Auburn sophomore quarterback Robby Ashford had just rushed for his first touchdown of Auburn’s 59-14 win over UMass on Saturday — a 10-yard scamper towards a juiced up Auburn student section — when he hustled his way back to the Tigers’ sideline.

The first one to meet him there? Payton Thorne — the junior Michigan State transfer who arrived at Auburn in May and eventually won the starting quarterback job. Thorne’s appointment as starter meant Ashford, who started at quarterback a majority of the 2022 season, would be demoted.

“The first few days after I found out, it was hard. I was kinda down on myself, kinda like, ‘Am I good enough?’ It didn’t feel like I was good enough,” Ashford admitted. “Had a few rough days.”

But Ashford brushed off those rough days and continued to compete and push Thorne.

“Payton’s done a great job, and I look at him like a brother. We come out there every day and just know we’re out here to make each other better and do whatever we can to help this team win,” Ashford said.

He and Ashford’s leaping sideline celebration in the second quarter was proof of each other’s “win at all costs” mentality.

Ashford continued on a tear through the second quarter, taking another pair of carries into the south endzone, much to the delight of the nearby Auburn student section.

Some might say Ashford spoiled Thorne’s debut or stole his thunder.

But did Ashford spoil it? Or did he show that he can be the fan-favorite side dish to the main entrée?

After Saturday’s showing it might be worth considering the latter.

“Every press conference I’ve been in, I’ve said that Robby Ashford is vital to us winning football games,” Freeze said following Auburn’s win over UMass. “I don’t know how else to say it. He’s vital to us winning football games. And I don’t know exactly what that looks like week to week, but he’s vital to us winning football game and we need him.”

In Week 1, as the Tigers were gifted with short field after short field, Ashford’s role was simple: command the Auburn offense in the red zone. It’s the perfect task for Ashford, whose skillset demands he be respected as a runner and a passer.

Ashford rushed for 51 yards on nine attempts with three touchdowns — one from 10 yards out, one from 1 yard out and one from 4 yards out.

But by no means did Ashford’s breakout point to struggles from Thorne.

In his debut with the Tigers, Thorne went 10-for-17 through the air with 141 yards and a passing touchdown. Thorne also displayed a willingness to run and move about the pocket, which is something his private quarterback trainer Will Hewlett said he’s never gotten enough credit for.

“He made three decisions that were not good, but I thought he played really solid and protected the football,” Freeze said of Thorne. “We didn’t ask him to do a whole lot in the passing game, truthfully. I thought he was really solid, and I know he’ll be ready to improve off of what he sees.”

Thorne’s lone touchdown pass — the first of his career at Auburn — came early in the third quarter as he made a 29-yard connection with sophomore wide receiver Jay Fair, who was the favorite target among Auburn’s rotating receivers.

“Right on the money,” Fair said of the Thorne’s pass. “Couldn’t ask for a better throw.”

With both Ashford and Thorne showcasing their different but complimentary skillsets, it begs the question if the Auburn offense might actually utilize a two-quarterback system down the stretch.

It wouldn’t be the first time Freeze ran an offense using two different guys under center.

In Freeze’s first year at Ole Miss in 2012, Bo Wallace was the Rebels’ main guy at quarterback. But Barry Brunetti also had a role, tallying 60 carries for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Brunetti also added another 196 passing yards and a passing touchdown.

But Ashford is probably three times the athlete Brunetti was and Freeze would agree with that. After naming Thorne the starter, Freeze went on to call Ashford the “most freakish athlete” he’s ever coached at the quarterback spot.

The season is young. And with all due respect to UMass, the Minutemen defense was from from the stingiest group the Tigers will see this season.

Yet Saturday’s showing on offense points to the realistic possibility of Ashford getting a nice share of the snaps at quarterback.

Regardless, Ashford assured that both he and Thorne will be ready.

“It’s just going out there and doing what coach tells us to do… going out there and executing the game plan, whether it’s me coming in there for a few plays, I’ve gotta go do that to the best of my ability,” Ashford said.

“We know we can do it. We’ve just gotta keep working. I mean, me and him are going to keep doing that. We’re going to keep being there for each other and keep building our relationship”