COL FB: Auburn 40, Washington St. 14

AUBURN, Ala., Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Kenny Irons rushed for 183 yards and a touchdown Saturday as the sixth-ranked Auburn Tigers beat Washington State, 40-14.

Brandon Cox threw for 191 yards and a touchdown on 11-of-18 passing. Brad Lester rushed for 37 yards and a touchdown and caught a 34-yard TD pass for the Tigers (1-0), who had a season-opening win for just the second time in the last five years.

DeMaundray Woolridge carried nine times for 86 yards while Alex Brink threw for only 67 yards on 11 completions. He threw a touchdown and an interception and Gary Rogers, his backup, went 6-of-9 for 83 yards and a touchdown for the Cougars (0-1).

A pair of field goals by John Vaughn gave Auburn an early 6-0 lead, but with 2:09 left in the opening quarter, the Cougars moved ahead 7-6 when Alex Brink capped a nine-play, 80-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Jason Hill.