A fourth-quarter, 45-second span in the LSU-University of Arkansas match summed up the entire story line of the game’s flow. No. 5 LSU (10-2, 6-2) could not stop the Razorbacks’ potent running attack, No. 8 Arkansas (10-2, 7-1) could not stop LSU’s big-play passing game and the Tigers’ special teams made up for an abysmal showing against Ole Miss. With 10:59 left to play in the game and LSU leading 17-12, Tigers junior quarterback JaMarcus Russell floated a 7-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Early Doucet to push his team to a 24-12 advantage. “The touchdown play was something we had worked on all week in practice, and we found a good time to use it,” Doucet said in a news release after the game. “JaMarcus threw a perfect ball…I had possession the whole time, but when me and the defender came down, he tried to wrestle the ball away from me.” Russell contributed a strong performance in LSU’s victory, completing 14 of 22 passes for 210 yards and two scores. A turnover on Arkansas’ previous drive set up the LSU touchdown. Senior safety LaRon Landry intercepted Razorbacks sophomore quarterback Casey Dick at the Arkansas 32-yard line and returned the pick 23 yards. But Arkansas would not back down after trailing by 12 points with just under 11:00 remaining in the game. Sophomore running back Darren McFadden blasted through the heart of the LSU defense and scorched the Tigers on an 80-yard gallop to the end zone on the first play from scrimmage following Doucet’s touchdown grab. McFadden’s score closed LSU’s lead to 24-19 with 10:31 left in the game – a mere 24 seconds after LSU’s previous touchdown. The one-two punch of McFadden and sophomore running back Felix Jones confounded the Tigers’ defense all day. The two sophomore sensations combined for 319 yards rushing, more than doubling LSU’s 118-rushing yard output. “We knew they had two of the best running backs in the country coming into the game, so our focus was to stop them,” LSU senior defensive end Chase Pittman said. “We did not do a great job of it but well enough to hold on for the victory.” Only 17 seconds later the Tigers would deliver a big dent into Arkansas’ national championship hopes, courtesy of freshman wide receiver Trindon Holliday. The speedy freshman hauled in the ensuing kickoff at his own 8-yard line and zoomed 92 yards down the LSU sideline to give the Tigers a 31-19 lead. Holliday’s flashy return prompted McFadden to bang his helmet on the Razorbacks’ bench in frustration. “Once that happened we knew it was over, and all we had to do was take care of business,” Russell said. Facing a 12-point deficit, Arkansas had 10:14 left to salvage its hopes for an undefeated Southeastern Conference record. The Razorbacks immediately went to work, using nine plays and 5:21 to climb back into the game. Jones’ 62-yard kickoff return rewarded his team with prime field position at the LSU 37-yard line. He would cap the scoring drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to make the score 31-26. Arkansas would not get any closer.
“We’ve made a case for the BCS, certainly,” LSU coach Les Miles said. ”When they’re picking the best team from the SEC, they’ll have something to talk about. We have had the distinct impression that we were the best team in the SEC West.” LSU ran 2:49 off the clock on its next possession and were forced to punt to the Razorbacks with 2:04 left in the game. “It feels very weird to lose – it’s a bad feeling,” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. ”I would much rather have it the other way; it’s much more fun that way. Give us a couple of days, and we will be ready.” Arkansas relied on Dick’s passing in the final drive, but four-consecutive incompletions summarized the Razorbacks’ nonexistent passing game. Dick finished the game completing 3 of 17 passes for 29 yards, one touchdown and one interception. McFadden was statistically a more effective passer for Arkansas. He connected on both of his pass attempts for 33 yards. LSU out-gained Arkansas 210 passing yards to just 62 yards through the air for Arkansas. “It’s tough for all of us,” Dick said. “I obviously didn’t play to the best of my abilities, and I take full responsibility for that.” The only third-quarter scoring for either team came on a 27-yard field goal for LSU by sophomore place-kicker Colt David. In the first half LSU and Arkansas both cashed in on two touchdowns a piece, but the Tigers led 14-12 going into the locker room because of Arkansas’ missed extra point and failed two-point conversion. LSU had an opportunity to extend its lead in the first half, but Russell fumbled on a third-and-one quarterback sneak to the Arkansas 49-yard line. The Razorbacks could not capitalize on the miscue and punted on their ensuing drive. Turnovers again plagued the Tigers as they fumbled twice in the game. The second one came in the third quarter with LSU leading 17-12. Junior running back Alley Broussard pushed for extra yardage down to the Arkansas 17-yard line when he was stripped of the ball. The turnover nullified a possible score and a 6-play, 68-yard drive. The Razorbacks scored first in the game with an impressive 6-play, 80-yard scoring drive on their first possession of the game. A healthy mix of runs and passes from Arkansas’ special Wildcat formation, which features McFadden as quarterback, kept the Tigers off balance.The score plus the missed extra point gave the Razorbacks a 6-0 early lead. LSU would respond with 4:51 left in the first quarter with its own 6-play drive. Freshman running back Keiland Williams dashed 29 yards into the end zone for the score. David converted his extra point to make the score 7-6. Williams led LSU with 13 carries for 70 yards. Another LSU score with 10:55 left in the second quarter gave the Tigers a 14-6 advantage. Senior wide receiver Craig Davis came up big with two receptions in the five-play drive. He darted into the end zone on a 47-yard catch and run to give the team an 8-point edge. Davis led all receivers with 72 yards on three catches and one touchdown. Arkansas would immediately respond on its next possession with its second touchdown of the half on a 21-yard touchdown toss from Dick to junior wide receiver Marcus Monk. “This is a tremendous victory,” Miles said. “It took a special effort today. It’s so hard to prepare for what Arkansas has to offer.”
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