Arkansas beat Boise State for their first win of 2002. An impressive day on the ground, 217 yards, coupled with seven Boise State turnovers, helped secure the Razorback victory.[1] A blocked punt, a passing TD and then a rushing TD put the Razorbacks off to a 21–0 advantage. After two field goals and a TD strike to Decori Birmingham, the Hogs were out to a 34–0 lead, but the Broncos got on the board twice to make it 34–14. A fake field goal gave the Hogs a first down before Jones hooked up with Richard Smith on an 18-yard touchdown pass that closed the scoring at 41–14.[1]
Jesse Warner (BOI) punt blocked by Tony Bua returned for 22-yard touchdown by Bo Mosley (ARK), Shawn Andrews kick good
0
7
1
3:15
83
2:10
ARK
Mark Pierce 14-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, Brennan O'Donohoe kick good
0
14
2
9:45
43
1:40
ARK
Cedric Cobbs 38-yard touchdown run, Brennan O'Donohoe kick good
0
21
2
7:00
46
3:35
ARK
32-yard field goal by Brennan O'Donohoe
0
24
3
8:30
31
1:50
ARK
Decori Birmingham 6-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, Brennan O'Donohoe kick good
0
31
3
6:00
8
1:40
ARK
33-yard field goal by Brennan O'Donohoe
0
34
3
:30
41
3:40
BOI
Lou Fanucchi 17-yard touchdown reception from B.J. Rhode, Jesse Warner kick good
7
34
4
7:30
49
:12
BOI
Lou Fanucchi 49-yard touchdown reception from B.J. Rhode, Jesse Warner kick good
14
34
4
7:20
51
3:20
ARK
Richard Smith 22-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, Brennan O'Donohoe kick good
14
41
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
14
41
South Florida
1
2
3
4
Total
Bulls
0
0
0
3
3
Razorbacks
21
14
7
0
42
Thirty five first half points and 547 yards of total offense set the Razorbacks well on their way to their second win of the season, at the expense of the South Florida Bulls. Only a field goal with a minute left in the game kept the Razorbacks from having a shutout, which would have been their first in two years.
Alabama A&M after Matt Jones became the apparent starting quarterback.[3] South Florida had eight consecutive wins, the second-longest win streak in the nation, coming into this contest.[2]
Both Santonio Beard and Shaud Williams went over 100 yards for Alabama as the Tide beat Arkansas 30–12 at home.[4] The Razorbacks never were within striking distance, as the Tide jumped out to a 14–0 lead, the first touchdown being an 80-yard scamper by Williams on the first play from scrimmage.[4] A Crimson Tide field goal and Matt Jones TD run pushed the score to 17–7, but the Razorbacks could not penetrate the end zone again, as the two teams swapped field goals.[4] A fourth quarter 50-yard touchdown pass from Brodie Croyle finished the Hogs, who tacked on an intentional safety to make the final 30–12.[4]
Jones struggled throwing the ball, going just 7-of-18 for 111 yards with two interceptions. The loss was only the fourth home loss under Houston Nutt.[4]
Shaud Williams 80-yard touchdown run, Brian Bostick kick good
7
0
1
11:50
80
2:33
ALA
Sam Collins 28-yard touchdown reception from Brodie Croyle, Brian Bostick kick good
14
0
2
15:00
20
2:38
ALA
28-yard field goal by Brian Bostick
17
0
2
8:17
76
2:10
ARK
Matt Jones 7-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
17
7
3
14:48
32
2:00
ARK
33-yard field goal by Brenan O'Donohoe
17
10
3
12:32
63
2:06
ALA
36-yard field goal by Brian Bostick
20
10
4
13:36
0
:35
ALA
37-yard field goal by Brian Bostick
23
10
4
9:51
49
:05
ALA
Zack Fletcher 49-yard touchdown reception from Brodie Croyle, Brian Bostick kick good
30
10
4
2:25
-1
1:58
ALA
Crimson Tide Safety
30
12
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
14
41
Tennessee
1
2
3
4
OT
2OT
3OT
4OT
5OT
6OT
Total
Razorbacks
0
3
0
14
3
3
0
6
6
3
38
# 10 Volunteers
3
7
0
7
3
3
0
6
6
6
41
A six-overtime shootout was the result of the meeting between the Volunteers and the Razorbacks at Neyland Stadium in 2002. The battle-tested Razorbacks had come out victorious from a seven-overtime affair against
NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) history. Arkansas' success in (especially multiple) overtime situations provoked Coach Houston Nutt into being quoted as saying at the beginning of the first overtime: "This is our game. We're ready."[6] This overtime loss was the first for Arkansas in their football history.[7]
The game began relatively low-scoring, with the Volunteers holding a 17–3 lead for the majority of the game. Tennessee leading rusher
turf toe injury.[6] The Razorbacks got the ball with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter and scored two touchdowns in a span of 4½ minutes. The tying touchdown was a 92-yard touchdown pass to Richard Smith from Matt Jones.[7] Said Jones of that play after the game, "The coaches have told us never to quit, and we were down seven at our own 8, I kept thinking about that."[6] This was at the time the longest offensive play in the history of Arkansas football, since surpassed by Broderick Green's 99-yard rush against Eastern Michigan in 2009.[8]
Both teams swapped field goals for the first two periods. The third was scoreless, despite an opportunity for Arkansas to shut the door with a field goal attempt.[7] Arkansas then scored on a Matt Jones run, but failed the two-point conversion, which is required versus an extra point in the third overtime or later. The Volunteers answered the call on their first play, a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tony Brown, but the Volunteers also failed the two, sending the game into a fifth extra period.[6]
Tennessee's Jabari Davis then ran into the end zone, but fumbled the ball as he crossed the plane of the goal line, but teammate and backfield mate Troy Fleming fell on the ball giving Rocky Top a six-point lead.[7]QuarterbackCasey Clausen was then sacked on the two point try. De'Arrius Howard ran in for the Hogs, but an interception by Tennessee's Julian Battle kept the game continuing to a sixth overtime.[6]
David Carlton kicked a 47-yard field goal for Arkansas in the sixth overtime, but future NFLAll-Protight endJason Witten caught a touchdown pass from Casey Clausen, ending the game in dramatic fashion, 41–38.[6]
Jabari Davis 3-yard touchdown run, Phillip Newman kick good
0
10
2
11:36
52
3:41
ARK
45-yard field goal by Brennan O'Donohoe
3
10
4
1:03
81
4:04
TENN
Jabari Davis 80-yard touchdown run, Phillip Newman kick good
3
17
4
10:01
61
2:18
ARK
De'Arrius Howard 11-yard touchdown run, Brennan O'Donohoe kick good
10
17
4
3:45
92
:10
ARK
Richard Smith 92-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, Brennan O'Donohoe kick good
17
17
OT
8
TENN
33-yard field goal by Phillip Newman
17
20
OT
12
ARK
29-yard field goal by Brennan O'Donohoe
20
20
2OT
13
ARK
29-yard field goal by Brennan O'Donohoe
23
20
2OT
9
TENN
32-yard field goal by Phillip Newman
23
23
4OT
25
ARK
Matt Jones 6-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass from Jones incomplete to Pierce
29
23
4OT
25
TENN
Tony Brown 25-yard touchdown reception from Casey Clausen, 2-point pass from Clausen incomplete to Witten
29
29
5OT
25
TENN
Jabari Davis 12-yard touchdown run, 2-point QB Draw by Clausen no good
29
35
5OT
25
ARK
De'Arrius Howard 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass from Jones to Wilson intercepted by Battle.
35
35
6OT
-4
ARK
47-yard field goal by Brennan O'Donohoe
38
35
6OT
25
TENN
Jason Witten 25-yard touchdown reception from Casey Clausen
38
41
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
38
41
Auburn
1
2
3
4
Total
Razorbacks
7
17
7
7
38
#24 Tigers
10
7
0
0
17
Arkansas came out strong after their six overtime game with Tennessee. The Hogs Fred Talley rushed for 241 yards, 80 of those in one play, in a 38–17 upset of the Tigers at Auburn.[9] 241 yards remains to this day the most given up by an Auburn defense to a single rusher. Talley was a pleasant surprise fill-in for injured starter Cedric Cobbs. Talley lead the Hogs in a 426-yard rushing effort as a team. Talley had only 123 yards in the first four games of the year.[9] Fullback Mark Pierce also had a 44-yard run on a fourth-and-one, with Matt Jones adding a 70-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter.[9]
Auburn seemed the more likely one for a big day on the ground with highly touted running back
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams. A year previous Cadillac had his break-out game against Arkansas, moving him from third to first on the depth chart at the expense of the Razorbacks. Said Arkansas defensive tackle Jermaine Brooks on Williams, "We gave the Cadillac a flat tire" and, "we just got sick and tired of [hearing about Williams]. If you stop him, you stop Auburn."[9]
De'Arrius Howard 3-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
7
0
1
3:00
66
:07
AUB
Devin Aromashodu 66-yard touchdown reception from Daniel Cobb, Damon Duval kick good
7
7
1
1:45
3
:57
AUB
33-yard field goal by Damon Duval
7
10
2
15:00
80
4:20
ARK
Mark Pierce 2-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
14
10
2
5:42
89
3:42
AUB
Cadillac Williams 9-yard touchdown run, Damon Duval kick good
14
17
2
1:40
80
:05
ARK
Fred Talley 80-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
21
17
2
:25
8
:16
ARK
21-yard field goal by David Carlton
24
17
3
11:02
83
2:22
ARK
Mark Pierce 44-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
31
17
4
3:25
72
:15
ARK
Matt Jones 70-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
38
17
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
38
17
Kentucky
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
3
6
20
0
29
Razorbacks
7
3
7
0
17
Arkansas' ground game continued to impress, with 293 yards, 182 of those from freshman Fred Talley. Overall, Arkansas had 515 yards of total offense to UK's 332. Quarterback Matt Jones set career marks with 15 completions and 210 yards.[10] None of this, was enough as Kentucky managed a 29–17 victory.
Kentucky drove the opening kickoff 40 yards and kicker Taylor Begley hit on a 50-yard field goal. Arkansas had their field goal blocked on the ensuing possession, but fullback Mark Pierce later rumbled for a 34-yard score for the Razorbacks.
red zone opportunities in the fourth quarter, but neither team could dent the scoreboard, and Kentucky won, 29–17.[10]
Mark Pierce 34-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
3
7
1
2:01
-6
5:00
ARK
26-yard field goal by David Carlton
3
10
2
7:50
51
5:40
UK
Tommy Cook 4-yard touchdown reception from Jared Lorenzen, Taylor Begley kick no good
9
10
3
14:55
12
:05
UK
Artose Pinner 12-yard touchdown run, Taylor Begley kick good
16
10
3
12:20
86
:05
UK
Punt by Richie Butler (ARK) returned 86 yards by Derek Abney (UK) for a touchdown, Taylor Begley kick no good
22
10
3
11:39
65
3:30
ARK
De'Arrius Howard 1-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
22
17
3
4:53
16
:40
UK
Aaron Boone 18-yard touchdown reception from Jared Lorenzen, Taylor Begley kick good
29
17
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
29
17
Ole Miss
1
2
3
4
Total
Rebels
2
9
3
14
28
Razorbacks
10
17
14
7
48
Arkansas ran for 257 yards, and
field goal. Lerinezo Robinson for the Hogs then returned a fumbled kickoff eight yards for a touchdown, giving Arkansas a 10–2 lead.[11] Jonathan Nichols of Ole Miss then hit a 48-yard field, but a Jimmy Beasley interception of Eli Manning set up Arkansas for a 34-yard option keep touchdown by Matt Jones, giving an edge to the Hogs, 17–5. Manning then connected with Justin Sawyer, but the two point play was no good. First a field goal, then a touchdown closed out the first half for the Razorbacks, the TD set up by a 55-yard punt return by Decori Birmingham, to the Ole Miss 20.[11]
The Rebels began the second half with 25-yard field goal. A 63-yard run by Fred Talley set up another Razorback touchdown, and Razorback Tom Crowder recovered the kickoff fumbled by Ole Miss in the end zone, to push the score to 41–14.[11] Manning completed a drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass, but with just over ten minutes left, it was too little to late. Each team then added another touchdown before the Razorbacks homecoming game went final, 48–28. The Razorbacks' outstanding ground game was helped out by five Rebels turnovers, which led to 24 Razorback points.[11]
Matt Jones intentional grounding in the endzone, penalty results in safety
2
0
1
5:02
67
:50
ARK
29-yard field goal by David Carlton
2
3
1
1:49
10
:05
ARK
Lerinezo Robinson recovers fumbled kickoff for touchdown
2
10
1
1:30
44
4:19
MISS
47-yard field goal by Brad Nichols
5
10
2
11:07
34
:04
ARK
Matt Jones 34-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
5
17
2
11:07
75
2:30
MISS
Justin Sawyer 13-yard touchdown reception from Eli Manning, 2-point pass from Manning to Flowers incomplete
11
17
2
3:40
20
1:40
ARK
37-yard field goal by David Carlton
11
20
2
:32
22
:08
ARK
George Wilson 22-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, David Carlton kick good
11
27
3
15:00
72
3:40
MISS
25-yard field goal by Brad Nichols
14
27
3
9:13
80
1:12
ARK
De'Arrius Howard 5-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
14
34
3
8:01
1
:02
ARK
Lerinezo Robinson 1-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
14
41
4
13:04
36
2:30
MISS
Jason Armstead 20-yard touchdown reception from Eli Manning, Brad Nichols kick good
21
41
4
5:30
80
2:00
MISS
Eli Manning 1-yard touchdown run, Brad Nichols kick good
28
41
4
3:13
55
:10
ARK
De'Arrius Howard 38-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
28
48
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
28
48
Troy State
1
2
3
4
Total
Trojans
0
0
0
0
0
Razorbacks
7
6
3
7
23
The game was dominated by both defenses, despite a lopsided finish. Troy State's ninth-ranked defense held Arkansas under 150 total yards and six first downs.[12] Arkansas shut out their first opponent since blanking Southwest Missouri State 38–0 in 2000. Special teams stepped up for the Hogs, and two blocked punts, one recovered in the end zone, helped out a struggling offense.
Trojans punt blocked, recovered by Bo Mosley (ARK), advanced for a touchdown. David Carlton kick good
0
7
2
2:20
31
:28
ARK
George Wilson 10-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, David Carlton kick no good
0
13
3
15:00
41
4:00
ARK
27-yard field goal by David Carlton
0
16
4
4:35
48
:09
TROY
Hansell Bearden (TROY) pass across the middle intercepted by Bo Mosley (ARK), returned for a 48-yard touchdown. David Carlton kick good
0
23
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
0
23
South Carolina
1
2
3
4
Total
Razorbacks
0
10
7
6
23
Gamecocks
0
0
0
0
0
Arkansas beat South Carolina at home as the Hogs won their second consecutive game by the count of 23–0. Matt Jones completed 10 of 18 passes for 113 yards and two scores. Defenders Gavin Walls,
Eddie Jackson and Lawrence Richardson had interceptions that each lead to Arkansas points. All of these turnovers helped add to Arkansas' turnover margin of plus-1.88 per game.[13]
George Wilson 4-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, David Carlton kick good
7
0
2
11:40
35
:50
ARK
43-yard field goal by David Carlton
10
0
3
14:52
73
3:32
ARK
Carlos Ousley 47-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, David Carlton kick good
17
0
4
14:35
17
:50
ARK
27-yard field goal by David Carlton
20
0
4
11:48
10
1:43
ARK
22-yard field goal by David Carlton
23
0
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
23
0
Louisiana–Lafayette
1
2
3
4
Total
Ragin' Cajuns
0
10
0
7
17
Razorbacks
10
7
0
7
24
Arkansas won their fourth straight game and improved to 16–0 in non-conference play under Houston Nutt with this win. Matt Jones lead rushers with a season-high 129 yards, and the Razorbacks out gained the Ragin' Cajuns on the ground 263 yards to 61.[14] The Hog defense had held every opponent out of the end zone for nine quarters until a pass from Eric Rekieta to Fred Stamps late in the second quarter.[14] Future NFL cornerbackCharles Tillman recovered a blocked punt in the fourth quarter, which was the first time since 1991 the Hogs allowed a touchdown off a blocked punt.[14]
Matt Jones 62-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
0
7
1
4:00
53
:20
ARK
22-yard field goal by David Carlton
0
10
2
8:10
70
2:30
ULL
Frederick Stamps 24-yard touchdown reception from Eric Rekieta, Sean Comiskey kick good
7
10
2
4:30
70
:48
ARK
Carlos Ousley 24-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, David Carlton kick good
7
17
2
:26
13
:26
ULL
25-yard field goal by Sean Comiskey
10
17
3
3:03
58
3:56
ARK
Decori Birmingham 19-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, David Carlton kick good
10
24
4
3:06
-2
1:20
ARK
Razorbacks punt blocked, recovered by Charles Tillman (ULL), advanced for a touchdown.
17
24
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
17
24
Mississippi State
1
2
3
4
Total
Razorbacks
7
12
0
7
26
Bulldogs
3
0
3
13
19
Arkansas went to Scott Field to play winless-in-the-SEC Mississippi State. The Razorbacks defense held on a fourth down play which saved the game. The Razorbacks ran for 237 yards, 121 of those from freshman tailback De'Arruis Howard. Fred Talley fell just short of his fourth 100-yard game as he ran for 94 yards. Mississippi State used two quarterbacks, Kevin Fant was 14-of-26 for 115 yards with an interception. Kyle York entered in the third quarter and went 11-of-22 for 174 yards with one interception and two TDs.
Bulldogs kicker Brent Smith scored the first points of the contest, but two Matt Jones touchdown passes put the Hogs up 14–3. Kevin Fant was sacked by Clarke Moore in the end zone to add two more points for Arkansas. David Carlton added a field goal, his fifth consecutive made field goal. Mississippi State added its own field goal, just before fullback Mark Pierce reached the end zone from five yards out. A comeback was engineered by replacement quarterback Kyle York for the Bulldogs, but it fell seven points short, 26–19.
Arkansas and LSU played in War Memorial Stadium for the
Golden Boot, a gold trophy that resembles the two states of Arkansas and Louisiana, forming a boot. Arkansas clinched the SEC West crown with this win, moving the Razorbacks to 9–3 overall.[15]
With nine seconds left, Quarterback Matt Jones threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Decori Birmingham, and kicker David Carlton made a long extra point to finish the Tigers off, 21–20.[16] Down 20–14 with 34 seconds remaining, the Razorbacks first play was a 50-yard pass to Richard Smith.[17] After an incompletion, Jones found Birmingham in the end zone, who outleaped Randall Gay for the catch. As Hog fans poured onto the field, Arkansas was then penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration, moving the go-ahead extra point to the 35-yard line.[16] Carlton's kick was long enough, but curved left and just snuck in the goal post for a 21–20 lead. Houston Nutt later said that when he was sharing with Jones the plays to run Jones simply said, despite completing only two passes up to that point, "I've got it."[16]
Mark Pierce 1-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
10
7
3
8:26
89
2:06
LSU
Marcus Randall 5-yard touchdown run, John Corbello kick good
17
7
4
7:57
80
:24
ARK
Fred Talley 56-yard touchdown run, David Carlton kick good
17
14
4
6:23
53
5:40
LSU
29-yard field goal by John Corbello
20
14
4
:34
80
:25
ARK
Decori Birmingham 31-yard touchdown reception from Matt Jones, David Carlton kick good
20
21
"TOP" =
Glossary of American football
.
20
21
Georgia, SEC Championship
1
2
3
4
Total
#4 Bulldogs
17
6
0
7
30
#22 Razorbacks
0
0
3
0
3
Arkansas represented the Western Division of the SEC in the SEC Championship game in 2002. Arkansas was down 17–0 to Georgia before they gained one yard in the contest, giving the conference title to the Bulldogs. With the loss, Arkansas had only scored six points in two SEC title game appearances, while in contrast, Razorback opponents have scored 64 points against them. Arkansas would make a much better showing their next time in Atlanta, but fail to win again in the 2006 SEC Championship Game against the Florida Gators.
Arkansas got off on the wrong foot as punter Richie Butler's punt was blocked, setting up a one-yard touchdown run for Georgia running back Musa Smith. Another run by Smith pushed the Bulldog advantage to 14–0. Three Georgia field goals added to the score to make it 23–0. Arkansas had only one scoring drive, but even that was on life support, kept alive by two personal fouls, one after an incompletion on 3rd and 23. Georgia added a touchdown, won the game 30–3, and with the victory won the Southeastern Conference.
Coach Houston Nutt said after the game, "I felt like they were playing with 12 men, they have few weaknesses."
Minnesota kicker Dan Nystrom made five field goals as the Golden Gophers upset Arkansas in the Music City Bowl.[18] Nystrom was named the MVP, a rarity for a kicker.[18] Nystrom could have had a sixth attempt, but Minnesota instead went for a first down on a fourth and five and was denied with 2:46 remaining in the game.
Arkansas, the best rushing team in the SEC, had only eighty yards on the ground.[18] This was well below their average of 226.9 yards per game. A halftime pass caught by Smith in the end zone would have given Arkansas a halftime lead, but Smith was declared out of bounds, and the score was nullified.[18] The Razorback defense, ranked 40th best in the nation, bent but did not break. The Gophers were stopped and had to settle for field goals three times inside the Arkansas 7.[18]
Arkansas native Matt Jones was the signal caller for the Razorbacks in 2002. Jones also played basketball on the Razorback basketball team. Jones currently holds the SEC record for most rushing yards by a quarterback, but with the advent of the Spread offense in college football, and new dynamic players in the SEC, his record is in danger of being broken.
Opponent
Comp
Att
Yards
TD
INT
Rush
Rush Yds
Rush TD
Boise State
7
14
106
3
0
11
70
0
South Florida
9
12
148
2
0
5
54
0
Alabama
7
18
111
0
2
7
50
1
Tennessee
10
20
183
1
0
21
44
1
Auburn
7
13
67
0
0
6
84
1
Kentucky
15
26
210
0
1
12
52
0
Ole Miss
7
14
78
1
1
4
35
1
Troy
7
15
77
1
1
8
22
0
South Carolina
10
18
113
2
0
7
9
0
Louisiana–Lafayette
9
13
118
2
0
13
129
1
Mississippi State
8
15
90
2
0
5
-1
0
LSU
4
16
127
1
1
11
46
0
Georgia
9
16
60
0
0
6
13
0
Minnesota
12
25
118
1
2
7
13
0
Season
121
235
1606
16
8
119
620
5
Awards and honors
All SEC Teams
Fred Talley (RB, Sr.) 1st Team All-SEC Offense (Coaches'), 2nd Team All-SEC Offense (AP)
^ abcd"No. 10 Tennessee Slips Past Arkansas 41–38 In Six Overtimes." October 6, 2002. Tennessee 41, Arkansas 38Archived October 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Arkansas Razorbacks Sports Network. Retrieved on February 20, 2008.
^ abc"Louisiana–Lafayette vs. Arkansas." Game Recap. USA Today. Retrieved on February 22, 2008.
^"LSU – Arkansas Winner to Represent the West." November 24, 2002. SEC Week 14.Archived March 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine SECSports.com Retrieved on February 26, 2008.