Tigers seek Outback win to end season
By Staff
Scot Beard
TAMPA – After one year away the Auburn football program returns to bowl action Friday as the Tigers play Northwestern in the Outback Bowl.
It is the 35th bowl appearance for Auburn.
The Tigers (7-5, 3-5) will try to rebound from tough, late-game losses against rivals Georgia and Alabama to end the regular season and several seniors will try to end their Auburn careers on a high note.
Running back Ben Tate ranks fourth in the Southeastern Conference and 23rd nationally with an average of 104.5 rushing yards per game. He also has 20 receptions for 105 yards and five kick returns for 139 yards.
Quarterback Chris Todd holds the school's single-season record for touchdown passes with 21.
Together, they will try to lead Auburn to one of its best offensive seasons in school history. If the Tigers gain 282 yards, the 2009 squad will break the school record for total yards in a season.
Standing in Auburns way is the Northwestern defense, which features Corey Wooton who has 19.5 career sacks and 38 career tackles for a loss.
Sherrick McManis leads the Wildcats with four interceptions and Brad Phillips has a team-high four forced fumbles for Northwestern.
The defense also boasts a few seniors trying to go out with a bang.
Defensive end Antonio Coleman leads the SEC with 15.5 tackles for a loss an nine sacks. While defensive back Walter McFadden leads the Tigers with four interceptions (fifth in the SEC) and is tied for sixth in the SEC with 12 passes defended.
Northwestern's offense is ranked second in the Big Ten and 29th nationally in passing offense thanks to quarterback Mike Kafka, who has passed for 2,898 yards. He has thrown 116 consecutive attempts without an interception.
Zeke Markshausen leads the Wildcats with 79 receptions.
Auburn kicker Wes Byrun is 14-of-15 on field goals and 49-of-49 on extra point attempts.
This is the first meeting between these two teams. It is the third trip to the Outback Bowl for Auburn, but the first since a 43-14 loss to Penn State in 1996.
Northwestern is making its first appearance in the Outback Bowl, and playing in its first New Year's Day bowl game since the 1997 Citris Bowl.
