As evidenced by his best performance of the season in Auburn's win at Arkansas, Kamryn Pettway's health continues to improve and the bulldozing running back could be a driving force for the Tigers in a pivotal month of November.

Pettway, who played through plantar fasciitis early in the season and appeared to incur a left ankle injury against Mercer, had 86 of his 90 yards and all three of his touchdowns during the second half of Auburn's 52-20 win in Fayetteville.

"He's been hurt all year and he's played hurt all year," running backs coach Tim Horton said during a postgame radio interview. "(Against LSU) was the first time we saw him fairly healthy. (Saturday) night, he was real healthy."

After missing the games against Missouri and Ole Miss, with limited action against Mississippi State sandwiched in between, Gus Malzahn said the plan was the rest Pettway until he was full healthy. Against LSU, he had four carries for seven yards but appeared to return to form last week.

"Kam, he's a big bruiser when it comes to running the football," quarterback Jarrett Stidham said during a postgame radio interview. "I was really happy to see him back in his element and back to running physically and demanding more yards."

Pettway had nine of his 11 carries after halftime, while Kerryon Johnson had 20 of his 31 carries and all of his 63 yards and touchdown during the first half last week.

Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey was "pleased" with Pettway's play and is looking forward to what the offense could look like when No. 19 Auburn (6-2, 4-1 SEC) has its top backs both at or near full health at the same time.

"You could tell (Pettway) had some fresh legs, I thought," Lindsey said." He and Kerryon I think are two of the better backs in our league and maybe in the country, and when you have them both together I think that's important. That can only help us as we make this stretch run for sure. ...

"I've got a good idea of how I want to use both of them when they're both good. I'm looking forward to getting them both healthy and both of them back together. We got a little glimpse of that the other night. Hopefully we'll finish the season that way."

James Crepea is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JamesCrepea.