The Arkansas Razorbacks enter Saturday’s contest with Texas A&M on a two-game losing skid.
After one-possession losses at home to BYU and on the road to LSU, the Hogs need to get back in the win column on Saturday. If they don’t, they could be looking at a 2-5 start to a season that was once filled with quiet confidence and optimism.
The games in Arlington seem to almost always be close, but Arkansas only has one win over the last 11 games in this series. Bobby Petrino being the new offensive coordinator for the Aggies has added some extra flair to this game, but you can probably expect the same sort of theatrics and drama that this game has been know for in recent history.
Follow along below for live drive-by-drive and score-by-score updates of all the first half action from AT&T Stadium.
Arkansas 1st Drive
Arkansas struggles to get any positive yards on the first two plays, but KJ Jefferson is able to find Luke Hasz on third down for a 14-yard gain. Hasz got up holding his shoulder and came out of the game.
The next two plays were the exact same as the first two plays of the game – Jefferson sacked and Sanders stuffed. On 3rd and 13, Jefferson finds Andrew Armstrong for a 15-yard gain to move the chains again.
Isaiah Sategna gets an end-around carry on first down, but Sanders is stuffed again for no gain on the next play. On 3rd and 7, Jefferson is able to escape pressure and pick up the first down. Arkansas is 3/3 on third down on the opening drive.
Jefferson keeps it on second down to keep the chains moving once again. Next play, Jefferson is sacked for a third time. Dubinion can’t get anything on second down and then Isaac TeSlaa is hit in the back on third down while trying to make a catch, but no pass interference called.
Cam Little attempts the 51-yard field goal and bombs it right through the uprights.
F I F T Y
T W O
Y A R D S pic.twitter.com/jI2YwlZeo3
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 30, 2023
ARKANSAS LEADS 3-0
Texas A&M 1st Drive
Aggies take over at the 27-yard line and move the chains in two plays. Noah Thomas makes a 6-yard catch on first down and then Le’Veon Moss is stopped for no gain. On 3rd and 3, Johnson finds Ainias Smith for the first down.
Johnson remains perfect with a short throw for 9 yards to Moss. Next play, Arkansas blows up the end-around to Evan Stewart. On 3rd and 4, Johnson finds Stewart for the 32-yard touchdown.
TEXAS A&M LEADS 7-3
Arkansas 2nd Drive
Jefferson finds Armstrong for 15 yards on the first play of the drive. Back-to-back incompletions bring up a 3rd and 10. Jefferson finds Sanders on a screen pass and he picks up 38 yards down to the Texas A&M 23-yard line.
Not one. Not two. Not three. But four broken tackles. pic.twitter.com/nHDhQLYyaV
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 30, 2023
Sanders carries it to pick up 8 yard on first down. Dubinion gets a carry on second down and picks up the first down to the 11-yard line.
END 1ST: TEXAS A&M LEADS 7-3
Dubinion gets the carry for about 3 yards on first down. Jefferson keeps it and tries to get the edge but is tripped up 4 yards shy of the first down. On 3rd and 4, Sanders gets a delayed handoff and is blown up behind the line of scrimmage.
Cam Little’s 25-yard field goal attempt is good.
TEXAS A&M LEADS 7-6
Texas A&M 2nd Drive
Johnson finds Smith for a 29-yard gain on first down. Two plays later on 3rd and 1, Amari Daniels runs for 14 yards to move the chains.Injury timeout for Texas A&M’s Evan Stewart.
On first down, Daniels is stopped behind the line by Chris Paul for a loss of 1 yard. Johnson’s pass on 2nd and 11 is incomplete. On 3rd and 11, Johnson’s pass falls incomplete.
Randy Bond’s 42-yard field goal attempt is good.
TEXAS A&M LEADS 10-6
Arkansas 3rd Drive
After a very good Sategna return on the kickoff, Arkansas starts from their own 36-yard line. Sanders picks up 5 yards on first down. Jefferson tries to step up in the pocket, but is brought down for a sack. On 3rd and 7, Jefferson’s pass falls incomplete.
Hogs forced to punt it away.
Texas A&M 3rd Drive
Aggies take over on their own 20-yard line. Layden Robinson gets hit with a false start penalty. On 1st and 15, Johnson finds Moss for a 12-yard gain. Moss picks up the first down with a 14-yard run.
Two plays later, Johnson keeps it and is brought down behind the line of scrimmage. On 3rd and 9, the Hogs rush three and drop eight but Johnson finds Smith for a 19-yard gain.
On back-to-back plays, Johnson keeps it for 8 total yards. Injury timeout for Arkansas’ Dwight McGlothern.On 3rd and 3, Johnson gets hit by Trajan Jeffcoat as he throws and it’s incomplete.
Randy Bond’s 49-yard field goal hits the right upright and is NO GOOD.
Arkansas 4th Drive
Arkansas starts the drive with back-to-back runs for little-to-no gain. On 3rd and 10, Jefferson keeps it on a designed QB-keeper and is stopped very short of the first down. Hogs forced to punt it away, but Aggies jump offsides and it brings up 4th and short.
Pittman calls timeout to think about going for it on fourth down. Arkansas goes for it and comes up short. Jefferson handed it to Sanders out of the shotgun on a delayed handoff. Aggies take over.
Texas A&M 4th Drive
The Arkansas defense is able to hold the Aggies to a 3rd and 11 play, but Johnson finds his brother Jake Johnson for a 15-yard gain. Next play is a big gain to Moose Muhammad for another first down. 1:07 left in the first half.
Johnson keeps it on 2nd and 8, gets near the first down. Aggies call a timeout with 26 seconds left.
Moss picks up 6 tough yards down to the 2-yard line. Aggies call another timeout with 17 seconds left.
Next play, Johnson finds Earnest Crownover for a 2-yard touchdown reception.
