COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Beating Arkansas 58-10 Saturday was especially sweet for Texas A&M’s seniors.
The Aggies had endured losses to the Razorbacks the previous three seasons, including 42-38 last year when Arkansas rallied from a 35-17 halftime deficit.
“This felt good,” senior linebacker Sean Porter said.
“We had to beat them.”
The past three Arkansas-Texas A&M games were played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but with the Aggies’ move to the SEC from the Big 12 this year the series moved on campus for 2012 and 2013. The series will return to Cowboys Stadium in 2014.
“It was a rainy day at Kyle Field - football weather,” Porter said. “Arkansas came in here, and we got them finally. I’m just proud of all the guys.”Record for Johnson
Arkansas senior Dennis Johnson became the SEC’s all-time leading kickoff returner on a 31-yarder in the first quarter. That gave Johnson 2,730 return yards to break the record of Florida’s Brandon James, who had 2,718 yards from 2006-2009.
Johnson finished the game with 2,755 career return yards.
On second thought
The second quarter has been great for Texas A&M this season and horrible for Arkansas, a trend that continued Saturday when the Aggies outscored the Razorbacks 17-0 to take a 27-10 lead at halftime.
Texas A&M has outscored opponents 86-6 in the second quarter in four games. Arkansas has been outscored 51-0 in the second quarter of its past three games, losses to Alabama, Rutgers and Texas A&M.
For starters
Senior Colton-Miles Nash (defensive end) made his first start since last year’s Auburn game, when he was a tight end. ... Alan Turner (safety) started for injured Eric Bennett. ... Junior Jason Peacock (offensive tackle) started over Brey Cook;
Tyler Deacon (guard) started after missing last week with a knee injury. ... Sophomore Morgan Linton became the first Razorback to start at fullback this season as Arkansas opened in the I formation. ... Junior Austin Tate (tight end) started for injured Chris Gragg.
Injury notes
Arkansas tailback Dennis Johnson played with a wrap on his left hand after breaking a bone in it during last week’s 35-26 loss to Rutgers. Johnson ran for 22 yards on five attempts.
“You have that broken hand and you’ve got to put a cast on there, at least protect the top of it,” Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said.
Cornerback Kaelon Kelleybrew came up fast and made a tackle for a 5-yard loss on a swing pass to tailback Ben Malena early in the first quarter, but that was Kelleybrew’s last play.
The senior hopped up but then drifted to the Arkansas secondary and collapsed to the grass, where he threw up.
Arkansas defensive backs Davyon McKinney and Rohan Gaines also sustained minor injuries but were able to return.
Sackless
Texas A&M defensive end Damontre Moore had his streak of consecutive games with a sack end at seven.
Moore had 12 sacks in his past seven games, dating to last year.
Arkansas did not post a sack for the second time in three games. The Hogs have seven sacks this season.
Not terrible
Aggies senior free safety Steven Terrell said he played “horrible” against Arkansas the previous three seasons.
He made up for it Saturday with two interceptions against Tyler Wilson.
“The first one they had beat us on the curl route, so I just sat in the zone and he threw it right to me,” Terrell said. “The second one, they had been setting us up and I knew it was coming eventually, so I acted like I wasn’t coming for it and he threw it right to me again.” September to forget
Arkansas is the first team since Pittsburgh in 1984 to be ranked in the top 10 and lose four September games, according to ESPN.
The Razorbacks opened the season ranked No. 10 in The Associated Press poll and moved up to No. 8 after opening with a victory over Jacksonville State before losing to Louisiana-Monroe, Rutgers, Alabama and Texas A&M to fall to 1-4.
Pittsburgh finished 3-7-1.
Ranked to raked
Arkansas’ football problems were documented in a piece Saturday morning by reporter Gene Wojciechowski for ESPN’s College Game Day show.
Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long and Coach John L. Smith declined invitations to appear on the segment.
Containing Cobi
Arkansas senior Cobi Hamilton had 11 catches for 162 yards against the Aggies after setting SEC and school records with 303 yards a week earlier against Rutgers.
“It looked like he had a big game, but I thought we did a good job of containing him,” Texas A&M free safety Steven Terrell said.
Record setter
Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson set a school record with 59 passes attempted, breaking the mark of 52 by Clint Stoerner against Alabama in 1999.
Sports, Pages 33 on 09/30/2012