By Justin Fedich | The Selma Times-Journal

There were many things working against Auburn on its Halloween home game, but perhaps the scariest statistic was that the Tigers converted on just two of their 15 third downs.

The Auburn Tigers (4-4, 1-4) were unable to complete enough successful second half drives to keep pace with the Ole Miss Rebels (7-2, 3-2) as they lost 27-19 Saturday.

“With our offense, once we get that big play and we get that rhythm going, we can’t be stopped,” said Auburn wide receiver Ricardo Louis. “Once we stop ourselves and we get off the field on third down, we’re not going to be able to run our offense how we want to.”

Auburn’s defense hung tough with Ole Miss all game, but the Tigers’ inability to put the ball in the end zone for nearly three quarters doomed Auburn to another Southeastern Conference loss.

“We’re disappointed,” said Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. “Our guys fought their tail off against one of the better teams in our league.”

Ole Miss struck first in the game, after Auburn’s defense stopped the Rebels on the 9-yard line and forced a Gary Wunderlich 27-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Auburn’s defense received a boost with the return of defensive end Carl Lawson, who had been out since Week 1 with a hip injury.

“Defensively our guys came out with a lot of energy, got us some stops early,” Malzahn said.

While Lawson was finally healthy, quarterback Sean White played through a n injured knee throughout the game.

“I wasn’t 100 percent, but I feel like I was good enough for my teammates to play hard and I think I did that,” White said.

The Tigers didn’t make it quite as far as Ole Miss on their first scoring drive, but they didn’t have to. Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson nailed a 52-yard field goal to tie the game up at 3-3.

The Tigers’ next possession was a 5-play drive that resulted in a Sean White 47-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Louis. The pass was White’s career first touchdown.

“Right when the DB was flat-footed, and I got up on him to step on his toes,” Louis said.  “I made a move and I knew it was over.”

Auburn took a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter.

After Auburn forced four straight Ole Miss punts, the Tigers’ defense finally gave in, surrendering a 25-yard rushing touchdown to Akeem Judd late in the scond quarter.

Auburn and Ole Miss were tied 10-10 at halftime despite Auburn trailing in nearly every statistical category.

Ole Miss opened the half with a 9-play, 55-yard drive that resulted in a field goal. The Rebels were in position to take a 10-point lead on their next drive, but Auburn stopped Ole Miss on the 5-yard line.

The Tigers marched the ball 89 yards on their next drive, capping it off with a field goal to tie the game at 13-13 with 3:46 left in the third quarter.

Ole Miss responded with a 5-play drive that ended in a Chad Kelly pass to Derrick Jones for a 45-yard touchdown.

Carlson connected on his third and fourth field goal of the game to lower the deficit to 20-19 over Auburn’s next two drives, aided by Auburn’s Kris Frost intercepting Kelly in between drives.

Ole Miss answered by building a larger lead. Kelly connected with Laquon Treadwell, who broke his leg in last year’s game against Auburn, for a 21-yard touchdown with 10:13 remaining in the game.

Auburn was unable to score on any of its remaining possessions, as the Tigers lost their fourth SEC game of the season.

Auburn is at Texas A&M next Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Ole Miss is at home against Arkansas.