THE SOUTHWEST : Arkansas Survives Scare From SMU in 38-24 Win

Arkansas Coach Ken Hatfield called his team’s performance symbolic.

The ninth-ranked Razorbacks were favored by more than 40 points against Southern Methodist on Saturday, and with 10:21 remaining SMU led, 24-23.

“We don’t dominate anyone, no matter who it is,” Hatfield said. “We struggled. I was proud our team had something extra to come back in the fourth quarter.”

But thanks to quarterback Quinn Grovey, the Razorbacks avoided the upset with a 38-24 victory to clinch their second consecutive Southwest Conference championship and a berth in the Cotton Bowl.

Grovey scored on a three-yard run with 5:01 left to put the Razorbacks ahead for good.

SMU then ran three plays, punted and Grovey and Arkansas (10-1) went to work again.

Grovey threw to Tim Horton on a 29-yard pass play to the SMU 15-yard line. James Rouse later scored from the three.

Grovey’s scoring run was the 14th play of a drive that began after the Mustangs (2-8) took a 24-23 lead with 10:21 left.

The Mustangs pulled within 23-17 on Matt Lomenick’s 22-yard field goal, then recovered an onside kick and converted two fourth-down plays in a 53-yard touchdown drive. Mike Romo threw to Jason Wolf in the corner of the end zone for the final 23 yards.