ARLINGTON, Texas — In the fourth quarter, No. 24 Texas A&M discovered it’s running game while Arkansas never found one consistently all days. At the end, when they needed to run to win, the Aggies could do it in a 21-17 win in the final Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium.
A&M has won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the two schools and they will start playing the games on-campus next season.
The Razorbacks are now 3-2 and will host Tennessee next Saturday at either 6 or 6:30 p.m. on ESPN or ABC.
The two teams started playing here in 2009 and with only three exceptions have played here every year since then. The Aggies have won 10 of the last 11 games, some of them in bizarre fashion.
Q1 14:00 Arkansas has started about as fast as possible. Quarterback Taylen Green moved up into the pocket on a third-and-10 and found wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa breaking free on a crossing route and he out-ran and Aggies’ defensive back for a 75-yard scoring play. Hogs 7, Aggies 0
Q1 10:28: If you thought this was going to be a blowout, there are apparently two offenses capable of big plays. A&M responds with quarterback Marcel Reed throwing to Noah Thomas and Kee’yon Stewart whiffed a tackle attempt and the Aggies had a 58-yard scoring play. Hogs 7, Aggies 7
Q1 4:50: Razorbacks run a fake punt and it worked almost as well as it did 10 years ago when punter Devin Bale scooted 25 yards to keep a drive alive and Ja’Quinden Jackson ran 8 yards for the score. Isaiah Sategna had a 15-yard run on the jet sweep and caught a pass for 6 to set up the scoring play. Hogs 14, Aggies 7
Q2 8:58: After a punt backed the Razorbacks to the 9, A&M’s Shemar Stewart took advantage of a lack of interest in any of the Hogs blocking him and blew up a handoff from Green to Jackson and Scooby Williams recovered at the 8. Two plays later Reed walked into the end zone over the left side from the 5 and we’re tied again. Hogs 14, Aggies 14
Q4 13:24: After the defenses on both sides managed to pile stops at key times, the Razorbacks finally get one close enough to give Kyle Ramsey a shot at a 45-yard field goal after turning down a previous chance for a fake that totally collapsed. Hogs 17, Aggies 14
Q4 9:00: Texas A&M takes the kickoff after the field goal at the 25 and cover the 75 yards in seven plays to take the lead on a 5-yard pass from Reed to Tre Washington and grab a lead. Aggies 21, Hogs 17
The Razorbacks got the ball back late and had a key first down on a fourth-down sneak by Green. They got a first down and an 11-yard sack on Green forced a fumble and Williams recovered with 1:30 to play in the game. The Aggies were penalized twice in the wildness of the fumble and backed up on their own 42 instead of nearly being in field goal range.
