Hugh Freeze said he doesn’t normally talk to kickers, but changed on Saturday during Auburn’s 43-41 win over Texas A&M.

Newly named starting kicker Ian Vachon made two of his three field goals, but Freeze had feedback for him on the one missed attempt.

“I don’t know why, but I said, ‘Dude, that was the worst pass at a kick that I’ve ever seen you make,‘” Freeze said.

Neither the missed kick itself or Freeze’s words seemed to rattle Vachon, though, as he made his next field goal — a kick to send the game to overtime — and then drilled another one in overtime from 41 yards out.

“He just, man, shook it off,” Freeze said. “What a bounce back. Just so proud for him.”

Saturday was Vachon’s second game handling placekicking duties for Auburn, taking over for true freshman Towns McGough. Vachon made both of his field goals in Auburn’s 48-14 win over Louisiana-Monroe.

Vachon walked on at Auburn this season after spending two seasons at Birmingham-Southern before the school shut down. His journey to Auburn was another aspect that Freeze praised about Vachon’s performance.

“Can’t say enough about Ian. What a story,” Freeze said. “Football gets canceled at his school, we get him out of the classroom — and give Tanner [Burns] credit for that. And, here we are, a guy hitting some really critical kicks for us.”

With his two makes against Texas A&M, Vachon is now 4-for-5 on the season. More importantly, Auburn is now 5-6 and a win away from bowl eligibility. Without Vachon bouncing back and making the two late kicks, that wouldn’t be the case.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m