Craig Has Auburn Feeling Peachy Keen

ATLANTA — Dameyune Craig engineered three fourth-quarter scoring drives, and Auburn’s defense held Clemson to 146 yards as the Tigers rallied for a 21-17 victory in the Peach Bowl on Friday.

No. 13 Auburn (10-3) won despite giving up three blocked punts, one that was returned for a touchdown and another that landed inside the five-yard line and led directly to Clemson’s other touchdown.

For the third consecutive season, Clemson (7-5) began 3-3 and rallied for a bowl bid.

Auburn won its second consecutive bowl game thanks to a 15-point fourth quarter.

Like his teammates, Craig shrugged off a terrible performance in the first three quarters. He completed only 15 of 45 passes for 258 yards, including a 28-yard pass to Karsten Bailey to set up the go-ahead touchdown, a seven-yard run by Rusty Williams with 8:45 left.

Auburn linebacker Ricky Neal had 12 tackles to lead a defense that played its best game of the season despite Coach Terry Bowden’s decision to send two starters home for breaking team rules on New Year’s Eve.