BATON ROUGE, La. - The knock on the Arkansas Razorbacks is they often start slow.
The No.1 LSU Tigers (12-0, 8-0) outscored the No. 3 Razorbacks (10-2, 6-2) 41-3 over the last 42 minutes of the game in a 41-17 win Friday evening in Baton Rouge. The Tigers clinched the Southeastern Conference's Western division outright, likely earning a spot in the BCS National Championship game.
"I am proud of our football team," said Arkansas Head Coach Bobby Petrino. "Our players came out, competed hard and stuck together as a team.
The Hogs started off fast for a change. After a scoreless first quarter, Arkansas got on the board first with a touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Wilson to senior receiver Jarius Wright. Then, on LSU's next possession, running back Michael Ford fumbled, Arkansas linebacker Alonzo Highsmith, Jr. scooped it up and ran 47-yards for the touchdown. Just like that it was 14-0.
"We came in here wanting to start quickly and score fast," said Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette. "We had a big play on defense that made it 14-0 right off the bat."
The game changed on the next drive. The Tigers marched down the field on a 14- play, 77-yard drive. It then forced Arkansas to punt. LSU's Tyrann Mathieu shifted the momentum with a 92-yard punt return touchdown. LSU added another touchdown before the half for a 21-7 lead.
"This football team down 14 points did not flinch," said LSU Head Coach Les Miles. "There was never a question in anyone’s minds on that sideline that we were going to respond."
Arkansas' offensive could never get going, against the SEC's No. 2 ranked defense. The Hogs only scored a field goal in the second-half. Wilson finished the game 14-22 for 207 yards and that lone touchdown pass.
"LSU has great defense, I’ll give them that," said Arkansas tight end Chris Gragg. "But I think we just needed to go out there and execute."
LSU's offense controlled the line scrimmage. The Bayou Bengals rushed for 286 yards. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson passed for another 209 yards.
"You can’t stay on the field for that long and those extended drives," said Bequette. "That’s what they want to do. They want to get four or five yards a play and wear you down. We were not able to stop them to do that.”
Jarius Wright added to his school-record for receptions with two catches for 27 yards. He also broke the school-record for receiving yards in a season with 1,029 and the reception mark in a season with his 63rd catch. His 11th touchdown pass reception ties a school-record.
Arkansas likely will not play until 2012. The Capital One Bowl in Orlando and the Cotton Bowl in Dallas are likely postseason options for the Razorbacks.
The Hogs finished 2011 with back-to-back 10 win seasons for the first time since 1988-1989. Arkansas' only losses came against No 1. LSU and then No. 2 Alabama.
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