Posted on 10/07/2006 1:09:57 PM PDT by Lunatic Fringe
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Arkansas relied on a swarming defense and the rushing tandem of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones to beat No. 2 Auburn 27-10 Saturday, severely damaging the Tigers' national title hopes.
McFadden rushed for 145 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown run, and Jones ran for 104, leading the Razorbacks to the stunning victory.
Jones' 1-yard touchdown run gave Arkansas (4-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) a 24-10 lead late in the third quarter that was too much for a sputtering Auburn offense to overcome.
The Tigers (5-1, 3-1) had already survived two SEC scares, salvaging wins over South Carolina and No. 9 LSU on late defensive stops. The Razorbacks were the ones making most of the big plays this time.
The 15-point underdogs sacked Brandon Cox five times, including once by Jamaal Anderson and Keith Jackson on fourth-and-9 from the Arkansas 39 on the final play of the third quarter.
On their next possession, the Tigers went three-and-out for the third time in the game. They weren't able to muster any more threats.
It was a matchup of the only SEC West teams without a league loss, but with much of the conference's focus being on Auburn and LSU, the Razorbacks had been overlooked. They lingered on the field or a few minutes celebrating with fans.
Arkansas punctuated the big win with a 22-yard field goal by Jeremy Davis with 3:53 left. That sent Auburn fans scurrying for the exits, but the game appeared out of reach well before that.
Auburn had won 20 of its last 21 games against SEC opponents and was chasing its second undefeated season in three years. Now, the Tigers have to win out and hope Arkansas loses another league game to earn a spot in the league championship game.
The Razorbacks capitalized on an Auburn mistake to push its lead to two touchdowns. Jones' TD capped a drive that began at the Auburn 34 after Kody Bliss's 19-yard punt.
Flanker Reggie Fish set up the score with a 25-yard run after lining up kneeling near freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain.
Arkansas didn't need much trickery against the nation's No. 3 scoring defense, with Jones and McFadden racking up big yards up the middle and by sprinting outside. The Razorbacks made it easy on Mustain by running on 36 of their final 38 plays.
He was an efficient 7-of-10 passing for 87 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown to Marcus Monk, and wasn't sacked.
Arkansas held tailback Kenny Irons to 75 yards on 15 carries. Cox was 17-of-29 for 153 yards, but seldom had time to look downfield. The Tigers managed just 213 total yards while Arkansas had 366.
The Razorbacks had used two big plays to take a 17-10 halftime lead over the Tigers in the second quarter. First, Monk reached over a falling Jonathan Wilhite for the ball and ran into the end zone.
After Auburn failed on fourth-and-5 from the Arkansas 34, McFadden burst through the middle and outran the defense for a 63-yard TD with 5 minutes left in the first half. It was the first rushing touchdown Auburn has allowed this season.
Brad Lester brought the Tigers immediately downfield with a 68-yard kick return from the end zone. Auburn had to settle for John Vaughn's 36-yard field goal, making him the school's top-scoring kicker.
The Tigers wouldn't score again.
You know: the Fighting Irish, God's team!
My name on all of the Razorback boards is
Napigleon Boarnaporke
We dominated the Eagles or Elephants or Tigers or whatever the heck they call themselves at any given time.
Ran it 35 out of 37 times in the second half.
Maybe their defensive line decided to take the day off.
why do you think I still say Roll Tide (with pride I might add) even when we suck!
Serves the cheaters right... Guess the refs couldn't give them 2 games this season.
I've never understood that old saying "Luck of the Irish."
After gettinbg their butts kicked by the English for centuries, the Potato famine etc...
When in the hell have the Irish ever been lucky?
lol, reminds me of John Belushi's SNL skit:
"Let's talk about the BAD luck of the Irish....I knew this guy Danny Sullivan, we used to drink together, after two beers he'd look like a drunken Irish pirate....."
I understand completely. Remember the "Terry Bowden" era when those of us who supported Auburn suffered? And, yes, I very much appreciate the pain and suffering ya'l have had to deal with - off and on - since Bear Bryant retired. Even I was thrilled he won his last game against Auburn. One of the few times I sorta pulled for Bama against Auburn. :-)
How fitting.
It's not kind to rub salt in the wound. The slits on my wrist are still seeping. On the other hand, that's one thing I do love about the SEC (even if I do live in Corpus Christi these days) - the rankings and stats don't mean jack!
Grudgingly I will admit ya'll did good today. And, yes, Auburn's defensive line seemed to have not showed up for the game.
On the other hand, Navy beat Air Farce today! Life is not so bad after all.
Ar-Kansas still has to play Tennessee, the Ol' Ball Coach AND LSU. I'll be surprised if any SEC team finishes undefeated this year. UF certainly can't coast...yet.
I'm sure AU will be looking to prove they're better than they looked today. I'm still looking for Bama to Rammer Jammer that thumb up AU's bovine posterior!
Arkansas (4-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) entered as 15-point underdogs and left with the SEC West lead.
"We want people to respect us," said tailback Darren McFadden, who ran for 145 yards and a 63-yard touchdown against a defense that hadn't allowed a TD on the ground all season.
"We came out here with the mentality that we were going to earn that respect."
Auburn (5-1, 3-1) becomes the first top-10 team to lose to an unranked opponent this season, a huge blow to its national title hopes. The Tigers leave with questions about a defense abused for 279 rushing yards and an offense that totaled 213 yards.
"They beat us to the punch on both sides of the ball," Tigers coach Tommy Tuberville said. "We've got to find ways to get it done, especially at home. We're disappointed but this is not over. This was the first half of the season."
McFadden carried 28 times and Felix Jones gained 104 yards on 13 carries, pounding out yards inside and occasionally busting outside for big gains.
Arkansas hadn't beaten a team ranked so high since a 42-11 in over No. 1 Texas in 1981.
It was ugly enough for Tuberville to offer this assessment: "We're not that bad a football team."
Must say I was surprised that they won, and won so convincingly. hats off to the Hogs.
and yet on another channel today...
How 'bout them Hawkeyes!
Iowa 47 Purdue 17
Go Hawks!
Woooooooooo, Pig ! Sooie!
Woooooooooo, Pig ! Sooie!
Woooooooooo, Pig ! Sooie!
Razorbacks!!
Why do you find that so difficult? We are the Tigers. We say "War Eagle" like you say "Sooey Pig"...
I was at that game too. We had a great time there. Never been to Columbia before. All the Gamecocks were friendly and very helpful. It was a really scary game for us. We were at the Arkansas game today. Couldn't believe the outcome! You guys are doing great tonight.
Hey, I am still smarting after Georgia pulled that freshman running back out of their hat back in 1980 that ran all over us or the last minute comeback in 2001. It works out....some days your the wagon, others the mule.
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