Arkansas loses to Missouri 28–21 in Battle Line Rivalry due to a number of mistakes.
The Missouri Tigers defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks 28–21 in the Battle Line Rivalry, which was played on a snow-covered pitch.
Arkansas football travelled to Columbia, Missouri, in the bitter cold for their final regular-season game. This year, a snow-covered field added a fresh element to the yearly Battle Line Rivalry game. Things became messy, as was to be expected.
Following three consecutive completions by Taylen Green to Andrew Armstrong and Isaac TeSlaa, the Razorbacks’ opening drive of the game got off to a good start.
However, as with many points this season, the drive stalled as it entered Missouri territory. The Hogs decided to go for it on fourth and seven from Missouri’s 31, but were unsuccessful after Isaiah Sategna swatted Green’s pass out of his hands.
Travis Williams’ defence held firm and returned the ball to the hog offence when the Tigers took control of downs, but they only managed one first down.
However, Taylen Green mishandled the ball while attempting to rush for the first down on a third and long a few minutes later. The Missouri offence gained possession at the Arkansas 40-yard line after three Tigers were there to jump on it.
Back-to-back offside and pass interference penalties put the Tigers at the two-yard line, but the Hog defence held its own to set up a third and ten inside the red zone. Then, with 2:23 remaining in the first quarter, Marcus Carroll scored the game’s first touchdown, a rushing touchdown that put Missouri ahead 7-0.
The Hogs needed an answer, and they came up with one. It took 7 minutes and 41 seconds for Arkansas to put together a 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
However, two huge plays, including a touchdown run by Rodney Hill, were waved back due to holding penalties, so it wasn’t all that spectacular.
With 9:42 remaining in the first half, Ja’Quinden Jackson completed the drive by running the ball in from two yards out to tie the score at 7-7.
After that, defences gained control of the first half, and at the interval, the score was still tied at 7–7.
However, just before halftime, Arkansas defensive lineman Landon Jackson was taken off a stretcher and into an ambulance after suffering a frightening injury that seemed to be to his head or neck. Jackson gave a thumbs up as he was carried off the pitch, but he didn’t move much.
Jackson was talking and had movement in his extremities, according to Arkansas Athletics Director Hunter Yurachek, who told the SEC Network that he was sent to a neighbouring hospital as a precaution because of neck problems.
Arkansas went to work after forcing a Mizzou punt to begin the second half. They marched 50 yards in six plays, which culminated in another Jackson rushing touchdown, and the Hogs grabbed a 14–7 lead.
Missouri trimmed the advantage to 14-10 with a field goal in response. Then, yet another significant error by Arkansas.
Their mistakes
Jackson’s fumble was the Hogs’ third loss of the game. Less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, Missouri took a 17–14 lead after eight plays.
With 9:30 remaining, the Hogs were unable to muster any offensive spark and punted the ball back to the Tigers, who gladly obliged by driving for a field goal to extend the advantage to 20-14.
The Hogs weren’t finished, though. A drive on 4th down, deep in Missouri territory, was sustained by the flourishing Green to Armstrong link. With four minutes remaining, the Hogs took the lead again as Jackson scored another rushing touchdown.
With less than two minutes remaining, the Tigers quickly pulled themselves ahead 28–21 when Cook rushed for a 30-yard touchdown.
The Tigers would win 28–21 after the Razorbacks’ offence attempted a game-winning drive with six seconds remaining but a hail mary went incomplete.
In order to win, Missouri would score eighteen points in the fourth quarter.
