Arkansas 38, Missouri State 27
(AP Photo/Michael Woods)
By ERIC W. BOLIN
Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Rocket Sanders and Bryce Stephens had long scoring plays in a 2:22 span of the fourth quarter to help No. 10 Arkansas beat Missouri State and former coach Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino 38-27.
Sanders caught a shovel pass for a 73-yard touchdown scamper with 11:38 left and Stephens returned Missouri State's ensuing punt 82 yards to give Arkansas (3-0) its first lead of the game at 31-27.
Petrino coached Arkansas from 2008 to 2011 before being fired in spring of 2012 after a motorcycle wreck and proceeding scandal. He won 11 games and 10 games in his final two seasons with the Razorbacks. Arkansas hasn't reached the double-digit win mark since.
Arkansas rallied after Missouri State (2-1), took a 17-0 lead, tying it at 17 in the third quarter. Back-to-back scores late in the third quarter gave the Bears a 10-point edge with 12:04 left before Sanders and Stephens scored.
Sanders ran for a career-high 167 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns. KJ Jefferson threw for a career-high 385 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. Jefferson's 1-yard touchdown run with 1:39 left provided the final score.
Missouri State took the lead early in large part thanks to the Razorbacks' self-induced difficulties. Arkansas' first four possessions resulted in two three-and-out punts and two lost fumbles, including one by Sanders on the Missouri State goal line the Bears picked up for a touchback.
Bears quarterback Jason Shelley threw for 357 yards and a touchdown, taking advantage of an Arkansas secondary that was without starting nickel Myles Slusher and preseason All-SEC safety Jalen Catalon, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
THE TAKEAWAY
The Razorbacks were darlings after a 2-0 start boosted them into the top 10, but with a stretch of SEC games upcoming, Arkansas has plenty to fix if it wants to stay in the dark horse conversation.
Missouri State proved itself capable of playing up and could compete for an FCS national championship.
| Scoring Summary |
| First Quarter |
MoStU | Ark |
| MoStU |
TD |
2:47 |
Jacardia Wright 1 yard TD run (Jose Pizano Extra Point) |
7 |
0 |
| Second Quarter |
MoStU | Ark |
| MoStU |
FG |
13:29 |
Jose Pizano 28 yard field goal |
10 |
0 |
| MoStU |
TD |
10:36 |
Jason Shelley 24 yard TD run (Jose Pizano Extra Point) |
17 |
0 |
| Ark |
TD |
8:25 |
Raheim Sanders 3 yard TD run (Cam Little Extra Point) |
17 |
7 |
| Ark |
TD |
1:04 |
Jadon Haselwood 38 yard TD pass from KJ Jefferson (Cam Little Extra Point) |
17 |
14 |
| Third Quarter |
MoStU | Ark |
| Ark |
FG |
5:36 |
Cam Little 27 yard field goal |
17 |
17 |
| MoStU |
TD |
3:28 |
Ty Scott 47 yard TD pass from Jason Shelley (Jose Pizano Extra Point) |
24 |
17 |
| Fourth Quarter |
MoStU | Ark |
| MoStU |
FG |
12:04 |
Jose Pizano 31 yard field goal |
27 |
17 |
| Ark |
TD |
11:38 |
Raheim Sanders 73 yard TD pass from KJ Jefferson (Cam Little Extra Point) |
27 |
24 |
| Ark |
TD |
9:16 |
Bryce Stephens 82 yard punt return for TD (Cam Little Extra Point) |
27 |
31 |
| Ark |
TD |
1:39 |
KJ Jefferson 1 yard TD run (Cam Little Extra Point) |
27 |
38 |
| Team Stats |
| |
Missouri State |
Arkansas |
| First downs |
22 |
20 |
| Rushing |
5 |
9 |
| Passing |
14 |
11 |
| Penalty |
3 |
0 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency |
7-18, 39% |
4-13, 31% |
| 4th down efficiency |
1-1, 100% |
1-2, 50% |
| Rushes-Yards |
32-52 |
36-212 |
| Passing Yards |
357 |
385 |
| Return Yards |
19 |
139 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int |
24-43-0 |
19-31-1 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost |
8-48 |
0-0 |
| Punts |
8 |
3 |
| Fumbles Lost |
0-0 |
2-2 |
| Penalties - Yards |
8-63 |
6-58 |
| Missouri State Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| J. Shelley |
24 |
43 |
357 |
1 |
0 |
| Arkansas Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| K. Jefferson |
19 |
31 |
385 |
2 |
1 |
| Missouri State Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| C. Blake |
1 |
1 |
| Arkansas Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| Missouri State Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| G. Burkett |
8 |
374 |
46.8 |
| Arkansas Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| M. Fletcher |
3 |
113 |
37.7 |
| Missouri State Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| N. Mitchell |
1 |
18 |
18.0 |
| Arkansas Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| B. Stephens |
3 |
105 |
35.0 |
| Missouri State Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| Arkansas Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| A. Green |
1 |
34 |
34.0 |
| Missouri State Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
| Arkansas Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
