LIVE BLOG: Hogs blow South Carolina away in fourth quarter

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas poured it on South Carolina in the fourth quarter of a 44-30 win at Razorback Stadium.

It was the SEC opener for the Hogs and a wild final period.

Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon was not on the field with the other captains for the coin toss, which the Razorbacks won and defered to the second half.

First Quarter

1Q 6:42: Arkansas thinks it can just pound the ball down South Carolina’s throat and mix in the occasional passing play. Based on the Razorbacks’ first drive there may not be a whole the Gamecocks can do about it, either. The Hogs drive 63 yards in 13 plays, throwing just two passes for 25 yards to set up Raheim Sanders’ 1-yard run. Hogs 7, South Carolina 0

1Q 3:32: Gamecocks answer with Spencer Rattler missing a bomb down the field when he underthrew a wide open receiver, but then completed a 43-yarder to MarShaw Lloyd out of the backfield. The Hogs’ defense stiffened inside the 20, though, and SC settled for a 28-yard field goal Mitch Jeter. Hogs 7, South Carolina 3

The first period ends with the Hogs dinking and dunking their way down field, now mixing in some short passes with the running game. South Carolina’s defense doesn’t seem to have an urgent desire to stop either one and balances the pass defense with little rush and inability to cover.

Second Quarter

2Q 14:28: Raheim Sanders took a sweep wide to the right and no Gamecock defenders could get close as he jogs into the end zone from 11 yards out Hogs 14, South Carolina 3

2Q 8:13: After shutting down South Carolina, the Hogs offense gets a couple of big runs from Malik Hornsby on sweeps to start, then use 12 plays to drive 61 yards before a 1-yard run by Rashod Dubinion start to open things up a bit. Hogs 21, South Carolina 3

2Q 2:56: Gamecocks’ offense finally gets organized enough to put together an 11-play, 70-yard drive with running back MarShawn Lloyd getting the last seven with little resistance, but then miss the extra point and they still aren’t in double digits. Hogs 21, South Carolina 9

End Half: Arkansas couldn’t get anything else before half, but kicker Cam Little came close on a 50-yard field goal attempt and will get the ball first in the second half. If the Gamecocks can’t get anything going quickly in the second half this one will be over fairly quickly

Third Quarter

3Q 8:51: South Carolina has apparently come to life in the third quarter and have found something they want to try to exploit with Arkansas missing two starting safeties. Spencer Rattler completes a 62-yard scoring pass to Antwane Wells, who was wide open over the middle got one block and nobody touched him to the end zone. Shane Beamer decides to not chase lost points midway through the third quarter and kicks the point-after. Hogs 21, South Carolina 16

After not getting points on some big plays due to holding calls, Hogs driving on Gamecocks’ 1.

Fourth Quarter

4Q 14:55: KJ Jefferson sneaks across for the score on the first play of the final period and now it’s going to be up to the defense. Hogs 28, South Carolina 16

4Q 12:09: Jefferson gives the Hogs a big lead after the defense forces a fumble cornerback Hudson Clark recovered. He found Warren Thompson wide open in the end zone and hit him for a 23-yard scoring play and a big lead. Hogs 35, South Carolina 16