LIVE BLOG: Hogs score a late touchdown that only affects final score

After two straight losses, Arkansas zcomes into probably the next-to-last meeting with Texas A&M in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. What started as a novel idea in former Razorback Jerry Jones’ new stadium for the Dallas has pretty much run it’s course.

It would have helped if the Hogs could get a few more wins in the series. They started with three in a row and have won just one against the Aggies since 2012. Interestingly, there have been numerous close losses and some overtime games … all with the Hogs coming out otevn the short side.

This year they come into this game with a 2-2 record. A loss would put Sam Pittman on a hot seat, regardless what his many supporters think. Texas A&M getting a second loss on the season in what will be five games would increase the heat in College Station, Texas, around Jimbo Fisher.

We won’t bring up the implications of the Hogs having another loss and falling to 2-3 with road games coming up against Ole Miss and Alabama. The Razorbacks are in near-desperation mode now. A loss might remove the near part of that.

The good news out of Fayetteville this week has surrounded the possibile return of Raheim “Rocket” Sanders. He injured a knee in the opener down in Little Rock against Western Carolina and hasn’t played again. It has been noticed. How it contributed to some dysfunction in the offensive line remains one of many questions around this team.

Finding answers to the myriad questions is, ultimately, the biggest question facing Sam Pittman today against the Aggies.

Sam Pittman (Craven Whitlow / HitThatLine.com)

The Hogs have arrived at the stadium. Pittman has already done interviews inside the stadium and both teams are getting ready for this one. The contract expires as the end of next year’s game and there’s not a lot of enthusiastic-sounding positives from athletics directors Arkansas’ Hunter Yurachek or Aggies’ Ross Bjork about continuing this matchup there.

We’ll have a recap of the scoring plays right after they happen here at HitThatLine and you can listen to the game if you’re not able to watch all afternoon.

1Q 6:45: Arkansas takes the opening kickoff and grinds out a methodical drive that goes backwards at the end with Texas A&M obviously bringing everybody but the cheerleaders after KJ Jefferson with pressure and Razorbacks’ offensive line can’t do a whole lot to stop him. Cam Little has to come on and blast a 52-yard field goal down the middle for early lead. Hogs 3, Aggies 0

1Q 2:36: Texas A&M doesn’t have to work as hard to answer. The Aggies drive 75 yards in just eight plays with quarterback Max Johnson throwing a perfect flag pattern pass to Evan Stewart.  It’s one of Aggies offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s favorite routes. Aggies 7, Hogs 3

2Q 13:00: Razorbacks get Raheim “Rocket” Sanders involved with a game and he responds … but not for a score. The Hogs drive 69 yards in 10 plays have to settle for a field goal, which is a rather disturbing trend. Hogs controlling the clock and yards early, but not much points. Little comes on for a 25-yard field goal. Aggies 7, Hogs 6

2Q 10:26: After Hogs can’t get a first down, Texas A&M drives down the field and defense probably came out on the positive side of some passes involving contact. Randy Bond comes on for a 42-yard field goal to extend the lead. Aggies 10, Hogs 6

2Q :13: After a fourth-down call by Sam Pittman is blown up, Aggies move down for a 2-yard pass completion from Max Johnson to Earnest Crownover. Aggies 17, Hogs 6

3Q 14:54: Snaxx Johnson jumps Johnson’s first pass on a little out pattern and returned it 20 yards to open the second half with bang and some momentum. Aggies 17, Hogs 13

3Q 11:11: Texas A&M answers with a 58-yard drive stalling inside the 10 and Bond comes on to kick a 34-yard field goal after their offensive line jumps too quick. Aggies 20, Hogs 13

3Q 7:58: Razorbacks’ offense can’t seem to make plays when they really need to with Andrew Armstrong dropping a touchdown pass in the end zone. Little comes on for a 50-yard field goal. Aggies 20, Hogs 16

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3Q 5:58: Jefferson has pass batted into air and the Aggies’ Chris Russell intercepts and returns it untouched for a score as game starts to settle into battle of goofy officials’ calls both ways. Aggies 27, Hogs 16

4Q 7:40: Aggies on verge of blowing this one wide open now. Ainias Smith returns Max Fletcher’s punt 82 yards and the Hogs may be on verge collapsing in this one. Aggies 34, Hogs 16

4Q 3:53: Razorbacks’ offense finally hits a big play as Jefferson, who was just letting things fly deep to Andrew Armstrong at the 3 and fell into the end zone. After a long delay, officials just let the whole thing stand, not that it did that much. Sategna came around on a reverse for the 2-point conversion that failed miserably. Aggies 34, Hogs 22