FAYETTEVILLE – The Razorback Nation was a quiet place Saturday as the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers gave Arkansas everything they could handle and more. The Sun Belt opponent marched into Fayetteville with a 1-7 record, one of those losses to Arkansas State. The Razorbacks however were able to barely survive in the midst of the U of A homecoming festivities.
The Hogs struck first as Devon Whaley ran five yards into the end zone for the first touchdown of the ballgame. Conner Limpert’s extra point was good to make it 7-0, with 11:52 left to play.
Coastal Carolina would answer seven minutes later, as Tyler Keane took a quick nine-yard pass to Omar Black. An extra point quickly tied the game at 7-7. The two teams would round out the first quarter tied. The Chanticleers would score once again and take their first lead of the afternoon, as running back Alex James capped an eighty-eight-yard scoring drive with an eight-yard touchdown. The extra point made it a 14-7 lead.
Just over a minute later, Cole Kelley hit TJ Hammonds for a sixty-yard touchdown reception. Limpert’s extra point tied the two for a second time. With a minute to go, Limpert kicked a 46-yard field goal, giving Arkansas a three-point 17-14 lead. Arkansas would throw for another touchdown as the halftime clock expired, but the call was reversed.
Coastal Carolina would take the momentum heading into the second half, as Anderson threw a sixteen-yard pass to Marcus Williamson. The extra point put the Chanticleers up by four points, 21-17. They weren’t done, as just over two minutes later, a Cole Kelley fumble was scooped up by Nicholas Clark, as he returned for 31 yards to make it an eleven-point lead.
Determined to fight back, the Razorbacks saw AJ Cantrell run five yards into the end zone, followed up by a two-point conversion when Cole Kelley passed to Patton too make it 28-25. Carolina answered with a 32-yard field goal from Rabon, taking a 31-25 lead. Just into the fourth quarter, Kilton Anderson fired another ten-yard pass, finding Chris Jones in the corner of the end zone. Rabon’s extra point made it a 38-25 lead.
Arkansas may have been down, but they weren’t out at that point in the game. With 10:09 left to go, T.J. Hammonds broke free for an 88 yard run, putting another six on the board. Limpert’s extra point made it a 38-32 ballgame, keeping the Hogs competitive. The Razorbacks would come back with 1:55 left to go in the ballgame, sending Cole Kelley into the endzone on a quarterback keeper. Limpert again gave the Hogs a seven point lead, 39-32.
The Razorbacks travel to LSU next Saturday for an 11:00 AM kickoff.
