LIVE BLOG: Hogs take control late for 31-24 win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Football is finally here.

And it’s about as ideal as it gets this time of the year in Razorback Stadium on a bright, sunny 82-degree day with almost no wind.

You can watch today’s game at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN or streaming at ESPN+. Listen to the game using the black listen bar below or on the radio at 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs or 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

We’ll have all of big plays covered here.

The Razorbacks’ captains Jalen Catalon, quarterback KJ Jefferson, Dalton Wagner and Bumper Pool lose the toss and they will get the ball first after Cincinnati deferred.

First Quarter

Hogs defending South goal in a Razorback Stadium that is continuing to see people come inside.

Razorbacks get on the board first after a 52-yard return of a Cincinnati pass by Dwight McGlothern, who jumped the route after the Bearcats’ opening drive moved the ball on the Hogs’ defense.

1Q 6:18: Jefferson scores from 15 yards out on a scoring drive of 29 yards in just three plays as the two teams are tied in total yardage with 64, but the Hogs have 51 more on a defensive turnover. Hogs 7, Cincinnati 0

Hogs end the period with the ball and a 16-yard run by Jefferson after the Bearcats’ Ryan Coe sailed a 25-yard field goal attempt wide to the right.

Second Quarter

After a pretty boring quarter that saw Hogs safety Myles Slusher leave the game with an injury when it appeared he knocked himself out making a tackle, the only other excitement was another missed field goal by the Bearcats.

Until the last 30 seconds.

2Q :17: Raheim “Rocket” Sanders broke a 37-yard run to the 5 on a third-and-1, then Jefferson threw a little whoopee pass to tight end Trey Knox, who jumped up and made the catch with 17 seconds left. Hogs 14, Cincinnati 0

Third Quarter

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It didn’t take long for things to get interesting after a lack of scoring in the first half, the third quarter had bang to the first seven minutes.

3Q 10:59: Corey Kiner capped off a 12-play, 75-yard drive to open the half with a 5-yard run and get the Bearcats on the board. Hogs 14, Cincinnati 7

3Q 8:00: Arkansas wasted little time answering , driving 75 yards in eight plays, needing just 2:59 before wide receiver Jadon Haselwood showed what all the buzz was about with him, catching a 19-yard pass on the goal line and falling into the end zone for the score. Hogs 21, Cincinnati 7

3Q 6:50: A shoot-out has broken out. The Bearcats needed just over a minute to answer and they are picking on the Hogs’ secondary, which has clearly struggled covering people. Ben Bryant completes a three-play, 71-yard drive with a 35-yard strike to Nick Mardner down the middle of the field. The Bearcats had open receivers in the first half but couldn’t manage to get the ball to them. Hogs 21, Cincinnati 14

3Q 4:44: The Razorbacks dodge a bullet after a holding penalty backed them up inside their own 5-yard line and KJ Jefferson’s fumble was recovered by the Bearcats on the 3-yard line. They went backwards and ended up having to settle for a 26-yard field goal by Coe. Hogs 21, Cincinnati 17

3Q 1:28: Hogs answer with a drive that bogs down in the red zone when Jefferson can’t hit Warren Thompson on a couple of throws setting up a 32-yard field goal by Cam Little. Hogs 24, Cincinnati 17

Fourth Quarter

4Q 9:26: After Jordan Domineck stripped Ben Bryant of the ball on a pass rush, then recovered it, the Hogs drove down the field with Jefferson completing a short pass to Knox, who made a Cincinnati defender miss and turned it into a 32-yard scoring strike down the right sideline and the Hogs have some breathing room. Hogs 31, Cincinnati 17

4Q 5:39: Cincinnati adds late touchdown on a 15-yard pass, but it’s too little too late for the Bearcats. Hogs 31, Cincinnati 24