The Sports Xchange
Nov 4, 2017
Quarterback Cole Kelley scored on a 1-yard run with 1:55 remaining in the fourth quarter and Connor Limpert kicked the decisive extra point as Arkansas completed a second-half rally to beat Coastal Carolina 39-38 Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark.
Coastal Carolina (1-8) led for most of the game before Arkansas (4-5) rallied with a pair of touchdowns in the final 10:09.
After a 10-yard pass from backup quarterback Kilton Anderson to Chris Jones gave the Chanticleers a 38-25 lead with 12:57 remaining, Arkansas sophomore running back T.J. Hammonds broke free for an 88-yard touchdown run.
On its next possession, Coastal Carolina faced fourth-and-1 from its own 34. The Chanticleers initially lined up to try for the first down, but then called timeout before punting.
Arkansas' game-winning drive covered 76 yards in 11 plays. Kelley, a redshirt freshman who started his fourth consecutive game in place of injured senior Austin Allen, kept the drive alive by completing a 7-yard pass to junior Jonathan Nance on fourth-and-1 from the Arkansas 33.
Three plays later, sophomore running back Devwah Whaley broke free up the middle for a 26-yard gain to the Coastal Carolina 27. On second down, senior David Williams ran 21 yards to the 6, and Kelley scored two plays later.
Coastal Carolina's final possession ended with four consecutive incomplete passes as the Sun Belt Conference team fell short of upsetting an SEC opponent on the road.
Kelley completed 16 of 25 passes for 264 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown on a screen pass to Hammonds. Hammonds finished with 119 yards rushing on seven carries and Whaley added 81 yards on 12 rushes for Arkansas.
Anderson completed 6 of 17 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Coastal Carolina starting quarterback Tyler Keane, who suffered a thumb injury on his throwing hand late in the first half and did not return. Keane completed 9 of 11 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown before he was injured.
Arkansas led 17-14 at halftime after Limpert's 46-yard field goal with 1:07 left in the second quarter, but Coastal Carolina went ahead on its first possession of the second half when Anderson threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Williams.
On Arkansas' next possession, Kelley threw a backward pass that landed on the turf, and senior safety Nicholas Clark scooped up the ball and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown for a 28-17 lead with 10:31 remaining in the third quarter.