For the first time, the University of Arkansas won all three of its rivalry games in a season. They also broke a five-game losing streak to Missouri at the same time with a 34-17 victory Friday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
The 25th-ranked Razorbacks previously defeated Texas A&M in the Southwest Classic in Arlington, Texas, and at LSU for the Golden Boot before adding Saturday's Battle Line Trophy to its display case after a 15-of-19 passing performance by quarterback KJ Jefferson.
Jefferson threw for 262 yards and ran for a team-high 58 more as the Razorbacks ended the regular season 8-4 (4-4 SEC) for their first eight-win season since 2011. Jefferson's lone touchdown pass went to Treylon Burks who had seven catches for 129 yards.
The Razorbacks, who led just 10-6 at halftime, outgained Missouri (6-6, 3-5) 425-316 in total offense, limiting quarterback Connor Bazelak to 10-of-26 passing for 65 yards. Running back Tyler Badie was the bell cow for the Tigers, rushing 41 times for 219 yards and 1 touchdown.
Freshman Cam Little kicked the first of his two field goals to end the first Arkansas drive. His 36-yarder gave the Razorbacks a 3-0 lead with 10:01 left in the first quarter. Harrison Mavis answered for the Tigers with a 46-yard field goal to tie the score 3-3 early in the second.
The Razorbacks took the lead for good on a Raheim Sanders 1-yard touchdown run with 5:56 left in the quarter, before Mavis kicked the second of his three field goals with 3:02 left to trim the deficit to 10-6.
Trelon Smith had a 4-yard touchdown run for the Razorbacks before Jefferson found Burks on a 52-yard scoring strike as Arkansas took a 24-6 lead with 9:48 left in the third quarter.
Mevis and Little traded field goals with the Arkansas' kicker's 23-yard attempt giving the Razorbacks a 27-9 lead with 11:44 left in the fourth quarter.
Sanders' second touchdown, a 7-yard run, gave Arkansas a 34-9 advantage at the 9:52 mark.
Badie's 5-yard touchdown run and Missouri's subsequent two-point conversion run with 1:25 left in the contest setting the final margin.
The Razorbacks now await notification as to their bowl game assignment.
First Quarter
ARKANSAS 3, MISSOURI 0
Arkansas safety Simeon Blair was flagged for pass interference on a deep throw on the first snap. The Tigers threw incomplete on third and 2 and punted from their 48. Dominique Johnson had an 11-yard run and Treylon Burks an 11-yard catch and run before KJ Jefferson bolted up the middle for 49 yards to the 11. Cam Little made a 36-yard FG. The Tigers moved on Tyler Badie’s 14-yard run and Barrett Banister’s 13-yard catch. A chop block call and Bumper Pool’s stop of Connor Bazelak snuffed the drive. Trey Knox’s 8-yard catch set up third and 1, but Blaze Alldredge stopped Johnson for no gain. Badie’s 12-yard run, plus a penalty against Zach Williams for illegal hands to the face put Missouri on the Arkansas 43. On fourth and 5, Arkansas blitzed and Bazelak threw behind Banister. Darius Robinson forced a Trelon Smith fumble and Chad Bailey recovered at the Hogs’ 39. Bazelak had a 5-yard keeper to the 27. Hayden Henry stopped Badie for a 2-yard gain.
Second Quarter
ARKANSAS 10, MISSOURI 6
Hayden Henry had back-to-back stops for loss or no gain. Harrison Mevis kicked a 46-yard FG . Martez Manuel sacked KJ Jefferson for a 9-yard loss on second and 11, making Ketron Jackson’s 14-yard catch short of the line. Tyler Badie’s 2-yard run converted third and 1. Bazelak threw incomplete deep on third down and the Tigers punted to the 24. KJ Jefferson kept over right tackle for 13 yards. Treylon Burks’ 7-yard catch converted third and 4. Burks opened up unguarded down the middle and collected Jefferson’s pass before stumbling at the 7. Burks caught a 6-yard pass, then Raheim Sanders barreled in from the 1. Badie ran for 15 yards. On third and 6, Keke Chisim had a 26-yard catch down the right sideline. Badie was flagged for a facemask penalty on Myles Slusher. Mevis made a 49-yard FG. Blake Kern caught a 6-yard pass on third and 7. The Tigers punted and Arkansas knelt to end the half.
Third Quarter
ARKANSAS 24, MISSOURI 9
Arkansas went 3 and out as Treylon Burks dropped a pass on third down. Hudson Clark tackled D’ionte Smith for a 4-yard loss, then lined up offsides on third and 9. Hayden Henry crunched Connor Bazelak on third down. De’Vion Warren took a tunnel pass 55 yards to the 7. Trelon Smith slashed in for a 6-yard TD. Tyler Badie had lots of room on a third-down screen but he slipped down for a 5-yard loss. Nathan Parodi returned a punt 27 yards. Warren’s reverse pass for Jefferson sailed out of bounds. KJ Jefferson hit Burks for a 52-yard TD. Badie had a 14-yard run during a 14-play drive and Niko Hea had a 4-yard grab on fourth down. Harrison Mevis kicked a 41-yard FG. On third and 8, Jefferson found Ketron Jackson Jr. for 39 yards. Jefferson scrambled for 11 on the next play, the final snap of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
ARKANSAS 34, MISSOURI 17
Trelon Smith took a pitch left and cut inside for a 16-yard TD but it was called back on a holding penalty against Trey Knox. KJ Jefferson found Knox for 3-yards on 3rd and 6 from the 8 and Cam Little came on for a 23-yard FG. Connor Bazelak tested CB Montaric Brown on a fade pass down the left sideline for Keke Chism and Brown came down with his 5th pick of the year. De’Vion Warren sprinted around left end on a reverse for 32 yards. On 3rd and 2, Treylon Burks took a handoff right and pitched to Raheim Sanders for a 7-yard TD that held up on review. Tyler Badie ran for 14 yards then 0 on a Jashaud Stewart tackle. Bazelak went 0 for 2 and the Tigers punted 61 yards to the end zone. Missouri stuffed the run before Isaiah McGuire sacked Jefferson for a 3-yard loss. The Hogs had a delay of game then Reid Bauer punted to the Missouri 42. The workhorse Badie had nine carries for 46 yards and surpassed the 200-yard mark as the Razorbacks began subbing in second teamers. Badie slashed in from 5 yards out with 1:25 remaining and Tauskie Dove passed to Chism for the 2-point conversion. John Stephen Jones took the final snap at QB and the Razorbacks raced to claim the Battle Line Trophy.