line coach Hugh Nall watched it all with admiration and respect.

"I've been coaching a long time," he said. "I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like that."

In the end, the defense finally couldn't hold on any longer. Quarterback Matt Grothe hit Jessie Hester Jr. with a 14-yard touchdown pass to lift South Florida to a 26-23 victory in overtime. Five Auburn turnovers, four in the second half, were too much to overcome.

The defense of second-year coordinator Will Muschamp had left it all on the field, but even the heroic second half wasn't enough to celebrate.
"Defensively, I thought we played our hearts out," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said.

For all it accomplished, the defense forced no turnovers against South Florida. Auburn's offense turned it over five times.

"We have to do more to win the game and we have to create some turnovers and momentum for our football team," Muschamp said. "That's the bottom line. We have to create some field position and momentum."
End Quentin Groves, dominant for the first two games, was proud but determined when it was over. He quickly turned his focus to Mississippi State, which visits Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday for an 11:30 a.m. kickoff.

Auburn defense needs turnovers- al.com