LITTLE ROCK — Life without Rod Harper didn't begin smoothly for the Arkansas Twisters.
Robert Kent threw six touchdown passes, including four to wide receiver Al Hunt, and ran for another score in Oklahoma City's 56-54 Arena Football 2 victory before an announced crowd of 4,263 on Saturday night at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock.
Oklahoma City (5-5) broke a five-game losing streak.
Arkansas (7-3) had a three game winning streak snapped in its first outing since Harper, a star wide receiver, was signed by the New Orleans Saints.
The Twisters were within 56-54 after a 15-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Rowley to Robert Kilow with 56 seconds remaining.
Arkansas went for two points and the tie.
But following consecutive delay penalties, Rowley, under heavy pressure, fumbled.
The Yard Dawgz ran out the clock with a first down.
Kent finished 18 of 27 passing for 289 yards and rushed 5 times for 40 yards and a second-quarter touchdown (18 yards).
Hunt caught 8 passes for 136 yards, including touchdowns of 32, 9, 6 and 17 yards. He also ran 1 yard for a third-quarter touchdown.
Rowley completed 20 of 30 passes for 224 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Kilow, a former Arkansas State standout, caught 13 passes for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Kilow nearly had a fourth touchdown reception midway through the fourth quarter with Arkansas trailing 56-48, but he fumbled near the goal line.
The ball rolled into the end zone and was recovered for a touchback by defensive back Tito Jose (Arkansas Tech) with 5:53 remaining.
Oklahoma City had taken a 56-48 lead on its previous possession when Kent threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Craig Fulton with 6:39 left in the game.
The Twisters led 48-42 with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Rowley to Kilow.
Oklahoma City took the lead for good, 49-48, on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Kent to Hunt with 12:42 left in the game. Oklahoma City ................. 14 14 14 14 - 56 Arkansas ........................ 20 14 14 6 - 54 First Quarter OKC-Hunt 32 pass from Kent (Hendrix kick), 13:54 ARK-Cook 8 run (kick failed), 8:21 OKC-Fulton 43 pass from Kent (Hendrix kick), 5:40 ARK-Edwards 8 run (Paul kick), 1:24 ARK-Todd 21 interception return (Paul kick), :05 Second Quarter OKC-Kent 18 run (Hendrix kick), 12:39 ARK-Kilow 6 pass from Rowley (Paul kick), 7:16 OKC-Hunt 9 pass from Kent (Hendrix kick), 3:00 ARK-Edwards 7 pass from Rowley (Paul kick), 1:31 Third Quarter OKC-Hunt 6 pass from Kent (Hendrix kick), 11:11 ARK-Edwards 2 run (Paul kick), 6:59 OKC-Hunt 1 run (Hendrix kick), 3:02 ARK-Kilow 8 pass from Rowley (Paul kick), :54 Fourth Quarter OKC-Hunt 17 pass from Kent (Hendrix kick), 12:42 OKC-Fulton 22 pass from Kent (Hendrix kick), 6:39 ARK-Kilow 15 pass from Rowley (pass failed), :56 Attendance-4,263 OKC ARK First downs ..............................................19 22 Rushes-yards ....................................... 14-55 14-38 Passing ...................................................289 224 Comp-Att-Int ........................................18-27-1 20-30-0 Return Yards...........................................134 131 Punts-Avg. ...............................................0-0 0-0 Fumbles-lost ...........................................0-0 2-1 Penalties-yards ......................................8-98 8-59 Time of Possession ..............................28:21 31:39 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Oklahoma City, Kent 5-40, Rollins 6-14, Hunt 2-2, Fields 1-(minus 1). Arkansas, Cook 7-41, Edwards 3-10, Rowley 4-(minus 13).
PASSING-Oklahoma City, Kent 18-27-1-289. Arkansas, Rowley 20-30-0-224.
RECEIVING-Oklahoma City, Hunt 8-136, Fields 5-60, Fulton 3-70, Rollins 1-12, Meyers 1-11. Arkansas, Kilow 13-125, Edwards 5-89, Coleman 1-6, Richardson 1-4.
Sports, Pages 32 on 06/07/2009