Arkansas 44, South Carolina 30
By ERIC W. BOLIN
Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Rocket Sanders ran for a career-high 156 yards and scored Arkansas' first two touchdowns, and KJ Jefferson ran for a score and threw for another to lift the No. 16 Razorbacks past South Carolina 44-30.
Jefferson led Arkansas (2-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) on three scoring drives in the fourth quarter, never allowing South Carolina to rally.
He finished 18 of 21 for 162 yards passing and ran for 67 yards.
A 23-yard touchdown pass to Warren Thompson with 12:09 left provided the key score, giving Arkansas a 19-point edge. South Carolina had fumbled on its previous drive after Jefferson's 2-yard touchdown run.
Arkansas scored on its first three possessions of the game, all of which went for 12 plays or more.
Sanders finished the first two and freshman Rashod Dubinion had his first career touchdown, giving Arkansas a 21-3 lead in the second quarter.
Spencer Rattler was 23 of 38 with 361 yards passing for South Carolina (1-1, 0-1), though 173 of those came in the fourth quarter when the Gamecocks were chasing from way behind.
Rattler's 62-yard touchdown pass to Antwane Wells Jr. in the third quarter pulled the Gamecocks within five. When he sought Wells in the end zone again in the fourth, he was intercepted by Dwight McGlothern.
Arkansas, which was seventh in FBS averaging 228 yards a game on the ground last year, ran for 300 against South Carolina.
The Gamecocks had an interception and lost two fumbles.
THE TAKEAWAY
South Carolina: The Gamecocks had moments, but consistency was lacking in coach Shane Beamer's second year.
Arkansas: The Razorbacks' defense held up well without two starters in the secondary, including former freshman All-America safety Jalen Catalon.
| Scoring Summary |
| First Quarter |
SCar | Ark |
| Ark |
TD |
6:42 |
Raheim Sanders 1 yard TD run (Cam Little Extra Point) |
0 |
7 |
| SCar |
FG |
3:32 |
Mitch Jeter 28 yard field goal |
3 |
7 |
| Second Quarter |
SCar | Ark |
| Ark |
TD |
14:28 |
Raheim Sanders 11 yard TD run (Cam Little Extra Point) |
3 |
14 |
| Ark |
TD |
8:13 |
Rashod Dubinion 1 yard TD run (Cam Little Extra Point) |
3 |
21 |
| SCar |
TD |
2:56 |
MarShawn Lloyd 7 yard TD run (Mitch Jeter Kick Failed) |
9 |
21 |
| Third Quarter |
SCar | Ark |
| SCar |
TD |
8:51 |
Antwane Wells Jr. 62 yard TD pass from Spencer Rattler (Mitch Jeter Extra Point) |
16 |
21 |
| Fourth Quarter |
SCar | Ark |
| Ark |
TD |
14:55 |
KJ Jefferson 2 yard TD run (Cam Little Extra Point) |
16 |
28 |
| Ark |
TD |
12:09 |
Warren Thompson 23 yard TD pass from KJ Jefferson (Cam Little Extra Point) |
16 |
35 |
| SCar |
TD |
6:25 |
Juju McDowell 1 yard TD run (Ahmarean Brown 2pt conversion attempt is GOOD) |
24 |
35 |
| Ark |
TD |
6:00 |
AJ Green 1 yard TD run (Cam Little Extra Point) |
24 |
42 |
| SCar |
TD |
3:21 |
Jaheim Bell 1 yard TD run (Jalen Brooks 2pt conversion attempt is NO GOOD) |
30 |
42 |
| Ark |
SF |
1:33 |
Team safety |
30 |
44 |
| Team Stats |
| |
South Carolina |
Arkansas |
| First downs |
24 |
28 |
| Rushing |
5 |
20 |
| Passing |
14 |
7 |
| Penalty |
5 |
1 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency |
3-10, 30% |
9-16, 56% |
| 4th down efficiency |
1-2, 50% |
2-3, 67% |
| Rushes-Yards |
29-45 |
66-304 |
| Passing Yards |
378 |
156 |
| Return Yards |
55 |
45 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int |
24-39-1 |
17-20-0 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost |
6-46 |
2-12 |
| Punts |
3 |
3 |
| Fumbles Lost |
4-2 |
0-0 |
| Penalties - Yards |
4-40 |
10-122 |
| South Carolina Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| S. Rattler |
24 |
39 |
378 |
1 |
1 |
| Arkansas Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| K. Jefferson |
17 |
20 |
156 |
1 |
0 |
| South Carolina Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| South Carolina Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| K. Kroeger |
3 |
103 |
34.3 |
| Arkansas Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| M. Fletcher |
3 |
107 |
35.7 |
| South Carolina Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| Arkansas Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| B. Stephens |
2 |
11 |
5.5 |
| South Carolina Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| X. Legette |
2 |
55 |
27.5 |
| Arkansas Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| B. Pool |
2 |
34 |
17.0 |
| South Carolina Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
| Arkansas Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
| C. Little |
50 |
