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FAYETTVILLE, Arkansas (AP) — KJ Jefferson threw for 223 yards and three touchdowns, plus 62 yards and another scoring to move No. 19 Arkansas to No. 23 on Saturday. Cincinnati, leading 31-24.
Jefferson ran the first touchdown of the game in the first quarter, threw a jump pass touchdown to Trey Knox in the second, and found Jadon Hazelwood scoring another score in the third. .
Cincinnati was scoreless in the first half despite four of their seven drives reaching Arkansas territory. Bearcats kicker Ryan Coe missed his two-field goals from 25 and 48 yards, and Ben Bryant threw an interception at the Arkansas 20, eventually leading the Razorbacks end into his zone. It was the first trip of
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Bryant got better in the second half, scoring Cincinnati on the first two possessions of the half. But he, who had the ball in the Razorbacks’ 39 by seven, was stripped of his sack by Jordan, Dominic, and Arkansas recovered. Jefferson threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Knox two plays later, scoring his fourth of the game.
Arkansas running back Rocket Sanders ran for 117 yards on 20 carries in his second career 100-yard game of his sophomore year. Knox caught six passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Bryant, a transfer from East Michigan who wasn’t announced as a starter until before kickoff, had 26 of 43 passes for 325 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. A 15-yard throw to Leonard Taylor with 5:49 left created the final margin. Jefferson completed 18 of 26 throws to reach the 223-yard mark.
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Takeaway
Arkansas’ offense with Jefferson at quarterback deserves the SEC. The defense struggled in the second half after missing two starters from the secondary.
Cincinnati had the talent to win games, but made too many mistakes against quality opponents.
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Arkansas should find itself comfortably ranked next week in the SEC opener.
Cincinnati could drop out of the top 25 despite a fair result.
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Arkansas will start the SEC at home against South Carolina in Week 2. The game will be his first in South Carolina’s Fayetteville since 2013.
Cincinnati will host FCS opponents Kennesaw State at Nippert Stadium.