No. 14 Texas A&M rallies for 28-21 overtime victory against Arkansas

ARLINGTON, Texas It took a last-ditch compilation of clutch plays, but No. 14 Texas A&M pulled it off somehow, coming back to edge Arkansas 28-21 in overtime Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

A&M senior cornerback De’Vante Harris broke up Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen’s final pass attempt to Drew Morgan on fourth down in OT to seal the victory in the SEC opener for both programs.

The drama, playing out in front of 67,339, had shades of 2014, when the Aggies also came from behind to beat the Razorbacks in overtime, capped by a defensive play. A&M (4-0, 1-0 SEC) remained undefeated and beat Arkansas for the fourth straight time. The Hogs (1-3, 0-1) couldn’t close out their chance to rebound from losses to Toledo and Texas Tech in a major way and lost their third straight.

“I thought the look in their eye in the fourth quarter and in overtime was one of confidence,” A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said of the Aggies, “and I hadn’t seen that in a while in this team.”

A&M quarterback Kyle Allen found freshman Christian Kirk for a 20-yard touchdown pass on the second play of overtime. Kirk had eight catches for 173 yards, two touchdowns and 255 all-purpose yards.

Taylor Bertolet made the extra point no given after he’d missed a 38-yard field-goal attempt wide right at the end of regulation that would’ve won it for the Aggies.

The Aggies had the chance because sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett, playing in his hometown, finally broke through the Hogs’ beefy offensive line to sack Brandon Allen late in the fourth quarter, forcing a fumble. Linebacker A.J. Hilliard recovered for A&M at Arkansas’ 41. A&M needed the stop because Arkansas had been having its way with the Aggies for much of the second half, moving the ball and dominating overall time of possession (39:28 to 20:32).

A&M trailed 21-13 with 4:11 left in regulation before A&M’s offense finally clicked. Allen connected with Josh Reynolds for 63 yards to set up Tra Carson’s 2-yard scoring run. A&M benefited from a pass interference penalty on the drive, one of 11 costly Arkansas penalties for 93 yards. Allen connected again with Reynolds (three catches, 106 yards) for the two-point conversion to tie the score.

Before that breakthrough, Arkansas had been in control, scoring 14 straight to take the lead after trailing 13-7 early in the third quarter.

Arkansas rushed 42 times for 232 yards, 140 in the second half. Alex Collins rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown and Brandon Allen went 20-of-25 for 225 yards and a touchdown, though he lost the fumble and threw an interception in the first half.

A&M’s Kyle Allen went 21-of-28 for a career-high 358 yards and two touchdowns, but the Aggies had trouble inside the 20-yard line.

They twice settled for field goals, after reaching the Arkansas 2 and 4.

“I knew early it was going to come back to haunt us,” Kyle Allen said, “and it could’ve made us lose the game.”

A&M converted just 2 of 9 third downs.

The Aggies rushed for only 65 yards, 27 of which came from backup quarterback Kyler Murray, who twice entered the game in the second half and tried to spark A&M with his legs.

“He’s a talent,” Sumlin said. “He’s a different speed, a different pitch for the defense, and you can see that.”

But it was ultimately Allen’s composure and an array of big playmakers that allowed A&M to escape still undefeated.

“What a game, huh?” Sumlin said.

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