Football
Razorbacks fall to eighth-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday night, 42-31
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Arkansas’ defense ran out of gas before Texas A&M tried a lot of running, but by early in the fourth quarter they were gashed by Kellen Mond in a 42-31 loss in College Station, Texas.
The game was played in front of the largest crowd of Covid-19 restrictions of over 27,000 but it appeared a few might have sneaked inside without being counted.
Razorbacks’ defensive coordinator Barry Odom was afraid the Aggies would just pound the ball running the ball on a defense that is vastly improved, but still short on numbers.
Instead, Mond simply carved up the defense throwing the ball as the Hogs’ front couldn’t get consistent pressure on the four-year starter as his experience showed through all night.
The loss dropped the Hogs to 2-3 on the season as they will host Tennessee next Saturday night at Razorback Stadium.
4Q :36: Rakeem Boyd reached the 100-yard mark with a 14-yard scamper by the time things were decided and out of reach to cap a six-play, 69-yard drive that showed as much about the Hogs not quitting in a game that was settled early in the fourth quarter.
Aggies 42, Hogs 31
4Q 13:09: No quit in Arkansas as they drive 75 yards in just eight plays as Feleipe Franks is keeping plays going with his running. Franks hits Treylon Burks on a crossing route from 16 yards out for Burks’ second score of the game. Without defensive stops, though, the gap is too big to catch up.
Aggies 42, Hogs 24
3Q :56: Texas A&M’s offense is completely wearing down the Hogs’ defense and now they are pulling away as Devon Achane breaks tackles for a 30-yard jaunt down the right sideline.
Aggies 42, Hogs 17
3Q 5:22: Kellen Mond’s have a career game against the Hogs, finding Jalen Wydermyer on a 15-yard scoring pass just ahead of the blitz package. Mond is 19-of-22 for 244 yards picking the Arkansas defense completely apart and not making any mistakes, just taking whatever he’s getting.
Aggies 35, Hogs 17
3Q 10:22: After missing a pair of field goals in the first half, kicker A.J. Reed nailed a 34-yarder after the Hogs took the second-half kickoff and drove inside the Red Zone before penalties and offensive mis-fires stalled the drive.
Aggies 28, Hogs 17
2Q 1:14: Texas A&M answers the Hogs’ score with a three-minute 74-yard march in seven plays as the Hogs’ defense is starting to wear thin. Isaiah Spiller ran it in from 6 yards out.
Aggies 28, Hogs 14
2Q 4:13: Feleipe Franks’ experience and Kendal Briles’ fast-paced offense combined to move 75 yards in eight plays, including converting a fourth-and-2 with a 36-yard completion from Franks to Treylon Burks and the Hogs answer the Aggies’ lead.
Aggies 21, Hogs 14
2Q 6:43: Kellen Mond completes a 6-yard pass to big tight end Jalen Wydermeyer and the Aggies open up the lead as the Texas A&M personnel advantage starting to show.
Aggies 21, Hogs 7
2Q 12:39: Interesting offensive approach as the Hogs are running the ball down the Aggies’ throats. A total of 96 yards on the ground so far against a defense that has been giving up just 75 a game.
1Q :34: Arkansas has a three-and-out, then the Aggies take advantage of Hogs’ Jalen Catalon getting disqualified for targeting (which will knock him out of the first half of the Tennessee game next week) and Ainias Smith scores on a 15-yard run after replay initially called him down a few inches away. Hogs’ offense is going to have to score and keep pace.
Aggies 14, Hogs 7
1Q 3:57: Aggies respond after Arkansas’ score to tie the game on Ainias Smith’s 35-yard catch and run, keeping his balance at the pylon, on a pass from Kellen Mond. This could turn into a track meet.
Hogs 7, Aggies 7
1Q 8:09: Arkansas’ defense stops Texas A&M’s opening drive, then maybe the best offensive drive of the year so far going 87 yards in 12 plays and Feleipe Franks hits Treylon Burks with a 6-yard pass on an out route for the score and the Hogs grab the lead.
Hogs 7, Aggies 0
Hogs defensive end Dorian Gerald is dressed and went through warmups, according to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writer Tom Murphy, a frequent guest on The Morning Rush on ESPN Arkansas.
Arkansas DE Dorian Gerald is dressed out and going through warmups now. He hasn’t played since the opener (ankle).
— Thomas Murphy (@TomMurphyADG) October 31, 2020
