Hogs upset No. 20 Auburn
Smith leads way as Arkansas wins first SEC game
Derek Oxford
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: Sports
Finally, after nearly a month of frustration, the losing streak is over.
Arkansas held on to defeat No. 20 Auburn Saturday 25-22, pushing its record back to .500 overall and earning an important Southeastern Conference road victory in the process.
Senior quarterback Casey Dick ran for one touchdown and caught another on a pass from freshman wide receiver Joe Adams, and the Razorback defense put on its finest effort of the season, holding an already struggling Auburn offense to only 193 total yards.
"It was a great football game," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "They made plays, we made plays. Our players really stepped up and executed and played with a lot of heart. It was very hard fought. We hung on and won the game at the end."
The outcome wasn't decided until a pass from Fort Smith native Kodi Burns was intercepted by Arkansas safety Matt Harris with under a minute remaining in the game.
The Razorbacks received a stellar rushing effort from Michael Smith, as the junior running back darted through the Auburn defense for 176 yards on 35 carries.
No run was bigger than his 30th carry of the game, with Arkansas trailing by one.
Smith took a handoff and ran through the Auburn secondary, winning a footrace to the end zone. It gave Arkansas a 25-20 lead, its first lead since the opening quarter.
"He hit a homerun, and that was really great," Petrino said. "He played really well all night."
Arkansas (3-3, 1-2 SEC) put points on the scoreboard in the first quarter for the first time this season when Shay Haddock nailed a 27-yard field goal, capping a 13-play, 71-yard drive that gave the Razorbacks a 3-0 lead.
But Auburn's Tristan Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, the first kickoff return for a touchdown the Razorbacks have given up since LSU's Trindon Holliday went 92 yards against Arkansas in 2006.
"It feels pretty good, but I am still a little bit nicked up," Davis said of his kickoff return. "My speed is coming back and I am getting more looks in the games. I was excited when I got outside. I saw the Arkansas guy coming in, but I knew he was not going to catch me. I have been working really hard trying to do this [take a kick back]."
Arkansas held on to defeat No. 20 Auburn Saturday 25-22, pushing its record back to .500 overall and earning an important Southeastern Conference road victory in the process.
Senior quarterback Casey Dick ran for one touchdown and caught another on a pass from freshman wide receiver Joe Adams, and the Razorback defense put on its finest effort of the season, holding an already struggling Auburn offense to only 193 total yards.
"It was a great football game," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "They made plays, we made plays. Our players really stepped up and executed and played with a lot of heart. It was very hard fought. We hung on and won the game at the end."
The outcome wasn't decided until a pass from Fort Smith native Kodi Burns was intercepted by Arkansas safety Matt Harris with under a minute remaining in the game.
The Razorbacks received a stellar rushing effort from Michael Smith, as the junior running back darted through the Auburn defense for 176 yards on 35 carries.
No run was bigger than his 30th carry of the game, with Arkansas trailing by one.
Smith took a handoff and ran through the Auburn secondary, winning a footrace to the end zone. It gave Arkansas a 25-20 lead, its first lead since the opening quarter.
"He hit a homerun, and that was really great," Petrino said. "He played really well all night."
Arkansas (3-3, 1-2 SEC) put points on the scoreboard in the first quarter for the first time this season when Shay Haddock nailed a 27-yard field goal, capping a 13-play, 71-yard drive that gave the Razorbacks a 3-0 lead.
But Auburn's Tristan Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, the first kickoff return for a touchdown the Razorbacks have given up since LSU's Trindon Holliday went 92 yards against Arkansas in 2006.
"It feels pretty good, but I am still a little bit nicked up," Davis said of his kickoff return. "My speed is coming back and I am getting more looks in the games. I was excited when I got outside. I saw the Arkansas guy coming in, but I knew he was not going to catch me. I have been working really hard trying to do this [take a kick back]."
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