FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas soccer staff couldn’t recreate home-field magic in opposition to a top-10 staff Saturday night time.
Eighth-ranked LSU by no means trailed and pulled away late to defeat the Razorbacks 34-10 in entrance of an introduced attendance of 75,893 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The fourth-largest attendance in stadium historical past was diminished to largely a smattering of visiting followers in purple and gold by sport’s finish.
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was environment friendly with a 22-of-33, 224-yard passing efficiency and working again Caden Durham ran for 3 touchdowns to steer the Tigers (6-1, 3-0 SEC) to their sixth consecutive victory. LSU gained its third in a row over Arkansas and gained its fifth consecutive sport in Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks haven’t defeated the Tigers on their dwelling subject since 2014.
LSU coach Brian Kelly was happy along with his staff’s efficiency.
“These video games have all the time been shut video games, however to come back down right here and play the form of soccer we did right this moment, which was controlling the road of scrimmage — [Arkansas] had 38 yards dashing — and for us to run the soccer and shut out the sport with [a long drive], these are the stuff you search for in a soccer staff that’s rising as a contender,” Kelly stated.
Arkansas (4-3, 2-2) did not win after an open week for the primary time since 2020. The Razorbacks had been enjoying their first sport since a 19-14 victory over then-No. 4 Tennessee on Oct. 5.
Just like the Volunteers coming off an open date two weeks in the past, the Razorbacks staggered out of the gate Saturday.
LSU outgained Arkansas 384-277, together with 158-38 on the bottom. Ja’Quinden Jackson was held to a season-low 26 yards on 5 makes an attempt for the Razorbacks whereas battling an ankle harm.
“We received dealt with bodily from the beginning,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman stated on the Razorback Sports activities Community postgame present.
Durham’s 22-yard landing run capped the sport’s opening drive. The possession was aided by a go interference and roughing the passer penalty in opposition to Arkansas, however an offensive go interference penalty nullified a 2-yard landing catch by Mason Taylor. The Tigers had been additionally whistled for his or her first of seven false begins following the offensive go interference.
Going through second-and-goal from the 22, Durham broke three sort out makes an attempt and dove to the pylon within the front-left nook of the top zone. He completed the sport with 101 yards on 21 carries and scored all of his staff’s touchdowns.
Damian Ramos added subject targets of 33, 48 and 33 yards within the first half to assist LSU construct a 16-7 halftime lead. Ramos additionally made a 47-yard subject purpose early within the fourth quarter to place the Tigers forward 27-10.
Ramos acquired a sport ball and was clutch in opposition to the Razorbacks for the second 12 months in a row. His 20-yard subject purpose with 5 seconds remaining gave LSU a 34-31 victory within the groups’ assembly final season in Baton Rouge, La.
“I believed the sector purpose kicks, whereas the sport was nonetheless in stability, helped us keep forward of it and hold the momentum,” Kelly stated.
Arkansas lower the Tigers’ result in 13-7 when Taylen Inexperienced threw a 25-yard landing go to Andrew Armstrong with 8:25 remaining earlier than halftime. That capped a 9-play, 75-yard drive during which Inexperienced accomplished 5 of 5 passes for 59 yards and scrambled twice for 9 yards.
Inexperienced didn’t seem slowed by a bruised left knee that precipitated him to depart the Tennessee sport early within the fourth quarter. However he was not dynamic (21-of-31 passing for 239 yards) and threw a devastating interception late within the third quarter that basically ended Arkansas’ probabilities for a comeback.
Trailing 16-10, Inexperienced’s first-down go from his personal 14 was deflected and intercepted by Whit Weeks who returned the ball to the Arkansas 3. Durham ran for a landing on the subsequent play and Nussmeier’s 2-point go to tight finish Trey’Dez Inexperienced put the Tigers forward 24-10.
LSU gained the turnover battle 3-0 and scored 11 factors off of the Razorbacks’ miscues.
“Fifty offensive snaps and three turnovers,” Pittman stated. “We’ve got to do higher there.”
The Tigers put a punctuation mark on the efficiency with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that took 8:22 off the clock within the fourth quarter. Durham’s 1-yard landing run set the ultimate rating with 2:20 remaining.
Nussmeier transformed a pair of third downs via the air on the drive. LSU completed 8 of 14 (57.1%) on third down in opposition to an Arkansas protection that allowed a 33.3% conversion fee coming into the sport.
The 24-point margin of victory was the most important within the sequence since LSU’s nationwide championship staff gained 56-20 in 2019 because the Razorbacks performed of their first sport below interim head coach Barry Lunney Jr., following Chad Morris’ firing two weeks earlier.
The earlier 4 video games within the sequence had been determined by a subject purpose, with LSU profitable 3 times.
Why Arkansas Misplaced
The Razorbacks couldn’t run the ball and couldn’t get off the sector on third down.
Participant of the Recreation: LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier
The junior didn’t throw a landing go, however he saved the staff transferring down the sector all night time. Excluding an end-of-half state of affairs, LSU solely punted as soon as with Nussmeier main the offense.
Nussmeier accomplished 9 of 12 passes for 72 yards on third down, efficiently changing 7 throughout the sport.
“Nussmeier was actually good,” Pittman stated.
Boot information
LSU improved to 20-9 in opposition to Arkansas for the reason that groups started enjoying for “The Boot” trophy in 1996.
The Tigers have gained 8 of 9 video games in opposition to the Razorbacks since 2016, and LSU has gained 6 of seven video games at Arkansas for the reason that Razorbacks’ dwelling video games within the sequence had been moved away from Little Rock.
Up Subsequent
Arkansas is scheduled to play at Mississippi State (1-6, 0-4) subsequent Saturday starting at 11:45 a.m.