After missing seven games due to a gastrointestinal illness, Auburn football star kicker Alex McPherson made his debut Saturday night against Kentucky.

Although freshman Towns McGough handled kickoffs, McPherson returned to play early in the second quarter. Following a KeAndre Lambert-Smith touchdown catch, the redshirt sophomore made his first extra point of the season. Later in the quarter, he added a field goal, his first since November 2023.

McPherson, the younger brother of Cincinnati Bengals and ex-Florida kicker Evan McPherson, is a native of Fort Payne. He starred for the Wildcats in high school, ranking second in AHSAA history in career field goals.

More Auburn Football: Auburn football vs Kentucky score today: Live updates, highlights from Week 9 SEC game

More Auburn Football: Is Auburn football playing to win games or just not lose them? What Hugh Freeze said

McPherson's 27-yard kick with 3:57 to go in the first half tied the game at 10. Auburn fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter before charging back to tie the contest going into the locker room at halftime.

The made field goal ran his streak to 20 in a row, dating back to the 2022 season. In 2023 he was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, making 13 of 13 field goals and all 40 extra-point attempts.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn kicker Alex McPherson returns from illness vs Kentucky