AUBURN, Ala. — When Arkansas took possession at its 20-yard line with 10: 44 left in Saturday’s game at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Razorbacks center Jonathan Luigs made a request of running back Michael Smith and the receivers.

“I looked around the huddle and said, ‘How about one of you skill players busting out a home run right here ?’” Luigs said. “And sure enough, Michael came through.

“ We needed a big play to really change momentum, and Michael delivered.” Four plays after Luigs asked for a game-changing play, Smith made a 63-yard touchdown run to put Arkansas ahead to stay in a game the Razorbacks hung on to win 25-22 to break a threegame losing streak.

Smith, a redshirt junior listed at 5-7, 173 pounds, made the run on his 30 th carry of the game, and he dodged Auburn tacklers despite cramping up in both legs.

“I didn’t know it [would be a touchdown ] until I was in the end zone,” said Smith, who gave the Razorbacks a 25-20 lead with 8: 50 remaining. “I didn’t know who was behind me and how close they were.

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“ The offensive line did a great job of getting to their man and locking horns and gave me enough room to get into the secondary.” Smith made two Auburn players miss at the Tigers’ 20-yard line.

“We always practice splitting two [defenders ],” Smith said. “We actually have a drill for that. It was just kind of second nature for me.” Smith finished with career highs of 35 carries and 176 rushing yards and also caught 2 passes for 46 yards.

Including a 10-yard punt return, he had 232 all-purpose yards — 82 more than his SEC-leading average of 150 coming into the game.

It was the kind of performance that was routinely expected from Smith’s Arkansas predecessors at tailback — Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, who both were first-round NFL Draft picks last April.

“Michael’s been big for us all year,” Luigs said. “You know he had some big shoes to fill, but he just keeps us all going and keeps us believing.

“ You really couldn’t ask him to do any more. He lays his guts on the line every game.” Smith caused Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville to recall Arkansas’ 27-10 victory over the Tigers two years ago, when Mc-Fadden rushed for 145 yards and Jones 104.

“[Smith ] can run the ball, and no doubt about it,” Tuberville said. “It kind of reminded me of a couple of years ago when we couldn’t stop the run. It was a little perplexing.” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino praised Smith for his toughness and courage.

“He doesn’t take a lot of big hits. He’s very good at slipping and sliding and knowing how to not get hit real hard,” Petrino said. “Although I thought he got hit hard a couple of times [Saturday ], and that really concerned me.” Smith smiled and said he thought he took more than two or three body-jarring shots from Auburn’s defense.

“I didn’t know I had 35 carries. But my body knows. I took a beating.” Smith had 21 carries in the first half and got an IV at halftime. He also rode a stationary bicycle on the sideline to try and fend off cramping.

“Oh boy, I had almost played a full game by halftime,” Smith said when told he had 21 carries on the Razorbacks’ 45 first-half snaps. “But when your number is called, you’ve just got to go.”