Simmons and Roberts Power Missouri Past Arkansas in 34-10 Victory
The Tigers converted three fumbles and an interception into 24 points, capping a comeback from a scoreless first half with a third-quarter surge.
By Rafael Delgado ·
Austin Simmons passed for 179 yards and two touchdowns as No. 23 Missouri defeated Arkansas 34-10 on Saturday night in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Jamal Roberts added 158 total yards and two scores to secure the win for the Tigers, who improved to 6-2 on the season and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
Missouri held a 13-7 lead at the break after failing to score on its opening drives. The offense clicked in the third quarter when Simmons connected with Donovan Olugbode on a 15-yard pass. Roberts followed with a two-yard rushing touchdown to extend the Missouri lead to 27-7 with 9:47 remaining in the game.
"It was big. It was a swing of the momentum," Roberts said. "We just went on a run. That's something that we like to do on offense, just go on a run."
Turnovers defined the contest. Missouri converted three Arkansas fumbles and an interception by KJ Jackson into 24 points. Darris Smith recovered a fumble in the end zone late in the first quarter to give the Tigers an early 10-0 advantage. In the fourth quarter, Simmons threw a 10-yard touchdown to Roberts with 7:19 left to set the final margin.
Ahmad Hardy, an All-American running back who missed the first seven games of the season after being wounded in the leg during a shooting at an outdoor concert in May, returned to the lineup. He carried the ball twice in the first quarter for five yards. Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said Hardy was practicing without medical restrictions and looked physically prepared to play.
"I think we were to the point where he was practicing, he looks good, there’s no medical reason not to play him," Drinkwitz said. "It’s just about getting his body back in shape physically. He’d been running. Just felt like with his movements in practice that he was going to be able to play."
Arkansas quarterback KJ Jackson completed 20 of 34 passes for 229 yards and added a rushing touchdown. The Razorbacks, who fell to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play, rushed for just 59 yards on 36 carries. Missouri hosts No. 11 Texas on Saturday, November 7, while Arkansas travels to Auburn the same day.
