Auburn’s 35-17 win at Arkansas on Saturday was the Tigers’ first win in Fayetteville since 2007, and the 35 points are the most scored by Auburn at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in series history. Now it’s time to hand out some helmet stickers from the game.
RB Tre Mason: If it’s an SEC game on the road, it’s a safe bet that Tre Mason is getting the ball early and often. He carried the load against LSU and Texas A&M earlier this year, and it was no different Saturday. Mason carried it 32 times for 168 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. The Auburn running back was picking up big chunks of yards. He was fighting for the tough yards. And, like he’s done all season, he had a nose for the end zone. He’s now scored at least one rushing touchdown in six consecutive games and 13 of his last 16 contests. Mason is quickly emerging as one of the top running backs in the conference.
DE Dee Ford: Another game, another helmet sticker for Ford. The senior defensive end has been the catalyst for this Auburn defense since returning from a knee injury in Week 3, and he put together another solid performance against Arkansas. Ford finished with just two tackles, but both were for a loss, and his sack in the fourth quarter came on fourth down and ended a Razorbacks’ drive. He now has seven sacks in seven games, an average that puts him among the leaders in college football. For also deflected a pass that wound up in the hands of Cassanova McKinzy for a key interception early in the game.
LB JaViere Mitchell: Ford and Mason are regulars on this list, but Mitchell was the unsung hero for Auburn. He recovered an onside kick in the first half that put the Tigers in good field position and led to an eventual touchdown. Had Arkansas recovered, the momentum could have swung in the Hogs’ favor. Later in the game, Mitchell came up huge with back-to-back goal line stops that kept the Razorbacks out of the end zone. Twice, they ran up the gut, and both times the backup linebacker was there to meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. The push from the defensive line helped, but credit Mitchell for making a play.
Honorable mention: WR Sammie Coates.
