Rayshawn Pleasant had two interceptions, including a go-ahead pick-six on Saturday, as the visiting Auburn Tigers rallied for a 33-24 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in Southeastern Conference play.
Alex McPherson made all six of his field goal attempts for the Tigers (4-4, 1-4 SEC), who snapped a four-game losing streak.
After Auburn starting quarterback Jackson Arnold was benched after throwing a pick-six late in the first half, Ashton Daniels completed 6 of 8 passes for 77 yards in his season debut. Jeremiah Cobb ran for 153 yards on 28 carries.
Taylen Green threw for 268 yards and a touchdown, but threw three fourth-quarter interceptions for Arkansas (2-6, 0-4), which dropped its sixth straight game.
Trailing 21-10 at halftime, Auburn cut its deficit to eight on McPherson’s 23-yard field goal on the Tigers’ opening drive of the second half. Justin Jones then blocked Arkansas’ punt, leading to McPherson’s 43-yarder to pull the Tigers within five with 5:05 left in the third.
Scott Starzyk’s 27-yard field goal gave the Razorbacks a 24-16 lead on their next possession, before McPherson’s 26-yard field goal trimmed Auburn’s deficit to five again with 12:03 remaining in the fourth.
Six plays into the subsequent Arkansas drive, Green’s pass was intercepted and returned 49 yards for a touchdown by Pleasant. Daniels ran in the two-point conversion, giving Auburn a 27-24 advantage with 9:15 left.
Arkansas’ miscues continued as wide receiver O’Mega Blake’s fumble was recovered and returned by Sylvester Smith to the Razorbacks’ 34-yard line.
Again unable to find the end zone, Auburn settled for McPherson’s 47-yard field goal attempt, which he made to give the Tigers a six-point lead with 6:23 to play.
Arkansas continued to unravel as Pleasant picked off Green again. McPherson knocked through a 37-yarder to give Auburn a nine-point lead with 1:06 remaining. Green then threw his third interception of the quarter, as Kensley Louidor-Faustin’s pick sealed the wild win.
Auburn led 10-0 after Arnold’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Cam Coleman and McPherson’s 23-yard field goal with 12:05 left in the second quarter. Arkansas answered with consecutive touchdown drives, as Green connected with Raylen Sharpe for a 58-yard touchdown before Braylen Russell’s 2-yard rushing score gave the Razorbacks a 14-10 lead with 5:24 remaining in the first half.
Arkansas took an 11-point lead into halftime as Kani Walker intercepted Arnold and returned it 89 yards for a score with 48 seconds left.
–Field Level Media
