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Auburn Falls at Home to Arkansas, 24-7
AUBURN - The Arkansas
Razorbacks forced five Auburn turnovers and sacked Tiger quarterbacks
eight times in a 24-7 Razorback win Saturday afternoon before 85,819
fans at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn (1-4, 0-3 SEC), which had only allowed nine sacks this season
coming into today's game, gave up eight in the contest. Conversely,
Arkansas (2-4, 1-2 SEC) surpassed its season total in the game; the
Hogs had recorded seven sacks all season before today.
The Razorbacks outgained the Tigers, 372-321, including a 130-40
advantage in rushing yards, yet Auburn had 22 first downs to Arkansas'
19. Auburn also matched a season-high with five turnovers and was
unable to take advantage of Arkansas' two giveaways.
Emory Blake paced the Auburn offense with 10 catches for 118 yards and
Auburn's only score. During the game, he hauled in his 100th career
reception, becoming the eighth Auburn player to reach that mark, and
now has 1,573 receiving yards for his career to move into a tie for
10th all-time at Auburn.
Travante Stallworth, Trovon Reed and Onterio McCalebb each caught two
passes for a combined 93 yards. Stallworth had 40, Reed had 37 and
McCalebb finished with 16 yards.
The Tigers used three quarterbacks for the first time this season.
Kiehl Frazier earned the start and finished 9-of-14 for 118 yards and
one interception, but was sacked four times in the game. Clint Moseley
saw his first game action of the season, finishing 13-of-21 for 163
yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two picks and was sacked four
times. Jonathan Wallace did not attempt a pass but rushed twice for 11
yards.
Mike Blakely led the Auburn rushing game with 38 yards on seven
carries, and Tre Mason carried six times for 32 yards. McCalebb also
had seven carries for 24 yards.
Jonathon Mincy had eight tackles, including one for loss, to lead the
Auburn defense. Jermaine Whitehead, Demetruce McNeal and Daren Bates
had seven tackles apiece, including a sack for Bates.
Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson finished 20-for-27 for 216 yards, and
Dennis Johnson rushed 17 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Cobi
Hamilton led the Razorback receivers with five catches for 72 yards.
The Razorbacks struck first, taking their second possession of the game
80 yards in 10 plays, capped by a two-yard touchdown run from Dennis
Johnson to take a 7-0 lead with just over a minute left in the first
quarter.
Arkansas took advantage of an Auburn turnover deep in Tiger territory
midway through the second quarter and increased its lead to 10-0 on a
27-yard field goal from Zach Hocker with 6:33 to play in the half; the
score would remain 10-0 at the half.
After neither team could generate much offense throughout the third
quarter, Auburn mounted a 5-play, 68-yard scoring drive late in the
period, cutting the deficit to 10-7 on a 21-yard touchdown pass from
Moseley to Blake with 0:33 left. All five plays on the scoring drive
went for positive yardage, including a 22-yard completion to Tre Mason
and a 13-yard rush by Mike Blakely.
But Arkansas would answer on its next possession, moving 75 yards in
five plays and pushing the advantage back to 10 points on a trick play,
resulting in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Mitchell to Javontee
Herndon with 13:30 left in the game. It marked the first time this
season for the Hogs to score in the second half of an SEC game.
Arkansas would then put the game out of reach after Auburn's third
turnover of the game gave the Razorbacks a short field. Seven plays and
40 yards later, Johnson went over left guard for his second touchdown
of the day to make it 24-7 with 8:20 to play.
The Tigers would put together two more drives into Arkansas territory,
but two interceptions in the end zone late in the fourth quarter would
end Auburn's comeback chances.
Auburn will hit the road next week, traveling to Oxford, Miss., for an
SEC showdown with Ole Miss. Kickoff is set for 11:21 a.m. on the SEC
Network.
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