Auburn 26, Arkansas 23: Byrum Brown Sparks Comeback and Alex McPherson Kicks Late Winning Field Goal

Auburn rallied from a 10-3 halftime deficit to beat Arkansas 26-23 at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7. Alex McPherson kicked the go-ahead field goal with 33 seconds left.

Quarterback Byrum Brown threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns and ran for about 120 more, according to the Associated Press. Auburn’s official site credited him with three second-half touchdowns as the Tigers scored 23 points after halftime.

A slow start for Auburn

Arkansas controlled the first half. Max Gilbert’s 38-yard field goal and a 2-yard Braylen Russell touchdown run put the Razorbacks up 10-0. Auburn’s official site said Sutton Smith set up the touchdown drive with a 65-yard run.

Auburn picked up only one first down across a five-drive stretch, the school reported, but its defense kept the game close. AnQuon Fegans intercepted a pass, his third interception in four games, and McPherson’s 33-yard field goal with three seconds left in the half made it 10-3.

The second-half rally

Brown found Chas Nimrod for a 15-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter, but the extra point was missed, leaving Auburn behind 10-9. Gilbert answered with a 37-yard field goal, and Arkansas led 13-9.

Auburn then went 75 yards in 12 plays, and Brown’s 5-yard touchdown run gave the Tigers a 16-13 lead with 12:50 to play. Arkansas tied it at 16 on a 46-yard Gilbert field goal that bounced in off the left upright.

After Arkansas muffed a punt and pinned itself deep, Auburn’s defense forced a punt with back-to-back sacks. Brown opened the next drive with a 39-yard run. Then, on third-and-12, he avoided a sack and hit Keshaun Singleton for a 28-yard touchdown and a 23-16 lead with 3:56 left, according to Auburn’s official account.

Arkansas answered fast. Quarterback KJ Jackson completed a 43-yard pass to his tight end and then threw a 23-yard touchdown to Antonio Jordan, tying the game at 23 with 1:54 remaining.

McPherson does it again

Auburn drove 50 yards in 10 plays to set up McPherson, who put the Tigers ahead with 33 seconds left. The AP called it his second game-winning field goal of the season, after his winner against Georgia. Accounts of the distance differ: the AP described it as a 42-yarder, while Auburn’s official site and ESPN’s scoring summary list it at 43 yards.

“I think that’s how you build a football program: is that you build depth through young guys,” Auburn coach Alex Golesh said after the Tigers’ fourth one-possession win, per the AP.

Toodle’s breakout debut

Freshman linebacker Shadarius Toodle made his college debut and filled in for the injured Demarcus Riddick. He finished with 11 tackles, three sacks and several tackles for loss, according to ESPN’s box score and the AP. The AP also reported that several other Auburn defensive players were hurt during the game, including Cody Sigler.

Arkansas’ side

Jackson finished 14 of 30 passing with a touchdown and an interception. The AP said his negative rushing yards hurt the Razorbacks’ momentum. Arkansas still ran the ball well, with Cam Settles going over 100 yards, and the team finished well above its season rushing average.

“Clearly the tale of two halves,” Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield said, per the AP.

Records and what’s next

Auburn improved to 5-4 (3-4 SEC) and plays at Mississippi State next Saturday. Arkansas fell to 3-6 (1-5) and hosts No. 21 South Carolina, according to the AP.

FAQ