ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS FOOTBALL
Arkansas Game Report
Razorbacks keep it close but Mizzou lands last blow
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium | Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas - For nearly three quarters, Arkansas looked ready to secure with one of their best wins of the year. Instead, a furious Missouri rally turned a seven-point Razorback lead into a heartbreaking 41-34 loss at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Arkansas led 28-20 entering the fourth quarter and still held a one-point advantage with less than four minutes remaining. But No. 25 Missouri scored three touchdowns over the final 6:02, including the game-winner with just 36 seconds left, to steal a game in which the Razorbacks had repeatedly answered every challenge thrown their way.
The loss spoiled an outstanding afternoon from quarterback KJ Jackson. The sophomore completed 16 of 23 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, producing a 223.0 passer rating and averaging 11.4 yards per attempt. Arkansas finished with 394 yards on just 52 offensive plays, averaging 7.6 yards per snap, but ultimately could not keep Missouri's offense off the field when it mattered most.
Missouri controlled the opening quarter. Austin Simmons found Cayden Lee for a five-yard touchdown with 6:29 remaining, and Blake Craig's 48-yard field goal extended the Tigers' advantage to 10-0 late in the period.
Arkansas responded with an explosive second quarter.
Jackson put the Razorbacks on the board when he connected with Chris Marshall for an eight-yard touchdown with 6:18 remaining. Missouri answered less than three minutes later when Ahmad Hardy broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run, restoring the Tigers' 10-point advantage at 17-7.
Then Jackson and the Razorbacks caught fire.
Jamari Hawkins hauled in a five-yard touchdown with 1:31 remaining, cutting the deficit to three. Arkansas got the ball back with enough time for one more opportunity, and Jackson made Missouri pay. He found Hawkins again, this time for a 12-yard score with nine seconds remaining in the half.
In a span of just 82 seconds, Arkansas had turned a 17-7 deficit into a 21-17 halftime lead.
The Razorbacks carried that momentum into the third quarter and delivered their biggest play of the afternoon. With 9:14 remaining, Jackson connected with Sutton Smith on a screen pass and the dynamic back turned his only reception of the game into an 81-yard touchdown. The explosive score pushed Arkansas ahead 28-17 and gave the Razorbacks their largest lead.
Smith was productive everywhere Arkansas needed him. In addition to the 81-yard touchdown reception, the senior led the Razorbacks with 59 rushing yards on 13 carries. Jackson added 51 yards on nine attempts, giving Arkansas 131 rushing yards despite Missouri's defensive front producing eight tackles for loss.
Craig's 30-yard field goal late in the third kept Missouri within striking distance at 28-20.
That proved crucial.
The fourth quarter belonged to Hardy and the Tigers.
Hardy capped a Missouri possession with an 11-yard touchdown run at the 6:02 mark. The Tigers failed on the ensuing two-point conversion, allowing Arkansas to cling to a 28-26 lead.
It lasted barely two minutes.
Simmons found Hardy for a 42-yard touchdown with 3:59 remaining, completing Missouri's comeback and putting the Tigers ahead 33-28. Arkansas suddenly needed an answer, and Jackson's offense provided one.
The Razorbacks drove for a Braylen Russell two-yard touchdown with 1:20 remaining. Arkansas attempted a two-point conversion looking to stretch the lead to three, but the try failed. Still, the Razorbacks had reclaimed the advantage, 34-33, and Missouri had only 80 seconds to respond.
It was 44 seconds too many.
Simmons drove Missouri back down the field and, with 36 seconds remaining, found a wide open Hardy for a 13-yard touchdown. Cayden Lee converted the two-point attempt, completing a stunning 41-34 reversal.
Hardy accounted for all three Missouri touchdowns in the fourth quarter and finished with 167 yards from scrimmage. He rushed 19 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns while catching four passes for 72 yards and two more scores. Three of his four touchdowns came during Missouri's 21-point final period.
Simmons was nearly flawless against the Arkansas defense, completing 24 of 28 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns. Missouri converted 9 of 12 third downs, a 75-percent success rate that helped the Tigers hold the ball for 23:24 compared with only 16:36 for Arkansas.
That efficiency ultimately separated two offenses that were otherwise remarkably close. Missouri outgained Arkansas only 418-394, while Arkansas actually held a slight advantage in yards per play, 7.6 to 7.5. Both teams recorded 22 first downs and neither committed a turnover.
Arkansas also received one of Jackson's most efficient passing performances. Marshall caught five passes for 54 yards and a touchdown, Donovan Faupel led the traditional receiving corps with 73 yards on four catches, and Hawkins turned his only two receptions into touchdowns. Russell added three catches for 36 yards in addition to his late rushing score.
Defensively, John Howse IV and Jahiem Johnson each recorded nine tackles, with Howse adding two tackles for loss. Miguel Mitchell finished with eight tackles, while Khmori House and Steven Soles Jr. recorded Arkansas' two sacks.
But the final six minutes overwhelmed everything Arkansas had done to put itself in position to win.
The Razorbacks led by eight entering the fourth quarter. They led by two with six minutes remaining. They trailed, answered with a touchdown, and led again with 1:20 to play.
Thirty-six seconds from the finish, it disappeared for good.
For an Arkansas team that had fought back from an early 10-point deficit and produced touchdowns on four Jackson passes, the ending was particularly cruel. The Razorbacks didn't give the game away with turnovers or penalties. They simply couldn't make the final stop.
And on an afternoon when Arkansas seemingly had an answer every time Missouri landed a punch, the Tigers were the ones who landed last.
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER
MIZZ — Cayden Lee 5-yard pass from Austin Simmons (Blake Craig kick), 6:29
MIZZ — Blake Craig 48-yard FG, 1:02
SECOND QUARTER
ARK — Chris Marshall 8-yard pass from KJ Jackson (Max Gilbert kick), 6:18
MIZZ — Ahmad Hardy 40-yard run (Blake Craig kick), 3:23
ARK — Jamari Hawkins 5-yard pass from KJ Jackson (Max Gilbert kick), 1:31
ARK — Jamari Hawkins 12-yard pass from KJ Jackson (Max Gilbert kick), 0:09
THIRD QUARTER
ARK — Sutton Smith 81-yard pass from KJ Jackson (Max Gilbert kick), 9:14
MIZZ — Blake Craig 30-yard FG, 1:41
FOURTH QUARTER
MIZZ — Ahmad Hardy 11-yard run (2-point conversion failed), 6:02
MIZZ — Ahmad Hardy 42-yard pass from Austin Simmons (Blake Craig kick), 3:59
ARK — Braylen Russell 2-yard run (2-point conversion failed), 1:20
MIZZ — Ahmad Hardy 13-yard pass from Austin Simmons (Cayden Lee 2-point conversion), 0:36
Arkansas Stat Leaders
Passing
K. Jackson – 16/23 263 Yds 4 TD
Rushing
S. Smith – 13 Car 59 Yds
K. Jackson – 9 Car 51 Yds
B. Russell – 7 Car 21 Yds 1 TD
Receiving
S. Smith – 1 Rec 81 Yds 1 TD
D. Faupel – 4 Rec 73 Yds
C. Marshall – 5 Rec 54 Yds 1 TD
B. Russell – 3 Rec 36 Yds
J. Hawkins – 2 Rec 17 Yds 2 TD
J. Platt – 1 Rec 2 Yds
Defense
J. Howse IV – 9 Tkl 2 TFL
J. Johnson – 9 Tkl
M. Mitchell – 8 Tkl 1 TFL
C. Stoutmire – 6 Tkl 1 TFL
C. Harrison – 5 Tkl 1 TFL
J. Smith – 4 Tkl 1 TFL
K. House – 3 Tkl 2 TFL 1.0 Sck
S. Soles Jr. – 1 Tkl 1 TFL 1.0 Sck
Missouri Stat Leaders
Passing
A. Simmons – 24/28 333 Yds 3 TD
Rushing
A. Hardy – 19 Car 95 Yds 2 TD
J. Roberts – 1 Car 1 Yd
A. Simmons – 8 Car -11 Yds
Receiving
C. Goodie – 5 Rec 80 Yds
D. Olugbode – 5 Rec 77 Yds
A. Hardy – 4 Rec 72 Yds 2 TD
C. Lee – 5 Rec 52 Yds 1 TD
J. Harris – 3 Rec 32 Yds
B. Norfleet – 1 Rec 10 Yds
J. James – 1 Rec 10 Yds
Defense
R. Woodyard Jr. – 11 Tkl 2 TFL
J. Beasley – 7 Tkl
T. Greco – 7 Tkl
D. Smith – 6 Tkl 4 TFL 2.0 Sck
C. Graves Jr. – 5 Tkl
J. Marshall – 4 Tkl 1 TFL 0.5 Sck
L. Kitchen – 1 Tkl 1 TFL 0.5 Sck
| Team Stats | Arkansas | Missouri |
|---|
| Score | 34 | 41 |
| First Downs | 22 | 22 |
| Total Offense | 394 | 418 |
| Total Plays | 52 | 56 |
| Yards Per Play | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Rushes | Yards | TDs | 29 | 131 | 1 | 28 | 85 | 2 |
| Yards Per Rush | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Comp | Att | TDs | 16 | 23 | 4 | 24 | 28 | 3 |
| Passing Yards | 263 | 333 |
| Yards Per Pass | 11.4 | 11.9 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 6 | 10 (60%) | 9 | 12 (75%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 | 0 (0%) |
| 2-Point Conv. | 0 | 1 (0%) | 1 | 2 (50%) |
| Red Zone TD | FG | % | 4 | 0 | 100% | 3 | 1 | 80% |
| Turnovers | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| PR Yards | 2 | 9 |
| KR Yards | 32 | 25 |
| Total Yards | 428 | 452 |
| Punt Average | 35.5 | 32.0 |
| Penalties | 3 | 25 | 2 | 30 |
| Possession Time | 16:36 | 23:24 |
