Record Catches
Jarius Wright, a senior from Warren, continued to add to his school record for career receptions (165) on Friday against LSU and caught his 11th touchdown of the season on the first play of the second quarter to tie the single season record for touchdown receptions.
The touchdown also put him even with Anthony Lucas (1995-99) for second place for touchdown receptions in a season. He has 23 career touchdowns, four behind Marcus Monk’s record (2004-07).
The records didn’t stop there, however. His 13-yard touchdown also made him the single-season record holder for receiving yards with 1,015. He added another 14 in the final quarter. The previous record was 1,004, set by Lucas in 1998.
Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
His second reception gave Wright the single-season mark for catches by a Razorback with 63, besting J.J. Meadors (1995) by one. Wright finished with two catches for 27 yards Friday.
‘Not Many’
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino didn’t seem happy with LSU coach Les Miles after the Tigers ran away with the game Friday. Petrino appeared to take exception after LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson threw a pass to the end zone with LSU leading 38-17. The Tigers eventually kicked a field goal.
The coaches shook hands at midfield after the game, but Petrino quickly pulled away and walked off as Miles reached for his arm. Miles was asked if Petrino had words for him. He responded: “Not many.”
Wilson’s Off Day
Tyler Wilson did not have his best day as a Razorback, but it had a lot to do with LSU’s defense. He was sacked five times, threw an interception, had to get rid of the ball out of bounds to avoid sacks, and was hurried numerous other times.
For the day, he was 14 of 22 for 207 yards and a touchdown.
Wilson was coming off a record-setting performance against Mississippi State, completing 32 passes to move ahead of Joe Ferguson’s 31 as the school record for completions in a game. The junior out of Greenwood is the second Razorback in history to pass for 3,000 yards in a season. He also was the Southeastern Conference leader in average passing yards per game prior to Friday with 292.3.
Special Honey
Dubbed the “Honey Badger” by the national media, sophomore Tyrann Mathieu returned a Dylan Breeding punt 92 yards and a touchdown with 3:24 to play in the half to knot the score at 14 and caused two fumbles against the Razorbacks.
The return tied for third in LSU history for long punt returns.
Mathieu also caused a late first-half fumble by Dennis Johnson that resulted in an LSU touchdown; then caused a Chris Gragg fumble and returned it 19 yards on Arkansas’ final possession.
Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
Mathieu has caused 11 fumbles going back to last year. This season he has turned in several big plays, including returning two forced fumbles into touchdowns. At one point in the season, he recorded interceptions in three straight games.
Boot To LSU
Almost secondary to everything else, LSU gained possession of “The Boot” trophy, awarded annually to the LSU-Arkansas winner. The Tigers finished the regular season 12-0 and ranked No. 1 in all the polls, including the BCS, The Tigers will face Georgia next Saturday in the SEC championship game.
Turnover Story
Arkansas lost two fumbles and threw an interception, while the Tigers lost one fumble and threw a single pick.
Arkansas and LSU were accustomed to winning the turnover battle most of the season.
LSU went into the game having won 18 straight games when it won the battle of turnovers. The Tigers had forced 24 turnovers and had committed six in 11 games. The Razorbacks had forced 15 turnovers in its last seven games, with at least one in each of those contests.
Really Big Games
Friday marked the fourth time in school history that Arkansas has been involved in a game featuring two teams ranked no worse than fifth in the nation.
In 1965, Arkansas was ranked third and defeated No. 1 Texas, 27-24. In 1969, dubbed the Big Shootout, top-ranked Texas defeated the Razorbacks 15-14. Texas again was No. 1 in 1970, defeating the fourth-ranked Razorbacks, 42-7.
In all, Arkansas has played 18 times against the No. 1 team in the nation, winning only four times, including 2007 when the Razorbacks defeated LSU 50-48 in three overtimes in Baton Rouge.
LSU Record
LSU is 12-0 in the regular season for the first time in school history. The Tigers had won 11 regular-season games only one other time (2003). The 1958 championship team went 11-0, including a victory over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. The Tigers have won 17 straight in Tiger Stadium.
Schedule Strength
There’s no arguing LSU’s strength of schedule on its way to a record season. The Tigers have played three teams in the Top 3 in the nation — Oregon, Alabama, and Arkansas — and the Arkansas game represented the seventh time The Tigers lined up against a team ranked in the Top 25.
Arkansas had defeated three teams ranked in the Top 15 going into Friday’s game.
LSU Offense
When college football aficionados mentioned LSU, the talk usually started with defense, but the Tigers’ offense has had one of its best seasons on record. LSU has won nine games by double digits and has scored 40 points or more eight times, a school record.
— Arkansas News Bureau
