10/30 at 01:02 AM

Gene Chizik knew his team had the resiliency to bounce back from its worst loss under his watch.

He just wanted to see it.

Saturday, he had a front-row seat.

After suffering a 35-point road drubbing to the No. 1 team in the nation just seven days prior, Auburn had two choices against Ole Miss: It could roll over or it could get up.

The Tigers chose the latter and are standing at 6-3.

Bowl eligible, baby.

That’s right, Auburn got to the magic number before the calendar flipped to November, with three of those victories coming in October against one of the toughest five-game stretches in the country.

Impressive.

What’s more is just how good the Tigers looked getting up off the mat after being slammed by top-ranked LSU in Baton Rouge last week.

Auburn found its rhythm on offense, continued its steady defensive play and won going away in a crucial swing game right before its bye week.

“That was a big win for us,” Chizik said.

It sure was.

It was also a much-needed win, not only for the record book, but for the confidence of this young team that is getting more mature by the snap.

Especially at quarterback. This was big for Clint Moseley all the way around.

After making the toughest first start in the history of first starts last week at LSU, 2-5 Ole Miss was a cake walk for the sophomore from Leroy, who tossed four touchdown passes and threw just three incompletions.

It also helped tremendously to have wide receiver Emory Blake back in the lineup. Obviously.

Man, the Tigers have missed having a consistent (OK … any) threat at wide receiver.

For just as crucial as Mike Dyer and Onterio McCalebb are to the running game, Blake is twice as important to the passing game.

Just look back at the games. When Blake is playing, Auburn is moving the ball and winning, aside from Clemson.

When he’s out? Well, you’ve seen the last three games.

Emory Blake is a sight for sore offense.

“I think he gives everybody confidence,” offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said.

Blake just makes this team better. Way better.

Like Malzahn said, he brings confidence to a group that can finally do something with it.

And it wasn’t just the yardage or points it put up — although that was key — it was the way the offense took control of the game in the third quarter.

Two scoring drives with the game still in the balance were the difference in the game.

And the difference was Auburn’s confidence.

That’s taking advantage. That’s driving the nail home. That’s turning off the lights. That’s … whatever other cliché you can think of.

That’s what this offense has been missing.

No, not the clichés, the knockout punch.

The ability to get up and swing and connect.

The confidence.

MIKE SZVETITZ is sports editor of the Opelika-Auburn News. He may be reached at or 737-2513.