AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Byrum Brown threw for 180 yards with two touchdowns and ran for another 120 yards as Auburn defeated Arkansas 26-23 on Saturday.
Alex McPherson, the hero of the Auburn-Georgia game, kicked his second game-winning field goal of the season. McPherson kicked the 42-yarder with only 33 seconds left, forcing Arkansas into a desperation moment they couldn’t convert.
After a slow first half, Auburn (5-4, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) used the momentum of a field goal right before halftime to score 23 points in the second half.
After winning their fourth one-possession game, Tigers coach Alex Golesh talked about what these close wins mean to the program.
“I think that’s how you build a football program: is that you build depth through young guys,” Golesh said. “And today, I thought it was a really, really good example to our entire program and some other guys that maybe aren’t playing.”
A trio of Auburn receivers stepped up for the Tigers as Keshaun Singleton, Chas Nimrod, and Christian Neptune each had at least five catches, with Singleton and Nimrod finding the end zone. Singleton led with six catches and 58 yards.
Arkansas quarterback KJ Jackson improved as the game progressed, going 14 for 30 with 188 yards. He threw for 123 yards in the second half and a fourth-quarter touchdown to tie the game at 23. However, his negative 20 yards on the ground ruined the momentum for Arkansas in the second half. Jackson was aided, however, by the running game as the Razorbacks (3-6, 1-5) ran for 179 yards, 74 more than their season average.
Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield talked about the differentiation of halves for the Razorbacks.
“Clearly the tale of two halves. Proud of what we did defensively in the first half, offensively, I wish we could have capitalized more.”
Auburn linebacker out for the season
After the game, Golesh said sophomore linebacker Bryce Deas will miss the rest of the season after suffering an unspecified injury during practice Wednesday.
Golesh said Deas got a second and third opinion before having surgery Friday.
The takeaway
Arkansas: The Razorbacks’ running game got back on track. They entered Jordan-Hare Stadium ranked last in the SEC in rushing yards per game, averaging 105 yards per game this season. Arkansas rushed for more than that in the first half, as Sutton Smith’s 65-yard run boosted led to 111 rushing yards before halftime. They finished with a total of 184 yards on the ground.
Auburn: Injuries along the defensive front seven plagued the Tigers as Riddick, Cody Sigler, and several others were injured throughout the game. Freshman linebacker Toodle stepped up in the absence of Riddick with 11 tackles, three sacks, and four and a half tackles for loss.
Up next
Auburn will play on the road next Saturday against Mississippi State.
Arkansas will host No. 21 South Carolina next Saturday