BYU surges in second half to dispatch Arkansas

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Field Level Media
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Sep 16, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Rashod Dubinion (7) rushes in the second quarter against the BYU Cougars at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Sep 16, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Rashod Dubinion (7) rushes in the second quarter against the BYU Cougars at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Image: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Kedon Slovis went 13-of-25 passing for 167 yards and two touchdowns to lead BYU to a 38-31 win over Arkansas on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.

Trailing 31-21 in the third quarter, BYU reeled off 17 unanswered points to take a 38-31 lead.

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Will Ferrin hit a 43-yard field goal with 4:43 left in the third. Slovis then hit Parker Kingston for a 20-yard touchdown with 1:52 to go in the quarter before connecting with Chase Roberts for a 7-yard score with 8:00 remaining in the game to secure the victory for the Cougars (3-0).

After a sack and fumble recovery, BYU took over at the Arkansas 38-yard line with less than four minutes remaining.

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But Ferrin couldn't convert a 50-yard field goal later on the drive, and the Razorbacks (2-1) took over at their own 32-yard line with 1:55 left to play.

Arkansas drove down to the BYU 16 with 12 seconds remaining, but it couldn't move the ball any further before time ran out.

After leading 24-21 at halftime, Arkansas took a 31-21 lead with 11:41 left in the third quarter thanks to a 7-yard touchdown run by AJ Green.

The Razorbacks went up 14-0 with 11:29 remaining in the first on an 88-yard punt return by Isaiah Sategna, who fielded the ball near the sideline, cut through the middle of the field and outraced a BYU defender down the opposite sideline to the end zone.

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BYU settled down and responded by scoring 21 unanswered points, first cutting the Arkansas lead to 14-7 with 8:28 remaining in the first quarter on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Kingston to Deion Smith.

The Cougars then tied the game at 14-14 with 2:24 to go in the first when LJ martin rushed for a 45-yard TD.

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Martin scored again, this time with from 1 yard out with 12:54 remaining in the second quarter, to put BYU ahead 21-14. A 19-yard TD pass from KJ Jefferson to Luke Hasz tied things at 21.

Jefferson completed 24 of 35 passes 247 yards with the touchdown and an interception.

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—Field Level Media