Razorbacks rally again; down ULM 28-27

LITTLE ROCK – For the second week in a row, senior quarterback Casey Dick marched the University of Arkansas to a touchdown on the final Razorback drive of the game. And for the second week in a row, Arkansas scores a come-from-behind victory, this time defeating Louisiana-Monroe, 28-27, at War Memorial Stadium.

The win moves Arkansas to 2-0 on the season, while ULM dropped to 0-2.

The eight-yard pass to D.J. Williams with 1:22 left to play tied the game. The score and the point after by substitute kicker Shay Haddock put Arkansas head, 28-27.

But the Warhawks had the last chance with a 45-yard attempt by Jeremy Gener with 41 seconds left. Gener, who had not missed on the evening, pushed the attempt right and short.

Williams touchdown closed out a tremendous Razorback rally.

Trailing 24-6 late in the third quarter, Arkansas scored three late touchdowns to counter a 24-point scoring spree by the Warhawks during the second and third quarters.

Dick led Arkansas on an 11-play, 79-yard drive to take the lead. The final drive was reminiscent of the season opener, complete with a clutch fourth down conversion. Dick’s 20-yard completion to Chris Gragg – the true freshman’s first college reception – kept the winning drive alive and put Arkansas at the ULM eight yard line.

For the game, Dick finished with 22-of-34 for 323 yards, his second straight 300-yard game. Williams was five for 124 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions for the Razorbacks.

Michael Smith rushed for 157 yards on 22 carries to account for Arkansas two other touchdowns.

On the previous drive, Williams’ 76-yard catch took Arkansas to the ULM four, where Smith finished the two-play, 80-yard drive to bring the Razorbacks to within a touchdown, 27-21. Haddock, came into the game at place kicker to relieve starter Alex Tejada, converted the PAT for the 37-second drive with 12:19 left in the game.

The Razorbacks opened strong behind the running of Smith, but two of Arkansas early drives ended in missed field goal opportunities by sophomore kicker Tejada.

Arkansas scored first with Smith providing a pair of first-down runs in the seven-play, 55-yard drive that finished with the 5-7 junior stretching for the goal line. After video review, the 13-yard dash was ruled a touchdown, although Arkansas missed the extra point.

The Warhawks took advantage of Arkansas slow start to score 24 unanswered points in the second and third quarters. Anthony McCall caught the first of a pair of TD passes to start the run. His one-yarder with 8:12 in the second put ULM up 7-6, a lead the Warhawks would expand with a Gener 20-yard field goal with 3:48 in the period.

ULM scored twice in the early part of the third. A 33-yard touchdown from Kinsmon Lancaster to McCall opened the half and a one-yard run by Gary Frazier with 6:11 left to play made it 24-6.

Arkansas responded with an eight-play, 69-yard drive capped by an 8-yard pass from Dick to Williams. Going for two, Dick found Williams again to snap the scoring run by ULM and bring the Razorbacks to within 10.

The Warhawks managed a 40-yard field goal to make it 27-14 with 12:56 to play.

For the game, Arkansas rolled up 506 total yards, with 183 on the ground and 323 in the air. ULM had 341 yards, most coming through the air with 270 for quarterback Lancaster. Rodney Lovett led the Warhawks in rushing with 17 carries for 66 yards.

Arkansas hits the road next week to face the Texas Longhorns in Austin.