Baylor Jolts Arkansas’ Cotton Bowl Hopes : 10th-Ranked Razorbacks Defeated, 29-14; They Now Trail Texas A&M; by Two Games

Baylor put itself in prime position for a postseason game and all but destroyed 10th-ranked Arkansas’ Cotton Bowl hopes Saturday by stopping the Razorbacks’ high-powered offense.

Baylor allowed Arkansas only two first downs in the second half, coming from behind for a 29-14 victory that gives Texas A&M; a two-game lead in the Southwest Conference.

Arkansas fell to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the SWC. Baylor, a likely participant in the Bluebonnet Bowl, is 6-3 and 4-2.

Texas A&M;, idle Saturday, can clinch its second straight conference title and berth in the Cotton Bowl next week with a victory over the Razorbacks.

Cody Carlson ran for a touchdown and passed for 258 yards to become Baylor’s all-time and single-season yardage leader.

“It was the biggest win of the year for us,” said Carlson, who played despite an injured knee that caused him to miss practice last week. “We know now we are going to a bowl. We’re just not sure which one.”

Carlson rushed for 48 yards in 12 carries and completed 21 of 35 passes.

“I’ve never seen a more courageous performance,” Baylor Coach Grant Teaff said. “Besides the knee problem, he took a shot to the ribs that hurt him all day. We didn’t know if he would make it.”

Arkansas Coach Ken Hatfield said the loss severely damaged the Hogs’ hopes for their first Cotton Bowl appearance in 11 years.

“We’re hurt as bad as we’ve ever been hurt before,” he said. “Just give Baylor credit. They made the big plays and made some great adjustments defensively. They shut down our game plan.”

The Bears took a 15-14 lead early in the fourth quarter after Arkansas built a 14-12 halftime lead on Derrick Thomas’ 3-yard touchdown run and quarterback Greg Thomas’ 38-yard touchdown pass to Joe Johnson.

Baylor halfback Jeffrey Murray scored on a two-yard plunge with 4:02 to play, and Derrick McAdoo put the Razorbacks away with a 32-yard scoring run with 1:20 remaining.