LIKE IT IS

Hogs bury Tigers’ title hopes in Death Valley

Arkansas defensive back D.J. Dean (2) celebrates his interception in the LSU end zone in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. Arkansas won 31-14. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Arkansas defensive back D.J. Dean (2) celebrates his interception in the LSU end zone in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. Arkansas won 31-14. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

BATON ROUGE -- It was not an upset.

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The best team, the Arkansas Razorbacks, rolled into this notoriously hostile environment and quieted the LSU Tigers and its usually loud, proud and rowdy crowd.

It was the second consecutive victory for the Hogs over the Tigers. It was their fourth consecutive victory on the season.

The makings for a November to remember is in their grasp as they close the season with two home games.

For the second week in a row the unranked Hogs, who are now bowl eligible, crushed any dreams an opponent had of an SEC Championship game appearance.

The Razorbacks never trailed, jumping to a 21-0 lead. They used fresh legs, timely play calling and sheer will to cruise to what turned out to be a relatively easy win 31-14 victory.

LSU has lost two in a row since being ranked No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff poll.

Just how convincing the Hog tying was became obvious with 10:18 to play.

Jared Cornelius had just gone 69 yards on an end around -- with outstanding blocking down field by Dominique Reed -- to make it 31-14.

There was still plenty of time for an LSU team that features one of the nation's best running backs and some very talented receivers to rally.

But on second down there appeared to be confusion on the sidelines and boos were heard. There definitely was confusion on the field as the Tigers were called for three false starts before attempting to jump up and touch the moon.

The Tigers went for it on fourth and 20 from their own 33, but came up 9 yards short.

Later, they had a final shot at closing the gap, but that died with with D.J. Dean's interception in the end zone with 3:26 to play.

By then about 10 percent of an announced crowd of 101,699 remained in the stands.

It wasn't known at the time, but this game was won in the first half.

Arkansas was sitting on that 21-0 lead with 3:55 to play in the first half, which had almost turned Death Valley into a death march.

Yes, the Tigers scored on their last possession of the first half and the first of the second half to close to within 21-14 to make things a bit iffy.

The Hogs came into the game with eight sacks on the season, but they got three in the first half and two more in the second to destroy any momentum the Tigers tried to muster.

A week earlier against Ole Miss the Hogs missed enough tackles to give defensive coordinator Robb Smith an ulcer. It was so bad that earlier last week Coach Brett Bielema said he had requested suggestions from everyone on his staff on how the Razorbacks could tackle better.

For most of the game they racked Fournette, who finished with 91 yards, and sacked Harris.

The Tigers faced seven third-down situations in the first half and all three times, led by Deatrich Wise, Harris was sacked. Wise was in on all three of those big plays.

Other than two touchdowns the game belonged to the Razorbacks.

Allen found Dominique Reed on Arkansas' second possession for what appeared to be a first down. But the junior stiff-armed one would-be tackler, hit the afterburner and left a second defender choking on his dust.

The fourth drive saw Alex Collins bust the gut of the LSU defense, veer right and 80 yards later ended up in the end zone.

Their sixth drive was a gift from freshman Dre Greenlaw, who separated Harris from the ball. Brooks Ellis scooped and returned it 4 yards to the LSU 11. Two runs by Collins made it 21-0.

When the final seconds ticked off the clock, the best team had won.

Sports on 11/15/2015

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