On Saturday in Fayetteville, it was a game between two teams still playing for the bowl season. The road team, the Auburn Tigers, came in at 5-4 and one win away from bowl eligibility. For the Arkansas Razorbacks, they needed to win out to make it to the postseason. The Auburn Tigers become bowl-eligible with a rout of the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Tigers started fast with a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and had their best offensive performance of the season. Auburn put up 517 total yards with 354 on the ground. Quarterback Payton Thorne led the way with 163 yards passing and 88 rushing. He had a total of four touchdowns as well. Running back Jarquez Hunter had another good game with 109 yards.
The defense controlled the game most of the way. Arkansas quarterback K.J. Jefferson was met with constant pressure, and the Razorbacks could never find their rush attack. They were held to 255 total yards on day. Jalen Mcleod led the Tigers with nine total tackles and three sacks. The team had five overall sacks on Saturday. The Auburn Tigers become bowl-eligible with the sixth win but they will look for win number seven next week against New Mexico State at home.
Auburn Tigers Become Bowl Eligible
Auburn Starts Fast
The Tigers got off to a fast start with a Thorne touchdown off a zone read play. After faking a handoff to Hunter, Thorne took it in for a 12-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0 with 12:37 in the first quarter. On the second play of the drive, Thorne connected with receiver Caleb Burton for 45 yards off an RPO. The quarterback had three carries for 28 yards on the possession.
The Tigers forced a punt on the first Razorbacks drive, and they found the endzone again. Keionte Scott took a 48-yard punt by Max Fletcher 74 yards for a touchdown to put the Tigers up 14-0 with 10:44 in the quarter. That is the longest play of the season for Auburn. The Tigers were not done in the first quarter forcing another three and out.
After another punt by Fletcher, the Tigers got the ball at their own 44-yard line. This drive featured more runs from Hunter, but again a big play passing got Auburn in scoring position. On first and ten at the Arkansas 45, Thorne found Ja’Varrius Johnson on a quick pass for a 27-yard gain. That play put the Tigers at the 18. Three plays later Thorne found tight end Rivaldo Fairweather for an 11-yard touchdown. With 6:28 remaining in the quarter Auburn was up 21-0.
Auburn forced another quick punt by the Razorbacks and looked to add another score in the opening quarter. Then Arkansas got the big play they needed when Thorne made a bad decision. At their own 41, the quarterback was intercepted by Dwight McGlothern and he returned it to the Auburn 22. The Tigers’ defense stepped up and held Arkansas to a Cam Little field goal of 39 yards. The Auburn defensive front started this game getting constant pressure on Jefferson and did so to cover up the Thorne mistake.
Defense Holds Serve
The Auburn offense slowed down in the second quarter with punts by Oscar Chapman on their first two possessions. The Auburn defense, however, continued to silence the Razorbacks offense. Arkansas did threaten and made it to the Auburn 46 with 9:08 in the quarter. The Tigers’ defense prevented any more advancement and forced another punt.
Auburn started the next drive at its own five and went on a 13-play, 73-yard drive that took up 5:40 off the clock. The drive did not result in a touchdown but an Alex McPherson field goal of 39 yards. The drive stalled at the Arkansas 17 when Thorne was sacked by Trajan Jeffcoat for a loss of five yards. Auburn went heavy on the run with Hunter gaining 24 yards and Thone getting 28 yards on the ground.
The score of 24-3 looked to be the score going until halftime, but the Tigers’ defense had other ideas. On a third and 17, Jefferson was hit by McLeod to force a fumble that was recovered by Marcus Harris. That turnover put the Tigers at the 24 with 21 seconds until halftime. An 11-yard run by Hunter put them at the 13-yard line, and McPherson put up another three points with a 31-yard field goal to up 27-3 at halftime. That was the 17th consecutive made field goal by McPherson with his only career miss coming last season in his very first kick.
The Rout is On
Auburn started the second half by making the score 34-3. At the 9:26 mark, Thorne found a wide-open Johnson for a 14-yard touchdown. The two connected three times on the drive, and Hunter had two big runs for a combined 29 yards on the drive. Arkansas got the biggest play of the game on the following possession. On first and 10 at their own 48, Jefferson completed a 35-yard pass to Isaiah Sategna to get to the Tigers 17. On the following play, Raheim Sanders fumbled after being hit by Zion Puckett. Caleb Wooden picked up the fumble and returned it to the Arkansas 11 for 74 yards. Thorne connected with Fairweather for his second touchdown with 7:06 in the third to go up 41-3.
Auburn got the ball back after an Arkansas punt and added more points. They leaned heavily on their three running backs with Hunter, Brian Battie, and Damari Alston getting the carries. The trio combined for 65 yards and Battie got a seven-yard touchdown to go up 48-3 with 14 seconds left in the quarter.
Garbage Time
The Razorbacks finally made it to the endzone in the final quarter. A 60-yard run by Jacolby Criswell got Arkansas to the Auburn 11, Criswell then would find Isaac Teslaa for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 48-10 with 14:35 remaining. Auburn would then get some playing time for some of the backups including quarterback Robby Ashford. He did not lead the team to any points but did have an interception with the Tigers moving the ball. The final score would read 48-10 and the Auburn Tigers become bowl eligible.
