NO. 14 TEXAS A&M 28, ARKANSAS 21, OT

Deja boo

Aggies steal another one in overtime

Texas A&M’S Josh Reynolds (11) celebrates after catching a pass for the tying 2-point conversion against Arkansas during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. Texas A&M won 28-21 in overtime. (Sam Craft/The Bryan-College Station Eagle)
Texas A&M’S Josh Reynolds (11) celebrates after catching a pass for the tying 2-point conversion against Arkansas during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. Texas A&M won 28-21 in overtime. (Sam Craft/The Bryan-College Station Eagle)

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Arkansas found itself in a familiar position with a late lead against No. 14 Texas A&M on Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

Just like in last season's Southwest Classic, the Aggies rallied in the closing moments and then prevailed 28-21 in overtime. Kyle Allen connected on a 20-yard touchdown strike to Christian Kirk on Texas A&M's second play of overtime, then cornerback De'Vante Harris swatted down Brandon Allen's fourth-down pass for Drew Morgan as the Aggies stormed the field in celebration.

Arkansas blew a lead in the fourth quarter for the seventh time under third-year Coach Bret Bielema and for the seventh time in its past nine SEC losses. Arkansas is 0-9 in games decided by seven points or less since 2013.

"It's absolutely gut wrenching and heartbreaking and emotional," Bielema said. "We were knocking on that door and obviously fell short.

"There's so many positives going, when this worm turns it's going to be good."

Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0) extended its winning streak to four games over the Razorbacks (1-3, 0-1), who led 21-13 when they punted to the Aggies' 15 with 4:11 left in the game.

"This is the kind of thing you don't want to go through as a coach, but when you come through as the winning coach you're glad it happened," Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin said.

Arkansas established its kind of tempo with a quality run game that made its play-action pass more effective and dominated time of possession, 39:28 to 20:32.

Alex Collins ran for 155 yards and a touchdown to lead the Hogs' 232-yard rushing effort.

Drew Morgan had a career night for Arkansas with 8 catches for 155 yards and 1 touchdown, including receptions for 31 yards and 38 yards in the second half that preceded Arkansas touchdowns.

The Razorbacks had 457 total yards to Texas A&M's 423 yards.

Morgan's big performance was eclipsed by Texas A&M's Kirk. The 5-10 freshman had 8 catches for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns and was the most exciting player on the field.

Texas A&M's late comeback was sparked by a busted coverage from the Arkansas defense. Josh Reynolds released past linebacker Dre Greenlaw down the right sideline and did not get help over the top as he expected. Safety Santos Ramirez caught up with Reynolds at the 7 to prevent a touchdown after the 63-yard catch, but Tra Carson powered in for a 2-yard touchdown two plays later. Reynolds caught Kyle Allen's fade route for a two-point conversion beyond cornerback D.J. Dean to tie the game 21-21 with 2:50 remaining.

The Aggies had a chance to win in regulation after Myles Garrett, who had been quiet most of the night, poked the ball away from Brandon Allen on a sack and linebacker A.J. Hilliard recovered at the Arkansas 42 with 1:04 left, but Taylor Bertolet missed a 38-yard field goal wide right on the final play of regulation.

Penalties proved costly for Arkansas, with a rash of holding calls affecting the final three Razorback possessions of the first half and two roughing-the-passer penalties helping the Aggies in the second half. Arkansas tackle Denver Kirkland flinched at Texas A&M movement on a fourth-and-3 play from the Aggies' 35 prior to the Hogs' final punt. Tackle Dan Skipper had a false start before the Razorbacks' first snap of overtime.

"The penalties were absolutely critical," Bielema said. "We can't win football games doing that. Now we kind of get in that rut where they're throwing the flag at will on us, and we're the only ones who can change that."

Arkansas' takeover of the middle part of the game was due in part to two defensive holds inside its 5. The Aggies reached the Arkansas 2 midway through the second quarter and had to settle for a 23-yard Bertolet field goal after Jeremiah Ledbetter threw Kyle Allen for a 3-yard loss.

At the end of Texas A&M's 65-yard drive with the first possession of the second half, Arkansas cornerback Jared Collins separated from a block inside the 5 and brought down Carson at the end of a 15-yard screen pass at the Arkansas 5. Bertolet's 22-yard field goal made it 13-7.

"They played a game in which we had to be efficient with our drives and we weren't," Sumlin said. "We scored points, but we didn't score touchdowns and that came back to haunt us at the end of the game.

"You can get frustrated in a game like this. What we didn't want to do is make guys press and try to make things happen that weren't there."

After falling behind 13-7, the Razorbacks put their offensive holding calls behind them and came out mashing, with Collins finding creases behind the Hogs line and bulling for extra yards after contact to produce a first down. After a 6-yard reception by Damon Mitchell -- the first of his career -- got a first down, Rawleigh Williams charged 19 yards at right guard to reach the Aggies 35.

Brandon Allen found Morgan on a crossing route on the next snap, and Morgan swung around right end with a crossing pass and raced 31 yards to the 4 before he was hauled down out of bounds.

Two defenders jumped in the hole on the left side on the next play, but Collins pulled off a full-speed spin move and left Daylon Mack and Garrett laying on the turf as he sped over the right side for a touchdown. Cole Hedlund's extra point gave Arkansas a 14-13 lead.

Texas A&M went three and out and was in position to down Drew Kaser's big punt inside the 5, but the ball hopped over a couple of Aggies and into the end zone for a touchback.

The Razorbacks mixed the run and pass effectively on their next series, an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. Morgan's 38-yard catch and run through the heart of the Aggies' defense followed by a 13-yard Williams run moved Arkansas inside the 10. Two plays later Williams bulled up the middle for a 3-yard touchdown, the first of his career, and a 21-13 Arkansas lead with 14:06 left in the game.

Williams finished with 46 yards on eight carries.

Arkansas went 27 yards with the opening possession, including Allen's 17-yard scramble on a third-and-8 play. The Aggies had to punt after four plays, with Kaser's 54-yard punt rolling dead at the Arkansas 14.

The Razorbacks got the tempo in their favor on their second series, using up 7:15 on their 86-yard touchdown drive. Allen had a 16-yard scramble on the first half of the possession, which reached the Texas A&M 34 after six plays. A false start and a holding call resulted in a first-and-25 situation, and Arkansas picked it up in two plays, a 4-yard catch by Jojo Robinson and Morgan's 21-yard grab over the middle.

The Arkansas offensive line gave Allen plenty of time to survey the field moments later on third and 3 and he delivered a strike over the left side to Morgan, who bolted in for a 17-yard touchdown.

Texas A&M quickly kicked it into gear through the air, with Kyle Allen going 4 for 4 for 98 yards on a tying touchdown drive. Reynolds had a 36-yard reception, then Kirk sprinted down the left sideline after snaring a short crossing pattern for a 44-yard touchdown.

Sports on 09/27/2015

Editor's Note: This story originally stated Arkansas had blown fourth quarter leads under Bret Bielema in eight games. It has been corrected.

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