AP photo by Dave Martin Auburn’s Carl Stewart (32) outruns Tennessee Tech’s Maurice Smith (3) and Chris Grimes on a 55-yard dash in the first half of Auburn’s 35-3 win Saturday. Stewart, a starter, joined the other starters on the bench in the second half as the reserves saw plenty of action.

Blake Field makes his bid for the future

AUBURN — Many came to Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday expecting to see the future of Auburn football. You know, the budding backups, the up-and-coming young players, the stars of the future.

It’s doubtful junior quarterback Blake Field fit into that group, but maybe he should, after a surprisingly productive outing in Auburn’s 35-3 win over Tennessee Tech of the Football Champion Subdivision — formerly Division I-AA.

Two of Field’s 11 attempts were dropped. He completed six passes for 92 yards and threw a touchdown in the third quarter. Field and true freshman Kodi Burns alternated at quarterback after Auburn’s starters put the Tigers up 21-3 in the second quarter.

Burns, the highly recruited freshman who had his redshirt burned this season because he was so good, did little but elicit a smattering of boos. He failed to complete any of his four attempts, tossing balls wildly out of reach of open receivers.

Burns came into the game before Field. On his first series, he threw two passes, both thrown well behind the intended receiver.

On the next series, Field entered the game. Receivers clearly dropped two of his first three attempts. But following halftime, the junior from Georgia led Auburn down the field for a score that sealed the victory.

Field danced in and out of the pocket as if he were, well, Burns.

“He was flushed on a third down, and he hit a guy for a real nice play,” offensive coordinator Al Borges said.

Field completed 5 of his 6 passes on the drive and capped it with a 20-yard touchdown pass to receiver Robert Dunn, a throw he put right on the money, slinging the ball into Dunn’s chest.

“On the touchdown pass,” Borges said, “he just drilled it in there.”

Confusingly, coaches inserted Burns into the game on the next series. Burns threw over the head of Dunn and then missed Dunn short on a third-and-10. The ball hit the turf at least 3 yards shy of the receiver, setting off boos from those among the 85,754 who were left.

These are the same fans, of course, who chanted Burns’ name in a third-week loss to Mississippi State, calling him to come on the field for embattled starter Brandon Cox.

Head coach Tommy Tuberville said Burns was nervous. Borges said he’s still young and doesn’t know all of the offense.

“He’s just a young kid,” Borges said. “He wasn’t here for spring football. He’s still learning our offense.”

Burns? He blames his poor play on the constant pressure of being replaced.

“In high school, you’re the guy. You’re starting. If you make a mistake, hey, you’ll still be in there. Here, if you mess up, you’ll be on the bench,” Burns said. “It messes with you.”

Most dubbed Burns as Auburn’s starter next season after he replaced Cox in the third game and then started in the fourth game, but that changed Saturday. Field may be in serious competition for the job in the spring.

He was blunt after the game when asked if he has the confidence to compete to replace Cox next season.

“I don’t mean to sound cocky, but I’ve had the confidence,” said Field, who’s started once in his career, when Cox was hurt in 2005. “I’ve had it. I know this offense. It’s just a matter of getting me in there to play.”

And that seems to be the problem — getting him in the game and in practice. Field said he didn’t work at all with the second- or third-stringers in practice last week.

“I didn’t get any reps with the twos or threes at quarterback,” he said. “I never thought I’d be able to go out there and play quarterback.”

He came into the game concentrating on his special-teams duty. Midway through the season, Field was given the job of blocking the opponent’s snapper on punts.

After the game, Borges said Burns would still be the primary backup. “We’re going to stay the course,” he said.

That is, until spring.