AUBURN, Ala. -- Not many things went well for Arkansas in the first half against Auburn Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium, but Adam McFain provided a ray hope at the end.
McFain, a senior walk-on from Greenwood, hit a career-long 54-yard field goal on the first half's final play to pull the Razorbacks within 28-3. It was the longest field goal by a Razorback since Zach Hocker hit a 54-yarder against Mississippi State in 2013.
No Arkansas kicker has made a field goal longer than 54 yards since Kendall Trainer's 58-harder against Miami in 1988.
McFain's field goal to end the half made him 4 for 4 on the season since replacing the struggling Cole Hedlund.
McFain earned Arkansas' kicking job midway through the 2014 season, then was injured going into last season and replaced by Hedlund.
Hedlund started the season making 4 of 6, but he also had misses from 22 and 46 yards. McFain reclaimed the job against Alabama.
Allen OK
Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen had to be helped off the field after being hit on the right knee by diving Auburn defensive lineman Carl Lawson in the second quarter.
Allen was replaced by Ty Storey for the next two plays -- which were pitches to tailback Rawleigh Williams -- but Allen came back to play the next series wearing a brace on his right knee.
Quick strike
Auburn freshman receiver Eli Stove took a handoff on a sweep and ran 79 yards for a touchdown on the Tigers' first offensive play.
It was the first time Auburn had scored on its first play since the 2003 Iron Bowl, when tailback Carnell Williams had an 80-yard touchdown in the Tigers' 28-23 victory over Alabama at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
For starters
Arkansas redshirt sophomore strong safety Santos Ramirez was back in the starting lineup in place of DeAndre Coley.
Coley, who started the previous three games, was ineligible to play in the first half because he was ejected for targeting against Ole Miss last week.
It was Ramirez's fifth start of the season. He started the first four games before sitting out against Alcorn State because of a leg injury, then played off the bench against Alabama and Ole Miss.
Good timeout
Arkansas trailed 21-0 early in the second quarter when Coach Bret Bielema decided to go for the first down on fourth-and-1 from the Razorbacks' 34.
Freshman tailback Devwah Whaley ran for an apparent first down, but the play was nullified because Auburn had called timeout.
Bielema then opted to punt.
Upon further review
Officials on the field ruled Auburn tailback Kamryn Pettway had lost a fumble that was stripped and recovered by Arkansas safety Santos Ramirez at the Tigers 42 in the second quarter.
The play was reviewed and replay officials ruled Pettway was on the ground before he lost the ball, so Auburn retained possession.
Keep 'em coming
Bret Bielema has faced a nationally-ranked team in exactly half of his games as Arkansas' coach.
Saturday night was Bielema's 46th game with the Razorbacks and 23rd against a ranked team. Auburn entered the night No. 21 in The Associated Press poll.
Auburn was the fifth ranked team Arkansas has played this season, along with No. 15 TCU, No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 1 Alabama and No. 12 Ole Miss.
The Razorbacks' next two games also are against ranked teams with No. 15 Florida and No. 25 LSU coming to Fayetteville.
Heated words
Arkansas and Auburn players exchanged heated words at midfield before the game.
The Razorbacks had gathered for their weekly pregame pep talk from senior defensive end Deatrich Wise and other team leaders and were standing on the Auburn logo.
The Tigers, who were gathering for their pre-game prayer, began circling and moving in on the Razorbacks.
Strength and conditioning coaches from both teams intervened and made sure it didn't escalate into a physical confrontation.
Wise then moved several yards away from the logo and the Razorbacks followed him for their meeting while the Tigers circled their logo and prayed.
Flag bearers
Arkansas senior cornerback Jared Collins carried the United States flag and senior wide receiver Dominique Reed carried the Arkansas flag when the Razorbacks ran onto the field.
Bo & Chuck
Charles Barkley, the former Auburn basketball star and Naismith Hall of Fame member, was honored on the field during a timeout.
Bo Jackson, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1985 as Auburn's senior tailback, announced during a video tribute that a statue honoring Barkley will be built on the campus.
Jackson -- who already has his own statue -- surprised Barkley on the field after the video was finished playing.
Gus' hat
Aiuburn improved to 4-0 since Tigers Coach Gus Malzahn began wearing a cap instead of his trademark visor.
Malzahn had been wearing a visor going back to his high school coaching days in Arkansas as a tribute to Steve Spurrier, who won a combined 122 games as an SEC coach at Florida and South Carolina.
Malzahn said earlier this season he decided to wear a cap at the urging of his daughters, Kylie and Kenzie.
"My two daughters have been getting on me that I'm getting bald up top, and they suggested I wear a hat instead of a visor," Malzahn said. "So that's where that came from."
Captain Keon
Arkansas senior wide receiver Keon Hatcher served as a team captain for the pregame coin toss in place of injured senior tailback Kody Walker, who underwent career-ending foot surgery last week.
Series history
Auburn is 14-11-1 all-time against Arkansas, including 7-5-1 in games played in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Sports on 10/23/2016