Hogs find way to win in three overtimes over Kansas

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s probably fair to say Arkansas found a way to win a game they tried pretty hard to lose.

Oh, there will be some complaining about the officiating, but Wednesday night’s 55-53 win over Kansas in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl is still huge.

“I’m proud of our football team,” Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said later. “Very proud. We had a lot of challenges going into the game.”

That was because the Hogs were playing with only 48 scholarship players.

This win gives Pittman two out of three winning seasons, finishing at 7-6 on the year.

We are under way at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis and Arkansas will have the ball first.

We’ll have a running commentary throughout the game.

First Quarter

1Q 11:12: Razorbacks take the opening kickoff and drive 56 yards in 10 plays with KJ Jefferson passing and running to set up Cam Little’s 37-yard field goal for an early lead. Hogs 3, Kansas 0

1Q 8:23: Kansas’ offense turns Hogs’ defense in circles on first drive with wide open receivers for Jalon Daniels as the secondary is not reading anything correctly. Daniels passes to a wide open Ky Thomas, who runs 13 yards into the end zone to complete a 26-yard scoring pass that was the second way-too-easy completion on an opening drive. Kansas 7, Hogs 3

1Q 6:05: This time it’s the Jayhawks’ secondary that doesn’t see Matt Landers running wide open down the left sideline, but Jefferson sees him and delivers a 59-yard scoring strike. Are we looking at a track meet? Especially as Kansas fumbles away the ensuing kickoff and Harper Cole recovering for the Hogs. Hogs 10, Kansas 7

1Q 5:57: After recovering the fumble, Jefferson finds Ty Washington wide open in the middle for a 17-yard scoring play. Remember the question about track meet? Hogs 17, Kansas 7

1Q :23: Razorbacks put an exclamation point on first quarter with Jefferson getting the last three yards of a 73-yard drive for a whopping lead coming to the end of the period. Hogs 24, Kansas 7

Second Quarter

2Q 5:02: This is getting downright boring. The Jayhawks really can’t stop the Hogs’ offense and it’s almost like they are toying with Kansas. AJ Green gets a 20-yard scoring romp down the right sidelines due in part to Kansas’ apparent lack of interest in doing anything about it. This is turning out to be a pleasantly surprising blowout. Hogs 31, Kansas 7

2Q 1:18: Kansas finally comes up with an answer as Daniels completes a 24-yard scoring pass. The Jayhawks did one of those things that backfire often by chasing points in the second quarter and blow a 2-point conversion pass, killing momentum some. They will get the ball first in the second half, though. Hogs 31, Kansas 13

It looked like the Hogs were going to score again before halftime before KJ Jefferson threw an interception in the end zone, but still have dominating 31-13 lead at the break with Kansas getting the ball first in the second half.

Third Quarter

3Q 8:43: Hogs wearing down Kansas and have probably put this one away with a 10-play, 80-yard drive and Rashod Dubinion getting the last two yards up the middle. This one may be out of reach. Hogs 38, Kansas 13

3Q 3:15: Jayhawks show some life and get a score before the fourth quarter on a two-yard run by Ky Thomas to cap a five-play, 86-yard scoring drive. Hogs 38, Kansas 20

Fourth Quarter

4Q 14:07: Kansas inches a little closer to the Hogs, who went three-and-out after a score. The Jayhawks and get a 36-yard field goal from Owen Piepergedes and has the momentum. Hogs 38, Kansas 23

4Q 1:05: Jayhawks getting closer and will have a shot to tie the game. Daniels completes a 10-yard scoring pass right down the middle and add the extra point. Then they recover an onsides kick. Hogs 38, Kansas 30

4Q :41: Jayhawks tie the game unbelievably after recovering the kick, then moving downfield 50 yards in 24 seconds to score on a 21-yard pass, then a 2-point conversion pass to Lawrence Arnold but Jefferson will have some time and three timeouts. Hogs 38, Kansas 38

Razorbacks end regulation with running back AJ Green running out of bounds instead of at least attempting to cut back into middle as clock runs out. We go to overtime.

Unbelievable.

First Overtime

1st Possession: Kansas scores on a fourth-down pass from Daniels to Casey, who was all alone in the end zone and added the extra point, Now it’s the Hogs’ turn. Kansas 45, Hogs 38

2nd Possession: It takes the Hogs two plays with a pass to Matt Landers, then a run by Rashod Dubinion scores and they choose to tie the game and do it all again. Hogs 45, Kansas 45

Second Overtime

1st Possession: Hogs need just two plays and Jefferson scores on a 20-yard run. Jefferson then has to double-clutch the throw for two points, but finds Jaedon Wilson coming across the back. Hogs 53, Kansas 45

2nd Possession: Kansas converts the 2-point conversion and targeting on Quincy McAdoo gives the Jayhawks a second chance on the conversion attempt (after an extensive video review) and one of the playmakers is ejected as a result. On the second attempt from the 1, Daniels completes a pass to Casey who gets it into the end zone. We go to a third. Hogs 53, Kansas 53

Third Overtime (2-point Attempts Only)

1st: Jefferson flicks a little pass to Dubinion. Hogs 55, Kansas 53

2nd: For some unexplained reason, the Jayhawks have a wide receiver try a pass that is seriously overthrown. Hogs 55, Kansas 53