Casey Dick (11) enjoys victory with Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino / Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

AUBURN, Ala. — After little Michael Smith ran the biggest run of his life, Arkansas mustered both it biggest goal-line stand and a game-clinching interception to reward coach Bobby Petrino his first SEC victory as a Razorback.

The Razorbacks, 3-3, 1-2 upset 20th-ranked Auburn, 25-22, dropping the Tigers to 3-3, 2-3 before a stunned, 85,782 in Saturday's SEC West game at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Smith's tackle-escaping 63-yard touchdown run with 8:50 left gave Arkansas a 25-20 lead, the Hogs' only lead other than the 3-0 lead when Shay Haddock's 27-yard field goal netted Arkansas' first first-quarter points of 2008.

Haddock kicked a 44-yard field goal, his career long, with 14:07 left in the game bringing Arkansas back to down, 20-19.

The Razorbacks then withstood a furious Auburn drive quarterbacked by an Arkansas native son, Kodi Burns of Fort Smith Northside, before hemming Burns in for a fourth and goal overthrow beyond the end zone from the four.

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The Hogs ran three downs, had punter Jeremy Davis take an intentional safety and finally iced it with safety Matt Harris intercepting a desperate Burns pass with 29 seconds left.

"It sure makes you smile and feel good," Petrino said.

Petrino has had little so smile about with three ranked powers Alabama, Texas and Florida pounding his Hogs, 49-14, 52-10 and 38-7 the last three games though saw breakthrough signs for three quarters last week versus Florida.

" I can't say enough," Petrino said "about our assistant coaches and players and how hard they prepared and how hard they fought. They showed a lot of character and a lof ot leadership. I am very, very proud of them."

Against one of the most renowned defenses in the country, Arkansas netted 416 yards total offense to Auburn's 193 including the 5-7 Smith's big 176 yards rushing on 35 carries and senior quarterback

Casey Dick completing 17 of 32 for 222 yards and catching a 6-yard double reverse flea flicker TD from freshman wide receiver Joe Adams.

"We were able to execute running and passing," Petrino said, "and had guys making big plays. Defensively we felt we had to stop the run and we did."

Arkansas' defense was superb. For the most part, Auburn's offense was set up by its defense and kicking game including Tristan Davis' 97-yard kick return touchdown on the kickoff after Haddock's first field goal, and two Wes Byrum field goals set up by interception returns of two Casey Dick passes.

The Hogs also suffered a blocked PAT after the Adams to Dick flea-flicker but perservered.

The Adams to Dick TD began with Dick handing off to freshman wideout Jarius Wright who gave it to Adams on the trick play preceding Smith's touchdown running away from from Auburn safety Zac Etheridge.

"It was time," Petrino said for the flea flicker. "We have worked on it a long, long time and our players worked it to perfection. It was gratifying to get our first conference win against a really good football team."

Dick made some big plays passing, including 31 and 39 yard passes to freshmen receivers Adams and Greg Childs and surprised with his feet including a 29-yard scramble on Arkansas' first-scoring drive and a

fourth and goal TD run from the one rolling right untouched after a beautiful fake handoff to Smith running left.

Prior to Auburn's last two drives, Arkansas defensive end Adrian Davis, who also had one of Arkansas' three interceptions along with linebacker Wendel Davis and Matt Harris at the end pressured Burns with a sack and

then an intentional grounding penalty to run valuable time off Auburn's clock.

"Our defense really gave us a lift," Petrino said. "And helped us with

field position."

Burns and alternating Auburn quarterback Chris Todd were only a combined 10 of 28 passing though Burns came back to ignite the Tigers at the end before the Harris pick insured the Razorbacks of their first conference conquest.

For Camden native and Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, Saturday's long game was the traumatic close to a traumatic week that included him firing offensive coordinator Tony Franklin last Wednesday.

"We didn't have a lot obviously on offense," Tuberville said, "and defensively we couldn't get off the field. It was just a tough night, a tough week overall.

We struggled in every area. Things keep snowballing on us."

And Smith was the little snowball Auburn couldn't melt.

"The guy could run the ball," Tuberville said. "No doubt."