By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
BATON ROUGE, La. — Jarius Wright stood in the postgame interview room moments after his team’s 41-17 loss to top-ranked LSU in Tiger Stadium and summed up Arkansas’ misfortune this season.
At No. 3, the Razorbacks had secured their highest ranking in the Bowl Championship Series standings. They did so by passing test after test during the second half of the season, vaulting into the national title picture behind the strength of a seven-game win streak. But in the end, the Razorbacks still have to settle for a third-place finish in their division behind heavyweights LSU and Alabama.
“If we were in another conference we probably would be playing for a national championship,” Wright said.
“Unfortunately, we are in the SEC West.”
Arkansas’ BCS title game dreams came to a bitter end in front of a national television audience and 93,108 in Death Valley on Friday. The Razorbacks (10-2, 6-2) stunned the nation in jumping out to an early 14-0 lead, but, much like the 38-14 loss at No. 2 Alabama in September, were overwhelmed by a division foe.
Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu tied the game in the second quarter with an electrifying 92-yard punt return, the Tigers (12-0, 8-0) grabbed the lead with another touchdown late in the half after running back Dennis Johnson’s fumble, then LSU took control of the game with a suffocating defense that limited Arkansas to 254 yards and a bruising run game that gained 286.
It all helped LSU win the SEC West and advance to play Georgia in next week’s SEC Championship Game.
It also secured LSU’s first undefeated regular season since 1958 and practically assures the Tigers of a spot in the BCS title game at season’s end. LSU’s opponent will likely be Alabama, as long as the Crimson Tide takes care of Auburn today.
Arkansas, meanwhile, will have to settle for the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., or the Cotton Bowl in Dallas when invitations are handed out next week.
“We got beat by a better football team,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “They played better offensively, defensively.”
The 24-point loss was a rough ending to a tough week for the Razorbacks, who played with heavy hearts after tight end Garrett Uekman’s death last Sunday.
Arkansas players remembered their teammate by wearing decals that said “GU” on the back of their helmets and red bracelets on their wrists. Coaches sported black ribbons, too, and tight end Austin Tate wore Uekman’s No. 88 jersey to honor his best friend.
“It was a difficult week,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “I’d be lying if I said it was a regular week. That’s not true at all.”
Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
But Petrino also said Arkansas — which did not speak to the media as it coped with the tragedy — did a good job on the practice field preparing for the Tigers. And it showed in the early minutes Friday.
The Razorbacks went toe-to-toe with the Tigers, throwing the game’s first two punches when quarterback Tyler Wilson capped a long drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jarius Wright. Then, linebacker Alonzo Highsmith plucked a fumble by running back Michael Ford — which was forced by safety Tramain Thomas — out of the air and rumbled 47 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.
The defensive score gave Arkansas a 14-point lead. It was the largest deficit the Tigers — who had surrendered only four touchdowns in their previous seven SEC games — had faced all season.
“We accomplished our goal, which was to come in here and score quickly, start fast,” Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette said. “We were ready to play, which was obvious. … But we weren’t able to sustain it.”
The Tigers, who have won two other games against top 10 teams this season, showed why they’re undefeated in roaring back late in the second quarter.
LSU cut the deficit to 14-7 with a 14-play drive, which ended with Kenny Hilliard’s 6-yard touchdown run and forced Arkansas to go three-and-out. Then came Mathieu’s momentum-changing play.
The sophomore — who moved from cornerback to safety to fill in for injured starter Eric Reid — fielded a punt from Dylan Breeding and sprinted through Arkansas’ coverage team. He became the second player to return a punt for a touchdown against Arkansas this season, joining Alabama receiver Marquis Maze’s 83-yard TD in September. Arkansas lost both games.
“It was a huge turning point,” Petrino said. “We were trying to get the ball punted to the sideline. (Breeding) mis-hit it a little bit and put it in the middle of the field. We had guys right there and he made a tremendous run. He made a great cut, made us miss at the point of attack and made a great play.”
But LSU wasn’t quite done scoring in the first half, taking advantage of a costly fumble by Johnson in LSU territory. The Tigers marched downfield and took the lead on Jordan Jefferson’s 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Russell Shepard with 59 seconds left.
“This football team down 14 points did not flinch,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “There was never a question in anyone’s minds on that sideline that we were going to respond.”
Arkansas had a chance to tie the game early in the second half, using a 60-yard catch and run by receiver Cobi Hamilton to move deep inside LSU territory. But the drive stalled at the 6-yard line thanks to a bad snap to backup quarterback Brandon Mitchell, who briefly replaced Wilson under center.
Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
The Razorbacks had to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Zach Hocker to close to 21-17. It proved to be Arkansas’ final points of the game.
LSU immediately responded, netting a field goal drive of its own to regain a 7-point cushion. Then the Tigers unloaded on Arkansas in the fourth quarter, taking advantage of two turnovers and a worn-down defense to turn a tight game into a rout.
“We went out there fighting hard,” Arkansas tight end Chris Gragg said. “I always believe that we can win, but I guess things just didn’t go our way (Friday).”
One reason: Wilson was sacked a season-high five times Friday, completing 14 of 22 passes for 207 yards with a touchdown and interception.
Arkansas, which had 41 rushing yards in the first quarter, was limited to 47 in the game. The 254 yards was Arkansas’ second-lowest total of the season.
Also: LSU, which finished with 494 yards, controlling the game in the second half behind Hilliard (102 rushing yards) and Ford (96). Quarterback back Jordan Jefferson started sloppy, but threw for 208 yards and had two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing).
It all helped the Tigers beat Arkansas for the first time since 2009, reclaiming the Golden Boot.
LSU celebrated the moment at midfield afterward with Miles addressing the crowd as the Razorbacks walked back to the locker room. It was the second time Arkansas has endured the disappointment in 2011.
Unfortunately, it came to against another opponent in college football’s toughest division.
“I think this conference and this division speaks for itself,” Bequette said. “To have (BCS) one, two three from the same division is pretty crazy.”
