Hogs can’t pull off late drive to get win, fall late to LSU, 27-24

Arkansas started short-handed against LSU on Saturday, then saw a key player ejected and still couldn’t take advantage of chance to win at end in 27-24 loss.

The Razorbacks had several players in the defensive line out due to covid restrictions and the Tigers took advantage of that, dominating the meaningless time of possession and number of plays stats.

Then Hogs safety Jalen Catalon was ejected for targeting (it wasn’t, at least by any understanding of the rule I’ve gotten from people who know). He will now have to sit out the first half of next week’s game against Missouri.

In the end, though, Arkansas still had a shot to win before a drive stalled on the LSU 27 and Sam Pittman chose to go for a field goal to send the game into overtime and A.J. Reed’s 44-yard attempt was partially blocked.

4Q 1:24: Feleipe Franks directed a drive that got down within range, Sam Pittman decided on a fourth-and-3 at the LSU 27 to go for a long field goal from the inconsistent A.J. Reed. It was partially blocked by the Tigers, falling short. LSU 27, Hogs 24

4Q 3:59: Arkansas’ defense can’t make a play when they need it and the freshmen quarterback T.J. Finley leads the Tigers 67 yards in 10 plays to get a score on a 13-yard pass to Jaray Jenkins. Now the Hogs’ offense has to come up with an answer when it matters the most. LSU 27, Hogs 24

4Q 12:42: Kendal Briles is breaking out the big plays in the fourth quarter with a 51-yard pass to T.J. Hammonds (yes, he’s still on the team), which Hammonds followed with a 29-yard run, but the drive stalled and A.J. Reed kicked a 22-yard field goal. Hogs 24, LSU 20

3Q 1:04: Arkansas’ offense gets pinned on the 4, then Feleipe Franks and Mike Woods hook up and it’s off to the races. A second pass puts it on the 2 and Trelon Smith gets it in from a yard out and the Hogs get the lead back. Hogs 21, LSU 20

HALFTIME: The Tigers got a 24-yard field goal from Cade York as time expired as a lead they could blow open if they do anything with the second-half kickoff. The Hogs’ lack of players on the defensive front is causing problems.

Offensively, though, the Hogs look as disorganized as the first half of the Tennessee game.

Just like that game, though, we’ll see what adjustments are made at halftime which likely will make the difference in how things play out.

LSU 20, Hogs 14

2Q 3:44 The Hogs’ offense answers with a big pass from Feleipe Franks to Mike Woods for 50 yards to the LSU 25. Franks, making amends for his earlier interception, run up the middle for a score from 10 yards out. LSU 17, Hogs 14

2Q 4:53: After the Hogs recover a fumble, Feleipe Franks throws an interception to Jabril Cox that is returned to the 1. Ty Davis-Price scored on the next play and it will be up to Arkansas’ offense to answer. LSU 17, Hogs 7

2Q 13:54: LSU’s offense not going for many big plays, dinking their way down the field working the clock, but they hit a 30-yard scoring play from T.J. Finley to Racey McMath when Hogs cornerback Hudson Clark gets out of position and the Tigers get the lead back. Arkansas’ offense looks completely baffled on some drives. LSU 10, Hogs 7

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1Q 3:40: Treylon Burks and Mike Woods switched some routes and the Warren native was wide open down the right sideline for a 65-yard scoring pass and he becomes the fastest Razorback to reach 1,000 yards. Hogs 7, LSU 3

LSU strikes first as the Razorbacks’ offense is struggling again to get the engine running smoothly at the start. The Tigers go 51 yards in eight plays with T.J. Finley hitting enough passes on third down to keep things alive and Cade York kicks a 49-yard field for the first points of the game. LSU 3, Hogs 0

You can listen to the game live RIGHT HERE at HitThatLine.com or on the radio at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.