Utah Rolls Past Arkansas 43-10 in Silverfield’s First Loss

Image – Southwest Times Record

SALT LAKE CITY — After scoring a field goal on its opening drive, Arkansas gave up 43 unanswered points as Utah ran away with a 43-10 victory Saturday, Sept. 12.

Arkansas quarterbacks KJ Jackson and AJ Hill combined to complete 22 of 48 passes for 244 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jackson completed 14 of 34 passes for 139 yards and an interception, while Hill completed 8 of 14 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

On the other side, Utah quarterback Devon Dampier impressed against the Razorbacks, completing 18 of 24 passes for 261 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed 11 times for 50 yards and two more touchdowns.

Ute tailback Wayshawn Parker carried the ball 11 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Noah Benee caught four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown.

After Max Gilbert’s 29-yard field goal gave the Razorbacks a 3-0 lead, Utah drove 75 yards in 10 plays. Parker capped the drive with a touchdown run to give the Utes a 7-3 lead with 3:39 remaining in the first quarter.

After three drives ended in punts — two by Arkansas and one by Utah — the Utes got the ball back at their own 35-yard line. After two positive plays, Dampier threw an interception to Arkansas defensive back Christian Harrison after defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr. created pressure.

Five plays later, Jackson returned the favor. His pass was intercepted by safety Jackson Bennee, who returned it to the Arkansas 24-yard line. Dampier finished Utah’s next drive with a 7-yard touchdown run.

The Utes went for two, and wide receiver Mana Carvalho ran it in to make the score 15-3 with 9:23 remaining in the second quarter.

The Hogs’ next drive lasted 11 plays and covered 42 yards. However, Gilbert’s 51-yard field goal attempt went wide left. The Utes closed the half with back-to-back touchdown drives, sandwiching another Arkansas punt, to take a 29-3 halftime lead.

Utah opened the second half with another Dampier touchdown, as he scored on a 1-yard run to make it 36-3 with 12:03 remaining in the third quarter. After another set of back-to-back punts, Arkansas’ final drive of the period ended on downs at the Utes’ 30-yard line when Jackson failed to complete a pass to wide receiver Chris Marshall.

Utah opened the fourth quarter with another Dampier touchdown run, this time from 2 yards out.

The Razorbacks’ only touchdown drive was led by backup quarterback AJ Hill. Hill completed multiple passes to Marshall and one to tight end Ty Lockwood, while tailbacks Braylen Russell and Cam Settles contributed carries to help set up the score.

Hill finished the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to receiver Ismael Cisse, making it 43-10, where the score remained for the rest of the game. Both Utah and Arkansas turned the ball over on downs on their final possessions.

Notes
Arkansas dropped to 3-15 in white helmets since they were reintroduced in 2012. The Razorbacks are also 3-10 in games in which they wore white helmets, white jerseys and white pants.

Utah will not be the last Big 12 opponent Arkansas faces in future seasons. The Razorbacks are scheduled to play a Big 12 team in seven of the next eight seasons, with Utah returning to Fayetteville in 2029.

Arkansas will play Oklahoma State and Texas Tech three times each. The Razorbacks will host the Cowboys in 2027 and 2033 and play in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 2032. They will play Texas Tech in Las Vegas in 2030, Fayetteville in 2031 and Lubbock, Texas, in 2034.

Arkansas is 13-9 against Big 12 opponents since the conference was founded in 1996.

Next Up
Arkansas (1-1) will return home to Fayetteville to open SEC play against No. 2 Georgia (2-0). The Bulldogs defeated Western Kentucky 70-20 on Saturday afternoon.

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