GAMEDAY BLOG: Hogs-Missouri commentary through second half

4Q 4:47: In the span of just a few minutes in the fourth quarter, the Hogs are dangerously close to blowing a fourth-quarter lead to Missouri … again. Tyler Badie sprinted in from 25 yards out and now the Tigers have the advantage. Missouri 47, Hogs 40

4Q 7:46: Larry Rountree scores from 9 yards out and that’s how quick the Hogs’ two-touchdown lead has evaporated, mainly because the offense is suddenly not getting first downs. Over 1,000 yards of offense and this one isn’t over yet. Hogs 40, Missouri 40

4Q 12:41: Tyler Badie goes 46 yards down the left sideline for a score and cut the Hogs’ lead back to a touchdown. Hogs 40, Missouri 33

4Q 13:15: Trelon Smith and Treylon Burks are having monster days. Behind a circus catch by Burks, the Hogs drove 75 yards in seven plays to score on a 16-yard run by Smith, who has 153 yards on the ground. Burks has seven catches for 179 yards. Hogs 40, Missouri 26

4Q 14:51: Missouri puts together a 14-play drive but has to end up settling for a 40-yard field goal from Harris Mevis, cutting the Hogs’ lead to one score. Hogs 33, Missouri 26

3Q 8:18: The Hogs’ offense holds the Tigers to a field goal, then K.J. Jefferson directs a 75-yard drive in eight plays with Trelon Smith doing much of the work, scoring on a 15-yard run. The extra point was blocked. Hogs 33, Missouri 23

3Q 10:23: After Arkansas goes three-and-out coming out of halftime, Missouri moves down and gets a 37-yard field goal from Harrison Mevis. Hogs 27, Missouri 23

K.J. Jefferson is proving me wrong in the first half against Missouri because I didn’t believe he was ready to be an SEC quarterback, but Kendal Briles has him playing like one.

It helps his roommate Treylon Burks is one of the Hogs’ most dynamic players (you have to put Trelon Smith in that category now) and it’s starting to look like a threat as Arkansas takes a 27-20 lead at halftime over the Tigers.

The announcement came just before kickoff Feleipe Franks was out with rib injuries and Jefferson would start.

The redshirt freshman has responded.

Burks has six touches, 116 total yards and three other passes were thrown his direction and fell incomplete.

2Q :20: Arkansas’ defense figured out a way to force Missouri to punt, then K.J. Jefferson directed a 70-yard drive with big runs from Trelon Smith and a fake field goal where holder Jack Lindsey ran right up the middle for 20 yards. That set up Jefferson’s 1-yard sneak to give the Hogs a lead with 20 seconds to go to halftime. Hogs 27, Missouri 20

2Q 3:39: The Hogs answer with offense as K.J. Jefferson has settled down in this game and the moves them 75 yards in 13 plays with Trelon Smith running in from 6 yards out as this one is starting to look like a shootout. Hogs 20, Missouri 20

2Q 7:45: If the Hogs can’t figure out a way to at least slow down Larry Rountree this game is going to be tough to win as the senior running back has 73 yards and added a 6-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers back on top. Missouri 20, Hogs 13

2Q 11:16: Roommates Treylon Burks and K.J. Jefferson catch the Missouri secondary moving the wrong way and connect on a 68-yard scoring play and get the Hogs right back in the middle of things. Hogs 13, Missouri 13

2Q 11:56: Arkansas’ defense trying to hang on and keep them in the game as Larry Rountree has 57 yards on the ground early in the second quarter as the Tigers get a 29-yard field goal when a drive stalls. Missouri 13, Hogs 6

1Q 1:48: After a rough start, K.J. Jefferson settles down and makes enough plays scrambling and hitting key passes to lead a 12-play, 75-yard drive and flipped a 2-yard scoring pass to tight end Blake Kern. Special teams problems pop up as A.J. Reed pulls the extra point to the left. Missouri 10, Hogs 6

1Q 6:17: The Tigers limit the Hogs to just 2 yards of offense after taking the lead, then proceed to go 69 yards in 12 plays and Larry Rountree ran the ball in from 2 yards out with 6:17 left in the first quarter. Missouri 10, Hogs 0

1Q 12:12 Missouri’s offense dominating Arkansas’ defense as K.J. Jefferson only managed three passes, one of which was backwards to Mike Woods for just a 2-yard gain. The Tigers’ offense got a 51-yard field goal from Harrison Mevis with 12:12 left in the first quarter. Missouri 3, Hogs 0

The news broke just before kickoff Arkansas quarterback Feleipe Franks might be out for the game with injured ribs, which is a complete surprise to everyone.

That means redshirt freshman K.J. Jefferson may be the starter, which nobody saw coming.