Mistakes haunt Arkansas in fifth straight loss to Missouri

Image – Southwest Times Record

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas spent its Halloween night haunted by mistakes in a 34-10 loss to Missouri.

Four Arkansas turnovers led to 24 points for the No. 23 Tigers, while five personal fouls accounted for 75 penalty yards and wiped out two Razorbacks touchdowns.

Missouri (6-2, 3-2 SEC) clinched bowl eligibility for the seventh consecutive season under Arkansas native Eliah Drinkwitz and won the Battle Line Trophy for the fifth consecutive season. The Tigers improved to 11-2 against the Razorbacks since joining the SEC and 6-1 under Drinkwitz, who grew up in Alma, about 45 miles south of Fayetteville.

Arkansas (3-5, 1-4) lost its 11th consecutive game against a Power Four opponent.

The Tigers never trailed and led 10-0 after the first quarter, capitalizing on an Arkansas interception and a fumble.

On the Razorbacks’ second possession, defensive back Trajen Greco intercepted a tipped pass from quarterback KJ Jackson. Greco returned the interception to the Arkansas 43, and Blake Craig kicked a 31-yard field goal to give Missouri a 3-0 lead with 5:33 left in the first quarter.

Missouri forced another turnover on Arkansas’ next possession when the Razorbacks attempted to convert on fourth-and-1 from their own 33. Kash Courtney’s high snap went through the hands of running back Cam Settles in the wildcat formation. After linebacker Elijah Dotson kicked the ball near the 20-yard line, linebacker Darris Smith recovered it in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.

Craig extended Missouri’s lead to 13-0 with a 53-yard field goal from the right hash mark with 9:00 remaining in the second quarter.

Arkansas came away empty on its first scoring opportunity when Max Gilbert’s 52-yard field goal attempt from the left hash mark sailed wide left with 4:22 remaining before halftime. The Razorbacks later trimmed the deficit to 13-7 on Jackson’s 2-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds remaining. One play earlier, Antonio Jordan turned a third-and-9 reception into a 37-yard gain to the Missouri 4 to set up the score.

Missouri seized control with two quick touchdowns after halftime. Austin Simmons capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Olugbode. The possession included a 46-yard completion to Cayden Lee on third down that moved the Tigers to the Arkansas 11.

A pass interference penalty moved Arkansas to its own 40 on its first offensive snap of the second half, but the Razorbacks soon gave the ball back. Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez forced a Jackson fumble, and defensive end Sterling Webb recovered at the Arkansas 45.

Jamal Roberts broke free for 43 yards on second down before scoring on a 2-yard run on the next play. His ninth rushing touchdown of the season pushed Missouri’s lead to 27-7. Roberts finished with 138 yards on 23 carries, bringing his SEC-leading rushing total to 1,005 yards.

Arkansas controlled the ball for the final 9:47 of the third quarter after Roberts’ touchdown, but its 20-play possession produced only a 32-yard field goal by Gilbert on the opening play of the fourth quarter. The kick cut Missouri’s lead to 27-10.

The Razorbacks converted two fourth downs on runs by Jackson and Settles during the drive, but a pair of 15-yard penalties wiped out two touchdowns. Jordan’s 25-yard touchdown reception was nullified when left guard Malachi Breland was called for unnecessary roughness for taking down linebacker Robert Woodyard. Later, Settles’ 1-yard touchdown run was erased by a chop block involving tackles Bryant Williams and Kavion Broussard.

Arkansas finished with seven penalties for 85 yards.

The teams exchanged fumbles in a 33-second span with just under 10 minutes remaining. Linebacker Bradley Shaw recovered a Roberts fumble at the Arkansas 16, but Jordan lost the ball moments later at the end of a 7-yard reception. Cornerback Jahlil Florence recovered at the Razorbacks’ 33.

Missouri converted its fourth forced turnover into another touchdown when Simmons connected with Roberts for a 10-yard score with 7:19 remaining, extending the lead to 34-10. It was Roberts’ second career touchdown reception and his first of the season.

Arkansas reached the Missouri 1 in the closing minutes but again failed to score. A false start backed the Razorbacks up to the 6, and Jackson’s fourth-down pass intended for former Missouri receiver Courtney Crutchfield fell incomplete.

The Tigers outgained the Razorbacks 390-288, including a 211-59 advantage on the ground.

Simmons completed 20 of 31 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Lee led Missouri’s receivers with six catches for 78 yards.

Jackson completed 20 of 34 passes for 229 yards and was held without a touchdown pass for the third time this season. Excluding sacks, he rushed for 39 yards on 12 attempts and scored on the ground for the second consecutive game.

Jordan paced Arkansas with seven receptions for 106 yards. Chris Marshall, the Razorbacks’ leading receiver this season, did not play after suffering an apparent hamstring injury two weeks earlier at Vanderbilt.

Settles led Arkansas’ running backs with 38 yards on 12 carries, while Sutton Smith added 22 yards on nine attempts. Braylen Russell was stopped for no gain on his lone carry. Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield said Russell missed practice during the week because of an undisclosed injury.

Next Up:
Arkansas is scheduled to play on the road at Auburn (4-4, 2-4) next Saturday, Nov. 7, at 11:45 a.m. on the SEC Network. The Tigers fell to No. 12 Ole Miss 45-15 in Oxford on Saturday.

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