Mason 80 yards shy of 1,000

Tre Mason has been by far the most productive running back for Auburn this season. Mason, a sophomore, has 150 carries for 920 yards with eight touchdowns which accounts for more than half of Auburn’s 1,689 rushing yards this season.

He routinely breaks tackles and fights for extra yards, whether it’s on the outside or between the tackles.

“The wide zone play and the inside zone play fits him,” Auburn offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler said. “He understands he’s missed some cuts he knows he needs to improve on. But he’s a zone runner. That’s probably one of the biggest reasons we put the play in.”

In order for Mason, who was not available for comment this week, to be the fourth straight 1,000-yard rusher for Auburn (3-8, 0-7 SEC) he’ll need to gain 80 yards against No. 2 Alabama and its outstanding rush defense. The Crimson Tide (10-1, 6-1) are third nationally and best in the SEC against the run, allowing just 75.6 yards per game, though the number increases ever so slightly to 81.6 yards in SEC games.

“Our offensive line is going to have to have the best game that they have played all year to give Tre Mason or anybody else that touches the ball a chance to run it,” Auburn coach Gene Chizik said.

Mason has been far more productive in non-conference games than against SEC foes, a trend which has large ramifications for the Tigers offense. In SEC games he has 80 carries for 391 yards (4.9 average) with four TDs but in non-conference games Mason has 70 carries for 529 yards (7.6 average) with four TDs.

“It’s definitely harder against SEC teams because of the type of guys they have,” fullback Jay Prosch said. “A lot of it has to do with us and how we play, our whole offense. We’ve got to get everybody going, to get those yards.”

Auburn is averaging 153.5 rushing yards but against SEC opponents it drops to a conference-worst 86 yards.