Texas A&M edges Arkansas in Arlington

Another year, another close affair in Jerry World. After today’s game, the Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas A&M Aggies have now played one score games in four of their last five meetings. The result ended up being familiar as well, with the Aggies surviving 24-17.

The game began in a manner that would have you believe A&M would run away to an easy W. Freshman RB Jashaun Corbin returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a TD. Then, the Hogs swiftly went three -and-out on their opening drive. Following the punt, Texas A&M capped a 79 yard drive with a short Trayveon Williams TD run. 14-0 Aggies with 8:36 left in the first quarter.

From this point on, both defenses really left their marks. The rest of the first quarter saw the teams trade punts and Kellen Mond Intercepted by Dre Greenlaw. Arkansas hit a FG with 12:36 left in the second to make it 17-0 and on the ensuing Razorback drive, the offense finally avoided a three-and-out. Cole Kelley ran in for a one yard TD to end a 75 yard drive to cut it to 17-7.

The remainder of the first half was uneventful aside from Dre Greenlaw intercepting another pass from Mond and Aggie kicker Seth Small missing a 36 yard field goal attempt.

After Arkansas kicked a field goal to make it 17-10 on the opening drive of the second half, the score remained 17-10 until 5:03 remained in the fourth quarter. Only another Seth Small missed FG broke up the barrage of punts. At 5:03 in the 4th Trayveon Williams grabbed his second rushing TD, this time a four yard one.

With the score now 24-10, the Razorbacks didn’t back down and put together was easily their most impressive offensive drive of the day. Consecutive passes from Ty Storey to of 24 and 29 yards to Cheyenne O’Grady and Michael Woods (for a TD) put the game at 24-17 with 3:16 remaining in the game.

Arkansas’ defense then forced an A&M punt, but all hope ended for the Hogs when Donovan Wilson intercepted Ty Storey with 1:11 to go.

Both teams have to be encouraged by how their defenses played, but if you’re Chad Morris, you cannot be thrilled with 55 yards rushing and seven three-and-outs on offense. Things are still a work in progress on this side of the ball in Fayetteville.

A&M can walk away proud of another strong performance from Trayveon Williams, (152 rushing yards) but disappointed in leaving six points on the field in the form of the missed kicks.

Texas A&M will face Kentucky at home next week, while Arkansas hosts top ranked Alabama.