TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Down 31-10 in the third quar ter, Arkansas roared back to lead then lose, 41-38 to Alabama in the final eight seconds Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

John Parker Wilson’s 3-yard TD pass to Matt Caddell with eight seconds left was set up by two pass interference penalties on the Razorbacks.

A pass interference penalty on Arkansas cornerback Matteral Richardson on what seemed possibly an uncatchable pass, plus a clock stoppage to check a spot when Alabama had no timeouts left, preceded Wilson’s miracle heave.

Passing every down, Wilson took the Tide 73 yards in the final 2: 13.

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Nick Saban’s Tide spoiled a remarkable Arkansas comeback after the Tide took a 21-10 halftime lead to 31-10.

Much like the Razorbacks down from 31-10 in the third quarter to win 34-31 in double overtime here in 2003, the Razorbacks relied on more on the run than the pass to get back in it.

Tailbacks Darren McFadden, though injured before Arkansas ’ final series, and Felix Jones ’ provided the running and quarterback Casey Dick the key play-action passing in the fourth quarter comeback also keyed by a fumble recovery by Arkansas safety Matt Hewitt and interception by cornerback Jerell Norton.

The victory ups Alabama to 3-0, 2-0 in the SEC West. Sixteenth-ranked Arkansas falls to 1-1, 0-1 in the SEC going into Saturday’s SEC game with Kentucky in Fayetteville.

Arkansas’ early inability to throw the pass, catch a pass and especially defend the pass, spotted Alabama a 21-0 first-quarter lead.

However it was a pass, Casey Dick’s third-and-1 40-yard play-action TD strike to freshman split end Crosby Tuck, that got Arkansas back in the game and eventually down just 21-10 at intermission.

It was a Hall of Fame first quarter for Alabama all-time leading receiver DJ Hall. Hall had 4 catches for 118 yards in the first quarter alone.

Hall’s 45-yard catch of Wilson’s 45-yard bomb on Alabama’s first play from scrimmage flip-flopped field position after Arkansas’ Jeremy Davis punted the Tide back to its 22.

Alabama punter P. J. Fitzgerald pooch-punted Arkansas back to the Razorbacks’ 2.

Dick compounded Arkansas’ plight when his tipped pass was picked off by linebacker Darren Mustin at the 9. Two plays later, Wilson and Hall connected for a 9- yard TD.

It appeared Dick made up for the miscue, throwing a slant to Reggie Fish with nothing but green ahead of the Razorback wideout. Fish dropped it.

Arkansas had to punt. Wilson took the Tide 74 yards in six plays. He completed a 43-yard pass before turning it over to running back Glen Coffee, who scored on a 14-yard run.

Hall again, on a 35-yard TD from Wilson over Norton, had the Tide up 21-0 right after Hall caught a 31-yarder.

Thanks to Arkansas defensive end Antwain Robinson forcing an Alabama holding penalty, and defensive tackle Ernest Mitchell sacking Wilson, the Hogs avoided further first-half scoring after McFadden fumbled on a kick return.

Mitchell was both ejected and charged with a personal foul in the third quarter when he hit an Alabama player with the player’s dislodged helmet.

Another hold by Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith trying to contain Robinson blunted another Alabama drive and preceded Arkansas’ first score.

Also, hitting Peyton Hillis with a 21-yard play-action pass, Dick quarterbacked Arkansas to a six-play, 74-yard drive, hitting the TD to Tuck off a nifty play action fake to Felix Jones.

Cornerback Matteral Richardson’s interception of a Wilson pass set up Alex Tejada’s 22-yard field goal after a 23-yard McFadden run to cut the halftime deficit to 21-10.

Then unfolded a tale of two comebacks.