ESPN
No. 23 Texas A&M’s 23-21 victory over No. 10 Arkansas hung in the balance on Saturday night as Razorbacks kicker Cam Little’s 42-yard field goal attempt headed for the verticals with 1:30 left. Then, in a cruel twist of fate for the sophomore, the football bounced off the top of the right goal post, shot into the air and then dropped into the end zone as a missed attempt .
From there, the Aggies ran out the clock to earn a win in their SEC opener. It was one of two gut-wrenching plays that cost the Razorbacks dearly in an SEC West matchup that went down to the wire. While Arkansas outgained Texas A&M in total yards 415-343, it scored just once on its last eight possessions after taking an early 14-0 lead. Texas A&M, meanwhile, generated enough offense with Devon Achane rushing for 159 yards on 19 carries to earn its second straight win since a shocking home loss to Appalachian State in Week 2.
If not for another freak play late in the first half, Little’s late field goal might not have been necessary. About to take a two-possession lead with 3:31 left in the second quarter, disaster struck and swung the momentum in the Aggies’ favor. Facing a first-and-goal from the 3-yard line, quarterback KJ Jefferson tried to jump over a bunch of defenders when the football came loose and landed in the hands of Texas A&M’s Tyreek Chappell, who ran about 15 yards.
Then, just when it looked like his quarterback had stalled and the play might die, Chappell handed the football off to Demani Richardson, who piled it another 83 yards for an impressive touchdown. Although the Aggies failed the extra point attempt, the wild drive and score likely constituted a 13-point swing on a single play.
Combined, the odd missed field goal and 98-yard punt return made the difference for Texas A&M, which hosts No. 2 Alabama next week in a highly anticipated game that will have major division title ramifications .