Arkansas once again had numerous chances to end its losing streak, but in familiar fashion they came up just short to LSU 23-22 on Saturday in Baton Rouge.
Bobby Petrino is now 0-5 as interim head coach with losses of 34-31, 45-42, 33-24 and 38-35 prior to Saturday's loss. On Saturday, Arkansas was 2 of 4 in the red zone.
"We missed too many opportunities, you know," Petrino said. "Offense down there 3 times actually, had the chance to get points on the board and don’t do it. We missed a field goal which really hurts you. It would have been nice to go up and get that. Defensively we gave up the big scramble in the last part of the game where we had the opportunity for a stop and get the ball back. So, you know we’re competing hard, playing hard, but we’ve got to find a way to win."
The missed goal was a 48-yard attempt that sailed wide right by Scott Starzyk with 5:08 remaining in the game. It would have given the Razorbacks a two-point lead if it was successful. Once again, his team fought hard despite the record and Petrino relayed his message following the game.
"I told them they did a good job preparing for the game," Petrino said. "They came out and did a great job. Blocked a punt for a touchdown. The offense driving the ball and the defense getting off the field in the first quarter. We’re able to take a lead but we still have got to find a way to finish the game. So many plays in that fourth quarter that could have ended up being a winner."
The game started outstanding for Arkansas. The Razorbacks drove to the LSU 24 where on a second-and-one play Mike Washington fumbled and LSU recovered. But after the defense limited LSU to a three-and-out series Wyatt Simmons blocked Grant Chadwick's punt and Caleb Wooden picked it up and sprinted 16 yards for the touchdown. The Hogs had a 7-0 lead with 10:58 remaining in the opening quarter.
"Yeah, they did a good job on that," Petrino said. "We practiced it all week. We had the extra day on Sunday night, so we focused on blocking a punt. He did a great job in practice all week working on it, and working on hitting it on time, but also working the right technique to block it, scoop-and-score. He did a hell of a job. That was a really good play."
Once again the defense limited quarterback Michael Van Buren, filling in for the injured Garrett Nussmeier, to three plays. Chadwick's punt only went 26 yards to the Arkansas 46. This time it only took 11 plays for the Razorbacks to cover the 52 yards with Taylen Green running in from the LSU 11 for a 14-0 lead in front of a stunned LSU crowd.
LSU cut the lead in half on the first play of the second quarter when running back Caden Durham scored on a 27-yard run.
Arkansas couldn't get anything going on its next drive and punted. LSU drove to the Arkansas 33 where Damian Ramos booted a 50-yard field goal. That allowed LSU to get within 14-10 with 7:02 remaining in the first half.
Green was sacked twice on Arkansas' next possession. The Hogs and LSU exchanged punts. However disaster struck for Arkansas when facing a second-and-goal at the LSU 9 Manson Delane intercepted a Green pass. Petrino felt like Delane should have been penalized on the play.
"Yeah, I felt like it was a defensive pass interference," Petrino said.
LSU took over and drove into Arkansas' territory where they kicked a 42-yard field goal for a 16-14 lead with three seconds remaining in the first half.
The Arkansas defense once again stepped up and stopped LSU on its first possession of the second half. After the punt, Arkansas took over at its own 12. On second down at its own 15, Green broke free for a 55-yard run to the LSU 30. The Hogs moved to a first-and-goal play at the LSU 5-yard line. On second and goal at the 2, freshman running back Cam Settles slipped and was limited to only a yard. Both Mike Washington and Green were stuffed on third and fourth down.
"Yeah, you know, the first one we did a play that normally Braylen Russell carries it into the end zone," Petrino said. "Braylen wasn’t with us today. Unfortunately, (Settles) just slipped and fell. He did a good job running it in practice, and he’s going to be a great player for us, but he just slipped and didn’t get it in. Then we ran an off tackle play that didn’t get to off tackle. Mike cut it back instead of getting to the track that we needed to be, and then we felt like we could get it in. We haven’t been stopped all year on the sneak, so we felt like we could get it in on that."
The Razorbacks did good plays from the defense and then with 4;02 left in the third quarter Washington raced in for a 9-yard touchdown. Green ran the two-point conversion giving Arkansas a 22-16 lead. The drive was set up by a 26-yard punt return for Kam Shanks who took it to the LSU 39. It only took five plays for the Razorbacks to take the lead.
However, LSU fought back to take the lead with 7:53 remaining in the game. The Tigers covered 92 yards in 12 plays to get the game's final score.
The Hogs had their chance after that but the missed field goal hampered their chances. LSU took over with 5:08 remaining in the game and milked the remaining clock to get the win.
The Razorbacks have games against Texas and then home taking on Missouri. They have lost eight games in a row.
"Yeah, I mean, what we need to do is just be persistent and keep going," Petrino said. "Keep working at it. Keep preparing the way they did and practicing the way you do. You can’t give in. We’ve got to keep it up. Be persistent, and pretty soon we’ll break that rock. We’ve had our chances and been in positions to do it, and we haven’t been able to get it done yet, but those guys in that locker room have been putting a tremendous amount of effort in it and they have a lot of pride. I don’t think there’s anyone in that locker room that has given up and not prepared and not competed extremely hard."
Green was 11 of 19 passing for 165 yards but two interceptions. Green also rushed 17 times for 70 yards and one touchdown. Washington rushed 13 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. Raylen Sharpe caught four passes for 65 yards and rushed 3 times for 20.
Arkansas finished the game with 340 yards of total offense to 390 for LSU. Van Buren completed 21 of 31 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown.
"It kind of felt like Nuss wasn’t going to go when we read about the ribs," Petrino said. "That’s a terrible injury for quarterbacks, it’s just very very painful. Van Buren did a nice job, made some big plays when the pressure was on. Thought we had him bottled up a number of times, and we were able to get off the field and do a good job defensively at times. But he ended up making the plays to score."
Arkansas will head to Texas for a game next Saturday. The kickoff and network is to be determined.
Photos: Craven Whitlow
