Field Level Media
Sep 25, 2021
Host No. 16 Arkansas showed they are a heavyweight in the SEC, earning a convincing 20-10 victory over No. 7 Texas A&M Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
After losing nine straight to Texas A&M, the win gave the Razorbacks (4-0, 1-0 SEC) their first victory over the Aggies (3-1, 0-1) since 2012, when Texas A&M first became a member of the SEC.
The Razorbacks improved to 42-32-3 all-time against Texas A&M.
Arkansas quarterback K.J. Jefferson once again led an explosive Arkansas offense, completing 7-of-15 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson added another 50 yards on the ground.
Jefferson took a hit running out of bounds on the opening drive of the second half and appeared to suffer a left knee injury. He stayed in the game until midway through the third quarter, when he gave way to backup Malik Hornsby. However, Jefferson came back midway through the fourth quarter to help the Razorbacks close out the game.
Receiver Treylon Burks led Arkansas with six catches for 167 receiving yards and a TD. Trelon Smith finished with 82 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada struggled, completing 20 of 36 for 151 yards, with no touchdowns and an interception. Isaiah Spiller recorded 121 total yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown for A&M.
Arkansas' defense held Texas A&M to 272 total yards. Razorbacks defensive lineman Tre Williams finished with four combined tackles -- including two tackles for loss -- two sacks and three quarterback hits.
The Razorbacks struck first on their opening drive of the game, an eight play, 57-yard effort capped by a Cam Little 46-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Arkansas upped its lead to 10-0 on an 85-yard connection from Jefferson to Burks for a 10-0 advantage with 2:27 remaining in the opening quarter.
Arkansas broke the game open with another big play, this one a 48-yard touchdown on a wheel route to A.J. Green for a commanding 17-0 lead with 13:55 left in the first half.
The Razorbacks were in position to get more points just before halftime, but Smith was stopped short of a first down on fourth-and-1 from Texas A&M's 22-yard line.
Texas A&M finally got on the board on a nine-play, 46-yard drive with Seth Small making a 49-yard field goal to cut the Razorbacks' lead to 17-3 just before the half.
Spiller broke loose in the second half, exploding for a 67-yard touchdown run, trimming the Arkansas lead to 17-10 with 7:51 left in the third quarter.
Little added a 24-yard field goal for the Razorbacks with 8:39 left in the game for the final total.
--Field Level Media