NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Another week, another second-half comeback away from home for No. 10 Arkansas.
The Razorbacks rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit, hanging on to beat Vanderbilt 31-28 when Commodores kicker Carey Spear missed a 27-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining.
It was the Hogs’ third second-half comeback from a double-digit deficit in four games.
“Well the thing I’m happy about is we’re going home seven to one, seven wins, one loss,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “It’s been a tough go for our football team when you look at going on the road at Alabama, in Dallas, get one game home at Auburn, two more on the road. I’m proud we’re coming home 7-1.”
Arkansas sophomore kicker Zach Hocker made a 42-yard field goal – the eventual game-winner – with 6:42 remaining. Then the Razorbacks held on.
The defense forced a punt following Hocker’s kick, but the Hogs (7-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) went three-and-out on the ensuing possession.
Vanderbilt got the ball with 3:03 left and marched 80 yards to Arkansas’ 10 with less than one minute. The Razorbacks’ defense held the Commodores on three downs, then watched as Spear missed wide right on his game-tying attempt.
“We’re not supposed to turn and look, but I did,” Arkansas senior linebacker Jerry Franklin said. “I had to take a look. … I was surprised he missed it. I was hoping we could get a block … I was telling the guys, we can block it. He happened to miss it.”
It wasn’t a pretty win for the Hogs.
Junior quarterback Tyler Wilson completed 27 of 43 passes for 326 yards and one touchdown, but took a beating from Vanderbilt’s pass rush. He wasn’t intercepted, but the Commodores – tied for the national lead with 15 interceptions entering the game – dropped multiple interceptions.
“There were about six out there I think they could have picked,” Wilson said.
The defense gave up 462 yards of offense, but came up big when needed.
Vanderbilt led 28-20 and was on Arkansas’ 3-yard line late in the third quarter when Commodores junior running back Zac Stacy fumbled and Franklin recovered.
Franklin returned the fumble 94 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Wilson found senior receiver Jarius Wright in the corner of the endzone for the game-tying two-point conversion, completing the momentum swing.
“I was really just tracking the running back,” Franklin said. “I saw him come in. He tried to bounce, gave a little move and then I think the ball just came flying out. I saw it on the ground and just scooped and scored.”
The Hogs completed a stretch where they played just one game in six weeks in Fayetteville. Arkansas will host South Carolina and Tennessee at Reynolds Razorback Stadium the next two weeks, followed by a game against Mississippi State in Little Rock.
“The team is very happy to have that stretch over,” senior receiver Jarius Wright said. “It’s just always easier playing at home.”
Vanderbilt almost sent the Razorbacks home upset.
Commodores junior quarterback Jordan Rodgers scored on 19-and 3-yard touchdown runs in the first half, pushing Vanderbilt’s lead to 21-7 less than two minutes before halftime.
The Hogs managed to score just before halftime when Wilson found Wright in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown with five seconds remaining. The play was set up by Wilson’s 30-yard pass to Wright on fourth-and-10 the play before.
“That was huge for us,” Petrino said. “It looked a couple of times like the half was going to be over. If you learn anything from the World Series is you just hang in there and keep going, you know. We didn’t have much time left. We had to make a play. Tyler hits J. Wright and he gets it down there.
“You basically get one play and then you’re kicking a field goal and that was just a great throw and a great catch on the touchdown before half.”
The first-half struggles were nothing new for the Hogs. Arkansas has been outscored 73-38 in the first half of its three morning kickoffs against Texas A&M, Ole Miss and the Commodores.
“It’s very frustrating,” senior defensive end Jake Bequette said. “We’re definitely not satisfied where we are right now, we’re not happy at all. We’re happy to be 7-1, that’s a great position. It looks good on paper.
“We know we’re capable of much better on defense and offense. When we put a complete game together, it’s going to be something to see.”