Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

1/7/2012 at 9:43am

Arkansas 29, Kansas State 16

Why Arkansas Won
Arkansas used big plays on special teams, depth of playmakers on offense and arguably its best defensive performance of the season to secure only the third 11-win season in school history in beating Kansas State in the 76th Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas. Defense and special teams bailed the team out early when the offense couldn’t move, staking the Razorbacks to a 10-0 lead before they recorded a first down. New defensive coordinator Paul Haynes seemed to make a difference as Arkansas allowed just 89 yards rushing. The Razorbacks finished with 345 yards of total offense, primarily on the strength of 216 yards passing from Tyler Wilson.

Turning Point
Cobi Hamilton and Tyler Wilson missed a chance to hook up in the back of the end zone on a drive late in the third quarter. Hamilton caught Wilson's pass but his foot hit a yard beyond the end zone. Kansas State trailed just 19-16 at that point and had put up 16 consecutive points.

Wilson looked for Hamilton two plays later and they made the most of a second chance. Hamilton’s 9-yard reception pushed the Razorbacks up 26-16 with 3:57 left in the third.

MVPs
As they’ve done all season, quarterback Tyler Wilson and defensive end Jake Bequette were catalysts in the Arkansas victory. For their efforts they were named the Cotton Bowl’s offensive and defensive MVPs.

Wilson completed 20 of 31 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Bequette recorded four tackles, including two sacks, and forced a fumble that led to the first points of the game, a 26-yard Zach Hocker field goal.

Guess Who?
There was no special teams MVP, but it would likely have gone to Arkansas senior Joe Adams. He scored on a 51-yard punt return in the second quarter, his fourth return for a touchdown this season.

Adams totaled 62 yards on three returns. He ties the SEC record for most touchdown returns in a season.

Stopping Klein
Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein powered his way into the end zone and into the Big 12 record books with a 6-yard run in the third quarter. Tying former Texas running back Ricky Williams with 27 rushing touchdowns in a season was one of the few big moments for Klein.

Arkansas held Klein to just 42 yards on 24 carries, an average of 1.8 yards per carry. He had early success throwing, but finished just 16 of 30 for 173 yards and one touchdown. He was also dropped for 29 yards in losses and sacked six times.

Power Couple
Stadium cameras captured Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe in a luxury box with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Jones, of course, is an Arkansas native and University of Arkansas graduate. Beebe earned his law degree from the UA.

Battle Of Kickers
UA Coach Bobby Petrino said earlier this week he was confident sophomore kicker Zach Hocker wouldn’t fall prey to the struggles other college football kickers have experienced this season.

Hocker didn’t disappoint on field goals. He was 3-for-3 with a long of 30.

Kansas State’s Anthony Cantele missed on a 43-yard attempt with 6:36 left in the fourth quarter. A made field goal would have pulled the Wildcats within 26-19.

Hocker did have a PAT blocked after Arkansas had taken a 19-0 lead on Tyler Wilson's 45-yard scoring pass to Jarius Wright. Raphael Guidry recorded his fifth block kick of the season for K-State, and Nigel Malone returned it for 2 points, KSU's first points of the game, with 4:10 left in the first half.

All Dressed Up
Junior running back Knile Davis went through pregame warmups in full pads. Turns out he was all dressed up with no place to go on the field.

Davis, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in preseason camp, did not play. It became apparent he wouldn’t see the field during an early timeout as he stood outside the offensive huddle, holding his helmet.

Arkansas now waits to see if Davis stays to play in Fayetteville next year. He is eligible for the NFL draft. 

Big Play
Jarius Wright’s first catch of the night was a significant one. His 45-yard touchdown reception helped the Razorbacks to a 19-0 lead and it secured his spot atop the UA career receiving yards chart.

Wright, who finished with three catches for 88 yards, ends his career with 2,934 yards. He also became the first Razorback to record a touchdown in three consecutive bowls. 

Scary Moment
There were few quiet moments in Cowboys Stadium as 80,956 fans watched the Top 10 matchup between Kansas State and Arkansas. But a definite hush came over the crowd when Wildcats defensive end Meshack Williams landed awkwardly on his head with 10 seconds left in the first half.

Williams needed to be stabilized and carted off the field but gave a claw sign to Kansas State fans on his way off the field. No update was immediately available on his status, but he was taken to an area hospital.

Speaking Out
“I'm really impressed with how we handled the bowl ... It was a great win. I'm just proud of all the players and coaches.”
— Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino

“I didn’t like it one bit.”
— Bill Snyder, asked by a reporter how he "liked" Joe Adams’ 51-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Up Next
Arkansas heads into the offseason. Coaches will look to make a late recruiting push and players will take time off before beginning preseason workouts. National Signing Day is Feb. 1.

Tagged: Paul Haynes, Cobi Hamilton, Jarius Wright, Gov. Mike Beebe, Jerry Jones, Collin Klein, Bobby Petrino, Jake Bequette, Tyler Wilson, Joe Adams, Arkansas Razorbacks