Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — All it took were three botched plays deep in Texas A&M territory in the second quarter for the Arkansas Razorbacks to collapse like an Aggie's two-legged chair.

A&M redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel looked Heisman Trophy worthy — but what quarterback hasn’t against Arkansas this season? Manziel and the Aggies made up for the past three years of futility against the Hogs by roasting them 58-10 Saturday at Kyle Field.

It’s almost easy to forget the Razorbacks were competitive in this game early and played like they really wanted to be here during one of those Texas all-weather fall days – torrential rain at times, mist, wind, then breaking skies and sticky humidity as the game wound down. Arkansas led 10-7 after a quarter and, keeping the slippery Manziel out of the end zone on two drives, trailed 13-10 but threatened to retake the lead midway through the second quarter.

Running back Knile Davis, playing his best game to date in 2012 and having already scored for the Hogs on a 64-yard catch and run down the left sideline on Arkansas’ second possession, rambled for 28 yards to the A&M 19.

This was not the Arkansas we’d been seeing for three weeks. The offense was balancing a running game based on a successful draw play with efficient passing.

But is was just a matter of time.

Davis, on a first-down carry toward right end, had the ball knocked loose by A&M’s Steven Jenkins. After a wild scramble, the ball somehow ended up in UA receiver Demetrius Wilson’s hands for a 7-yard loss.

Disaster averted, but only for a moment.

Tyler Wilson found Brandon Mitchell open for an apparent first down at the A&M 10. But, no, the Hogs lined up with five players in the backfield, wiping it out.

The Arkansas coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, did not like the ruling.

Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said later, “Usually they’ll tell the guy he’s off the line and motion him to move up. I guess he was further back because they didn’t say anything and just called it.”

Wilson went back to the same route to Mitchell on second and 21 from the A&M 30, but it was well defended.