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Byrum's three field goals lead Auburn over Arkansas

Oct 14, 2007 - 4:44 AM FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas (Ticker) -- It was ugly but a win.

Freshman Wes Byrum's third field goal of the game, a 20-yarder with 25 seconds left, lifted No. 22 Auburn to a 9-7 triumph over Arkansas in an exciting Southeastern Conference contest Saturday.

"We prevailed. That was about as ugly as it comes, but that is Auburn Football," Auburn coach Tommy Tubberville said. "They have a good football team. We held them to seven points and they have been averaging 42. "It showed a lot of character."

The Tigers shut down Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden all night and were holding a 6-0 lead until the Razorbacks capitalized on Byrum's 46-yard miss in the fourth quarter, marching 56 yards on six plays to take a 7-6 edge with 1:42 left.

Casey Dick capped the drive with a 13-yard scoring strike down the left sideline to Lucas Miller.

"That one long drive was a great drive," Houston coach Houston Nutt said. "Lucas Miller made a great catch and I thought that would have won it, but it didn't."

Prior to that drive, Arkansas managed just 127 yards in its first 10 possessions.

"It was a very frustrating game because we didn't execute well at all and couldn't move the ball," Dick said. "The defense played a great game, but we let them down offensively."

But Auburn responded after returning a short kickoff to its own 47-yard line.

Brandon Cox hit Robert Dunn for 30 yards to set the Tigers up at the 12. After three straight runs by Ben Tate netted nine yards, Byrum drilled his second game-winner of the season. He beat Florida earlier this season.

"I thought the two-minute drill at the end with Brandon was excellent," Tubberville said. "That is how you do it. You have to score a field goal and you move it down there to the 5-yard line."

"I knew there was enough time," Cox said. "Once our return team got it out near the 50 there was no question in my mind. I knew we would get it done."

Tate finished with 23 carries for 91 yards and Brad Lester added 21 carries for 89 yards for Auburn (5-2, 3-1 SEC West), which visits Louisiana State next week.

"That was our philosophy coming in to run it and see if we could wear their defensive front seven down," Tubberville said. "We did that. We have to be able to throw it a little bit more but that was my call. We almost let it get away from us."

McFadden, who entered averaging 156 yards per game, was held to 43 yards on 17 carries - just enough to become the school's all-time leading rusher at 3,581. Ben Cowins held the previous record of 3,570 set from 1975-78.

"Darren's a great back and a great player," Nutt said. "Even though he broke the record, but didn't play well. I know this one game doesn't make him any less of a running back. He's still a special player."

"I wasn't worried about breaking the record," McFadden said. "I had it in the back of my mind, but I wasn't thinking about it. I'm glad to be the top rushing leader in the school. It's a great achievement for me."

Arkansas (3-3, 0-3 West), which entered second in the country in rushing at 338 yards per game, was held to 24 yards in the first half and 67 for the game.

Auburn scored the only points of the first half after driving 67 yards on 14 plays to the Arkansas 5. But the Tigers couldn't gain a yard on the next three plays and had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Byrum.

Byrum tacked on another field goal - a 38-yarder - with 10:11 left in the game for a 6-0 lead. Tate ran six straight times for 23 yards on the seven-play drive.