LITTLE ROCK — This time miracles on Markham abounded for both Arkansas and LSU, but no miracle saved Arkansas at the finish.

So despite miracles by Arkansas tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, eighth-ranked LSU held off fifth-ranked Arkansas, 31-26 Friday before a full house of 55, 383 at War Memorial Stadium plus a CBS TV audience looking on at home. All got their viewing’s worth with a wild one as LSU finishes 10-2, 6-2 in the SEC and awaits a January

bowl assignment while Arkansas, though unable to close spotless in the SEC, nonetheless at 10-2, 7-1, forges on as SEC West champion to the Dec. 2 SEC Championship game in Atlanta against East champion Florida.

The Razorbacks as SEC champion would advance to the Sugar Bowl if they beat Florida or presumably either the Cotton Bowl or Capital One Bowl if they don’t.

Down to the last, Arkansas coach Houston Nutt believed his Razorbacks would pull out another Miracle on Markham like 2002 when quarterback Matt Jones closed an improbable comeback victory over LSU with a touchdown pass in the final seconds.

“ I thought we were going to do it, ” Nutt said, “ but golly... a kickoff return [Trindon Holliday’s 92-yard touchdown ], getting intercepted in our red zone... we gave a good football team too many gifts, but we showed why we are going to Atlanta. We showed the heart of a champion. ”

McFadden rushing 182 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, and Jones, rushing 137 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries ran through an LSU defense that had never allowed a tripledigit rusher.

But the Hogs ran out of downs on Casey Dick’s fourth-down incompletion.

Though he did throw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Monk, Dick only completed 3 of 17 for 29 yards, threw an interception setting up an LSU touchdown and was sacked on a critical fourthand-3 in LSU territory.

“ I obviously didn’t play to the best of my abilities, ” Dick said. “ I take full responsibility for that. ”

Nutt disputed Dick shouldering the L.

“ That’s the nation’s toprated defense, ” Nutt said. “ Casey was a little off, but you’ve got to see that defense with 6-6, 300-pound guys who run like deer. ”

And those deer spent much of the day vainly pursuing McFadden and Jones.

“ I never thought they would have [close to ] 300 yards rushing, ” LSU coach Les Miles said of Arkansas’ 298 yards net rushing, “ or score 26 points. It took a special effort today. ”

LSU got them with Holliday’s 92-yard kick return touchdown immediately answering McFadden’s 80-yard TD, 6-6, 260-pound quarterback JaMarcus Russell (14 of 22 for 210 yards ) completing a 47-yard touchdown to Craig Davis and a 7-yard TD pass to Early Doucet after LSU safety LaRon Landry’s 23-yard return of a Dick pick, and a Russell third-quarter shovel pass that was as big as any play of the day.

Three Hogs seemed to be sacking Russell when he shoveled a third-and-9 desperation toss to tailback Justin Vincent who took it for 25 yards to the LSU 46. It fueled a drive consuming 7: 24 and netting Colt David’s 27-yard field goal with 7: 24 left in the third quarter.

“ That was a big-time play by JaMarcus Russell, ” Nutt said. “ He’s sacked and he gets it off to a back. A great player making a great play. ”

Arkansas opened with great players making great plays. Jones ran the game’s first play from scrimmage 40 yards to the LSU 40. McFadden as a quarterback threw 28 to Robert Johnson to the LSU 5 and then scored from the 1 at 12: 30.

However, Arkansas’ Jeremy Davis missed a PAT from which Arkansas never quite recovered.

It allowed LSU to lead, 7-6 and 14-12 as a Dick 2-point pass failed after Arkansas the second-quarter Dick to Monk touchdown pass. Those two PAT failures kept Arkansas from being within a tying field goal for its final drive.

“ It messes you up, ” Nutt said of the missed PAT, “ because you are always worried about the next play getting two. We can’t miss an extra point. It messes up your rhythm. Twos are hard to come by against a defense that good. ”

LSU made it 7-6 on Keiland Williams ’ 29-yard touchdown run and David’s PAT, with 4: 51 in the third quarter.

Davis beat Arkansas cornerback Matteral Richardson for Russell’s second-quarter 47-yard TD.

Arkansas had a scoring chance before the half when Razorback defensive tackle Marcus Harrison recovered a Russell fumble at the Arkansas 49, but bogged down at the LSU 35.

Dick, with Arkansas down 17-12, got sacked on fourth down after safety Jerrell Norton stripped LSU tailback Alley Broussard for a recovered fumble starting a drive from the Arkansas 17 to the LSU 26.

LSU was up 24-12 on the David field goal and Doucet TD when the game went electric in the fourth quarter. First McFadden shocked with his 80-yard TD on firstand-10 with 10: 31 left.

Holliday ran the enusing kickoff back for his 92-yard touchdown.

Jones ran the LSU kickoff 64 yards to the 37 and capped a 9-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown at 4: 53.

“ We moved the ball, ” Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. “ The bottom line is we didn’t score enough points. ” How: Craig Davis 47 pass from JaMarcus Russell, Colt David PAT, 10: 55 Drive: 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2: 06 Keys: Russell passes 20 on second-and-10 to A 44. On third-and-13, Davis beats Matteral Richardson deep then evades Richardson tackle. LSU 14, Arkansas 12 How: Marcus Monk 21 pass from Casey Dick, 2-point play fails, 7: 07 Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 3: 48 Keys: McFadden secondand-10, runs 30 to LSU 46. Jones runs 7 on first down to LSU 39. Jones 39-yard TD run voided by clipping penalty on Stephen Parker back to A 47. Dick pass for McFadden draws pass interference on Chevis Jackson at LSU 38. McFadden runs 7 on third-and-2 first down to LSU 23. On third-and-8, Dick passes 21 to Monk, who drags two tacklers for TD. Dick passes too far incomplete for Monk on 2-point try.

Third Quarter LSU 17, Arkansas 12 How: Colt David 27-yard field goal, 7: 24 Drive: 15 plays, 70 yards, TOP 7: 36 Keys: Russell evades sacks on third-and-9 with 25-yard shovel pass to Justin Vincent to LSU 46. An offsides, Brad Hester, 5 first down at A 44. On thirdand-10, defensive holding on CB Darius Vinnett, first down at A 34. Alley Broussard 5 straight carries to first-and-goal at A 10. Darius Vinnett just misses possible interception on third-and-10.

Fourth Quarter LSU 24, Arkansas 12 How: Early Doucet 7 pass from JaMarcus Russell, Colt David PAT, 10: 59 Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards, TOP 1: 09 Keys: Casey Dick pass for Wes Murphy intercepted by LaRon Landry returned 23 yards to A 9. On third-and-7 Russell 7-yard TD pass with Darius Vinnett defending. LSU 24, Arkansas 19 How: Darren McFadden 80 run, Jeremy Davis, PAT, 10: 31 Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, TOP 28 seconds Keys: McFadden gets early block from C Jonathan Luigs and cuts left for TD.

LSU 31, Arkansas 19

How: Trindon Holliday, 92 kick return, Colt David PAT, 10: 14

Drive: None

Key: Holliday evades initial tackler then evades K Brian Vavra.

LSU 31, Arkansas 26

How: Felix Jones 5 run, Jeremy Davis PAT, 4: 53

Drive: 9 plays, 37 yards, TOP 5: 21

Keys: Jones 64 kick return to LSU 37. McFadden runs 4 to LSU 33. Jones runs 5 to LSU 28. McFadden runs 7 on third-and-1 to LSU 21. Jones runs 8 on first-and-15 after A offsides. McFadden, 4 on third and 3 to LSU 14. McFadden passes 5 to Casey Dick to LSU 5. Jones on third-and-4 5-yard TD just across the goal. No. 9 LSU 31, No. 5 ARKANSAS 26 LSU 7 7 3 14 — 31 Ark—McFadden 80 run (J. Davis kick ), 10: 31. Time of Possession 33: 32 26: 28 Arkansas 6 6 0 14 — 26 LSU—Holliday 92 kickoff return (David kick ),

10: 14. INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS First Quarter Ark—Jones 5 run (J. Davis kick ), 4: 53. Ark—McFadden 1 run (kick failed ), 12: 30. A—55, 833. RUSHING—LSU, Williams 13-68, Broussard 8-37, LSU—Williams 29 run (David kick ), 4: 51. Hester 6-18, Vincent 2-6, Team 3- (minus 5 ), Russell 4-Second Quarter LSU Ark (minus 6 ). Arkansas, McFadden 21-182, Jones 16-137, LSU—C. Davis 47 pass from Russell (David kick ), First downs 15 16 Dick 2- (minus 21 ). 10: 55. Rushes-yards 36-118 39-298 PASSING—LSU, Russell 14-22-0-210. Arkansas, Ark—Monk 21 pass from Dick (pass failed ), 7: 07. Passing 210 62 Dick 3-17-1-29, McFadden 2-2-0-33, Ro. Johnson 0-1-Third Quarter Comp-Att-Int 14-22-0 5-20-1 0-0. LSU—FG David 27, 7: 24. Return Yards 42 0 RECEIVING—LSU, Bowe 5-68, C. Davis 3-72, Hester Fourth Quarter Punts-Avg. 4-42. 0 5-37. 2 3-44, Vincent 1-25, Doucet 1-7, Williams 1- (minus 6 ). LSU—Doucet 7 pass from Russell (David kick ), Fumbles-Lost 2-2 0-0 Arkansas, Ro. Johnson 1-28, Monk 1-21, McFadden 1-7, 10: 59. Penalties-Yards 2-25 8-55 Dick 1-5, F. Jackson 1-1.