AUBURN, Ala. — There was nothing moral about it. It was a well-deserved 25-22 victory.

There is never anything easy about winning on the road in the SEC, but the only place that the Arkansas Razorbacks’ game with Auburn was close was on the scoreboard, and that was because of first-half mistakes that disappeared in the second half.

After playing Florida close for three quarters, it was believed the Razorbacks were improving. After Saturday night, there is no doubt about that.

First-year Coach Bobby Petrino has his team moving forward.

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Granted, it was almost a storybook ending for Auburn. Earlier in the week, offensive coordinator Tony Franklin was fired and his preferred quarterback was replaced as the starter by Fort Smith’s Kodi Burns. He struggled until 5: 52 to play, when he marched the Tigers 76 yards, but with 1: 29 to play, on fourth-and-goal from the 4, his pass was high.

That didn’t end it, though. Auburn held the Hogs, and on fourth-and-4 from their own 10, Petrino had punter Jeremy Davis run out of the end zone, which put the Tigers one field goal away from a tie.

Burns got 8 yards and then dropped back on second-and-2 and threw high over the middle, but Arkansas free safety Matt Harris made a diving interception, scooping the ball off the turf with 29 seconds to play.

The main thing Saturday night that had to be encouraging for Petrino, his staff and the players — and the Hogs started the same number of freshmen as seniors (six ) — was that they hurt themselves in the first half with two interceptions and by allowing a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but simply refused to lose.

The Hogs started the second half with a fumble that Auburn converted into a 20-10 lead with a field goal.

At that point, the Razorbacks led in total yards 244-77, but instead of getting frustrated, they took on the persona of their coach, a Montana cowboy, and became gunslingers.

After trading possessions, the Hogs started a drive at their own, 38 and Casey Dick completed 3 of 3 passes for 45 yards. But on third-and-goal from the 1, Petrino went with some razzle-dazzle that flattened the Tigers.

Dick took the snap and handed it to Jarius Wright, who flipped it to Joe Adams, a left-hander, who then threw a perfect strike to Dick for the touchdown, but some of the dew was quickly off the lily as Arkansas missed the extra point and trailed 20-16.

As the third quarter ran out the Hogs got pressure on Auburn’s other quarterback, Chris Todd, who rushed his throw. Adrian Davis made the interception, which led to a 44-yard field goal by Shay Haddock and a 20-19 deficit with 14: 07 to play.

Burns then mounted a 58-yard drive for the home team, but it ended with a missed field goal at the 16.

That was when the smallest back on the field became the biggest runner in the game.

On Michael Smith’s 30 th carry of the night, his third consecutive run, he broke up the middle for 63 yards and a touchdown. It was his cut at the 27 that forced two defenders who had an angle on him to collide with each other.

Smith, who is listed as 5-7, 173 pounds, finished the night with 176 yards on 35 carries.

If the Hogs didn’t officially turn the corner Saturday night, they made a statement for their fans.

There is no quit in them.

No one is ever going to confuse this group with one of the more talented Razorbacks teams, but it seems this group has decided its legacy will not be that of moral victories and what should have been.

Less than a month ago, there were questions whether these guys would win another game after getting spanked by Alabama at home. That was followed by a manhandling by Texas, but those two could be — should be — ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation later today.

Now the Hogs are 3-3, and they made it clear Saturday that they are not going away quietly.

In the final 30 minutes, the Razorbacks’ defense forced Auburn into three-and-out four times, and when it seemed the Tigers might find a way to write a fairy-tale ending, the defense was intense.

Now, with a genuine victory, fans will start dreaming of a bowl, because the Razorbacks are improving every week.