Razorbacks Drop SEC Home Opener to Wildcats 42-29
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With 4:02 remaining in the game, Andre Woodson found Keenan Burton in the end zone on a 32-yard touchdown reception to rally No. 21 Kentucky past Arkansas. The touchdown and two-point coversion gave the Wildcats a 35-29 lead and the added another score with 59 seconds left for the 42-29 victory.
With the Hogs trailing 21-20 entering the fourth quarterback, a 45-yard punt by Jeremy Davis pinned the Wildcats deep in their own territory at the three-yard line. On the next play, Fred Bledsoe and Patrick Jones sacked Woodson in the end zone for a safety and a 22-21 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, junior Felix Jones fielded the ball and raced up the sideline for an 82-yard kickoff return. It was Jones’ fourth kickoff return for a touchdown of his career, tying the SEC career mark also held by former Tennessee Volunteer Willie Gault. The Hog’s lead was stretched to a 29-21 advantage.
A roughing-the-kicker penalty by the Hogs on a missed Kentucky field-goal attempt kept the Wildcats’ next drive alive and they took advantage with a two-yard touchdown by Derrick Locke. The two-point conversion attempt was no good and Arkansas led 29-27.
On its next drive, the Razorbacks couldn’t earn a first down and were forced into a three-and-out possession.
For the sixth time in their Razorback careers, juniors Jones and Darren McFadden both rushed for more than 100 yards in the same game. McFadden finished the game with 173 yards on the ground, which matches his season per game average, while backfield mate Jones gained 133 rushing yards on the night.
On the first drive of the second half, Kentucky marched the ball 80 yards down the field in 12 plays and capped the series with a 15-yard touchdown reception by Keenan Burton from quarterback Woodson. The score gave the Wildcats the lead at 21-20, their first lead of the game. After the score, the respective defenses held the opposing offenses scoreless for the remainder of the third quarter.
With the Razorbacks leading 13-7 in the second quarter, McFadden lined up at quarterback and took the snap 56 yards up the right side of the field for his fourth rushing touchdown of the season. The run put McFadden over the 100-yard mark for the third time this season and for the 15th time in 28 career games.
Late in the second quarter, a Michael Smith fumble was recovered by Kentucky’s Trevard Lindley and returned 66 yards for a touchdown with 26 second remaining in the first half. Wesley Woodyard forced the fumble on the play.
Arkansas jumped out to a 10-0 lead when junior Antwain Robinson scored on a 16-yard fumble return after Malcolm Sheppard caused Woodson to put the ball on the ground. The Razorbacks scored on their first offensive possession with a 40-yard field goal by Alex Tejada, a career long make for the freshman place kicker.
The Wildcats responded with a five-play drive that covered 72 yards and ended with a touchdown run of 14 yards by tailback Rafael Little. The score was set up by a 44-yard pass completion from Woodson to Steve Johnson on the previous play.
On an ensuing drive in the second quarter, Jones took a handoff from Casey Dick and scampered 73 yards to the Kentucky six-yard line. Tejada tacked on his second field goal of the game to give the Hogs a 13-7 lead.
Arkansas led at halftime, 20-14.
The Razorbacks play host to North Texas at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Download: In-Game Notes – UK.pdf
