AUBURN —
Most fourth quarters in Jordan-Hare Stadium consist of close games, big plays and a rowdy fan base of 87,000-plus screaming for their Tigers.
However, Saturday's fourth quarter was more like an A-Day exhibition, as Auburn fell 24-7 to Arkansas at home on Saturday in a game marred yet again by offensive inconsistencies.
The Tigers (1-4, 0-3 in SEC) committed five turnovers and gave up eight sacks en route to another loss in what has thus far been a disappointing season.
"We did all the things you can't do in a game and win," coach Gene Chizik said. "It was a completely unacceptable performance all the way around."
Arkansas grabbed the first lead of the game with a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Dennis Johnson late in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Razorbacks extended their lead on a 27-yard field goal from kicker Zach Hocker after taking advantage of an Emory Blake fumble deep inside Auburn territory.
The Tiger offense was unable to muster any points in the first half despite driving the ball into Arkansas territory three times.
Quarterback Kiehl Frazier was 9 of 14 for 118 yards and a pick in the first half, forcing Chizik to make a change at halftime. Junior Clint Moseley, who's been nursing a sore throwing shoulder since spring ball, got a chance to right the ship in the second half.
He didn't fare much better, going 13 of 21 for 163 yards while adding a touchdown and two picks.
"I just felt like we needed a spark, needed something different," Chizik said. "Kiehl handled the decision well."
When asked if there had been a changing of the guard at quarterback, Chizik was coy, stating there wouldn't be a decision made until coaches looked at the film.
"We will re-evaluate and see where we are at before making those decisions," he said.
The much maligned Auburn defense kept the game as close as it could, at one point forcing three straight three-and-outs for the Arkansas offense.
The Tigers came as close as they'd get late in the third quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Moseley to Blake, cutting the deficit to three.
In the end, though, the defense ran out of gas, allowing touchdowns on Arkansas's next two possessions to ultimately seal the Tigers' fate.
Blake, a senior wideout led the Tigers with 10 receptions for 118 yards and the lone score.
Auburn finished with just 40 rushing yards and 321 total yards to a team that had allowed an average of 41 points and 510 yards per game in its last three contests.
Chizik was blunt when summing up Saturday's game.
"The Auburn fans and family didn't deserve that today," Chizik said. "We are going to go back to work and figure out how to fix it."
The Tigers will be on the road next week as they travel to Oxford to take on the Ole Miss Rebels.
% Jake Winfrey can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 258 or at jwinfrey@cullmantimes.com.
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