It's a final: Auburn stages a dramatic comeback to beat Utah State in season-opener

(AP photo)

AUBURN, Alabama --Auburn reached deep, conjured up some of the magic that carried them to the national championship last season and staged  a dramatic 42-38 victory over underdog Utah State on Saturday in its season-opener in Jordan-Hare Stadium
Auburn, which rode dramatic comebacks to a 14-0 record last year, led only once before scoring the winning points on a 1-yard touchdown run by Mike Dyer with 30 seconds remaining.
It was a thriller.
Quarterback Barrett Trotter, making his first start as Cam Newton's replacement, threw nice touchdown passes to Emory Blake, Philip Lutzenkirchen and Travante Stallworth.
Trotter's TD pass to Luzenkirchen with 2:07 remaining cut the margin to 3. Auburn recovered the onside kick to set up the winning touchdown.
Trotter completed 17-of-23 passes for 261 yards and three TDs.
Dyer scored on an 11-yard run after lining up at quarterback. The Tigers also got a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by freshman Tre Mason. But Auburn's defense barely could keep up.
The Tigers led only once, at 28-24, late in the third quarter.
The defending national champions stretched the nation's best winning streak to 16 games.
That's over.
The Tigers play  Mississippi State next Saturday in Jordan-Hare.