FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Auburn started fast in Saturday's 38-23 win at No. 17 Arkansas, driving 75 yards in six plays and scoring on Bo Nix's 39-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Varrius Johnson.
"We did a better job of executing," said Nix, who was 5-for-5 on the drive for 72 yards. "Our game plan was really good from the start. Today was a sharp day for us throwing and catching. Those guys were locked in today."
Nix distributed his 21 completions to 10 receivers, including Shedrick Jackson, who led the Tigers with five receptions. Auburn has passed for 250 or more yards in four straight games for the first time since 2004. Against Arkansas,
Nix was 21 of 26 for 292 yards and a pair of touchdowns.Fast start: Ja'Varrius Johnson scored a touchdown on Auburn's first drive
D-ROB DAZZLES
After Auburn's defense stopped Arkansas on the Tigers' 29-yard-line on fourth-and-3, Auburn swung for the fences on the next play, with Nix throwing deep to Demetris Robertson for a 71-yard touchdown that gave Auburn a 28-17 late with 4:16 left in the third quarter.
"It was one-on-one," said Robertson of his third touchdown reception this season. "Bo threw a great ball where he put it over the top and allowed me to make a play. He's really great at scrambling and has a great arm as well. Him being poised, setting in and doing what he does."
"We got the perfect opportunity on first down," Nix said. "We took a shot there and D-Rob did a great job. We got behind the defense and he made a great adjustment to the ball and then he finished the play. A lot of guys are just okay with the catch, but he wanted to go score, which is important."
D-Rob Dazzles
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) October 18, 2021
After a fourth down stop by @AuburnFootball defense, @BoNix10 & @d_rob4 teamed up for a 71-yard TD on the next play.
"A lot of guys are just okay with the catch, but he wanted to go score."
Demetris & Bo break it down ⤵️#WarEagle
📷: @fototodd pic.twitter.com/0BKhy5SkIj
WRAPPING UP THE RAZORBACKS
Senior linebackers Zakoby McClain and Chandler Wooten combined for 24 tackles, with McClain recording a season-high 15 and reaching double figures for the third time this season while Wooten added nine.
"I just had to find the ball," said McClain, the nation's leading tackler last season. "Just had to play my game and get low, believe in my D-line. If it weren't for my D-line, I wouldn't be making any plays."
McClain came close to scoring a touchdown when Derick Hall caused a fumble in the end zone that Marcus Harris recovered for an Auburn touchdown.
"It was a good call by Coach [defensive coordinator Derek Mason], blitzing the quarterback to rattle him," McClain said. "I saw the ball and jumped to it. I really had the touchdown but I gave it to my brother because I love him."
Auburn stopped the Razorbacks on all three fourth-down attempts, shutting out Arkansas in the fourth quarter. In the Tigers' SEC West road wins at Arkansas and LSU, the Tigers have outscored their opponents 24-0 in the final 15 minutes, 10-0 in Fayetteville and 14-0 in Baton Rouge.
"It means a lot to be able to shut them down," McClain said.Zakoby McClain (No. 9) and Marcus Harris celebrate during Auburn's 38-23 win at Arkansas
OPEN DATE
After playing on seven consecutive Saturdays, the No. 19 Tigers (5-2, 2-1) will have an open date this week before hosting No. 12 Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1) Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
"We have a chance to focus on ourselves and not focus on an opponent before we play the next one which will be good for us," Auburn coach Bryan Harsin said. "We need it. We need to get a few guys healthy. We need some time to correct a few things.
"Make examples of a lot of the positive stuff we've been doing, spend more time on that. Talk to our guys about how it looks. This is how we can get to these things through our preparation and hopefully continue to build on that."Gun show: Marcus Harris flexes after recovering a fumble for a touchodwn
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer