AUBURN, Ala. — The battle of Heisman-worthy quarterbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium has one less participant after one half.

Cam Newton has helped Auburn build a 27-21 halftime lead against Arkansas, which watched quarterback Ryan Mallett head to the locker rooms with an injury.

Newton, the SEC's rushing leader, has 143 rushing yards, 88 passing yards and a rushing touchdown for the No. 7 Tigers.

Mallett, the league leader in passing yards and total offense, went to the locker room after taking a hard hit from Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley in the second quarter. Head coach Bobby Petrino said Mallett was hit in the head. There was no word on whether he would return.

It happened one play before Broderick Green scored a 1-yard touchdown un to give the Razorbacks a 14-10 lead.

The Tigers came back with 14 unanswered points. A 3-yard touchdown run by Mario Fannin was upheld by replay when he lost his handle on the ball at the goal line.

Freshman Antonio Goodwin followed by blocking an Arkansas punt, setting up Onterio McCalebb's 13-yard touchdown run on a speed sweep that gave Auburn a 24-14 lead.

Arkansas managed to score just before halftime, however, moving 80 yards in just over a minute before backup quarterback Tyler Wilson hit Greg Childs on a 34-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to three.

Auburn got a 26-yard field goal by Wes Byrum as the halftime clock expired to make it 27-21.

The teams, who rank first and second in the SEC in total offense, combined for 529 yards in the first half.