Cam Coleman caught three of Payton Thorne’s career-high five touchdown passes and Auburn breezed to a 48-14 rout over visiting Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday afternoon at Auburn, Ala.
Coleman, a freshman, entered with only 15 receptions and two TDs, but he ended with eight receptions for 100 yards to go along with his three scores, all personal bests.
Thorne was 20 of 29 for 224 yards with no interceptions.
Auburn (4-6) saw Thorne find Coleman twice for first-half scores and added another before the break to to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who had six catches, 104 yards. The Tigers led 24-0 at halftime.
Tigers running back Jarquez Hunter carried 14 times for 102 yards for a season total of 1,015, his first time eclipsing the 1,000-yard plateau.
By winning for just the second time in seven games, the Tigers improved their all-time record against the Warhawks to 12-0.
ULM (5-5) lost its fourth straight contest after a three-game winning streak.
Ahmad Hardy, the Sun Belt Conference’s top rusher, had 60 yards on 15 carries and a TD for the Warhawks. Aidan Armenta had 89 yards on 8-of-15 passing.
With starting quarterback Thorne returning from a shoulder injury, Auburn went 60 yards on its first series and counted on Coleman, who caught three passes on the eight-play drive. He broke a tackle on the final one and dashed 20 yards at 10:57.
Auburn kicker Ian Vachon made his first attempt for the Tigers, a 22-yarder with 5:21 remaining in the first quarter.
On its best drive of the day, Thorne and the Tigers used 16 plays to travel 99 yards in 7:34 to make it 17-0. The quarterback capped the possession with a 3-yard TD lob to Coleman.
Thorne led a 74-yard drive for his third TD, a 30-yard pass to Lambert-Smith for a 24-0 edge.
A 37-yard pass from Armenta to Tyler Griffin led to Hardy’s short TD run at 8:09 of the third quarter for the Warhawks’ first points.
Coleman’s third score – a dazzling one-hander from 22 yards – was followed by Malcolm Simmons’ 40-yard reception. Damari Alston’s short run and Vachon’s 26-yard kick made it 48-7.
ULM’s General Booty hit Jonathan Bibbs for 65 yards for the final points.
