COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Auburn Makes Big Play to Stay Unbeaten, 31-21

Auburn safety Brian Robinson is a good listener.

At halftime, with the ninth-ranked Tigers tied, 7-7, with Arkansas, Coach Terry Bowden told his players that somebody needed to make a big play.

On the third play of the third quarter, Robinson returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown.

“Coach Bowden told us that we had to have a spark,” Robinson said. “I was happy to provide that spark.”

James Bostic ran 12 yards for a score on the first play of the fourth quarter as Auburn held off Arkansas, 31-21.

“We made one bad mistake on the third play of the third quarter when the ball didn’t bounce our way,” Arkansas Coach Danny Ford said. “We threw to the tight end and he fell down. We gave them an easy score.”

Robinson, who made the interception when tight end Kirk Botkin slipped, made it 14-7 a minute into the second half. Arkansas (3-5, 2-4) failed to take advantage of Orlando Watters’ interception at the Auburn 38 and Bostic’s run pushed it to 24-14.

The Razorbacks then drove to the 13 of Auburn (8-0, 6-0), but Calvin Jackson and Otis Mounds collared Oscar Malone for a one-yard loss.

“We were probably out of the game then,” Ford said.

Reid McMilion’s 16-yard run put Auburn in front, 31-14, with four minutes to play.

Auburn quarterback Stan White completed 15 of 26 passes for 212 yards.