Unreal comeback falls short as Arkansas outmuscles Kansas in 3OT, 55-53

The Kansas Jayhawks wrapped a whole season of play right into a single sport, as a mistake-filled first half was adopted up by a livid second half comeback that despatched the sport into triple additional time earlier than an errant move from Jason Bean on a trick play sailed excessive to finish the sport.

The Jayhawks gave up 24 factors within the first quarter as your complete crew made a number of errors. Two interceptions by Jalon Daniels and a particular groups fumble led to factors for Arkansas, and going into halftime, the Jayhawks had been down 38-13 in a sport that many had been hoping would simply stay considerably aggressive within the second half.

However because the Jayhawks do, they discovered their legs within the second half, because the offense stopped making errors and began scoring factors and the protection discovered methods to cease Arkansas and get the ball again for Jalon Daniels.

Arkansas scored for the final time in regulation with 8:43 left within the third quarter, going up 38-13 and main many to imagine that the evening was over for the Jayhawks. The Jayhawks went three and out, and at that time the evening had been characterised by offensive errors and unlucky miscues.

However at that time, the protection stiffened. A defensive position that had allowed Arkansas to open up holes all evening lengthy immediately collapsed the center of the sphere. And the Razorbacks began to lose their composure. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed a third and eight again to a third and 23. And as soon as the offense acquired the ball again, Daniels flipped some magic swap and went from good however not nice to otherwordly.

The following drive noticed passes of 45 yards and 20 yards as Daniels threw his receivers extensive open. One other fast three-and-out let Daniels decide up proper the place he left off, with a 28 yard move to Locklin as Kansas acquired an Owen Piepergerdes discipline aim to get again to 2 scores. 

However even with the Daniels heroics, the offense stalling within the fourth quarter led many to imagine that the crew simply would not have sufficient. The margin was nonetheless at 15 when Kansas referred to as their remaining timeout with simply 3 minutes to play and Arkansas driving on the Jayhawk 30-yard line.

However Marvin Grant wasn’t completed. The Jayhawk was seen firing up the protection earlier within the quarter, and he laid a success on Arkansas operating again Matt Landers that ended with a fumble that was scooped up by Cobee Bryant. He returned all of it the best way to the Arkansas 48, and the Jayhawks had been in enterprise. However even then, it wasn’t simple.

When Jalon Daniels acquired sacked on 1st and 10 from the Arkansas 21. Mike Novitsky acquired referred to as for a holding penalty to make it 2nd and 29. However Daniels threw a strike to Kevin Terry for 30 yards, and adopted it up with a landing move to Doug Emilien. Then the madness ramped up with an onside kick dribbling via the Arkansas line and picked up by Kansas. Daniels scored on a move to Luke Grimm simply 24 seconds of sport time later. And the protection held to get the sport to additional time.

In additional time, Daniels continued to make play after play, with a landing move to Jared Casey within the first additional time, a dashing rating on a QB keeper within the second additional time adopted by a 2-point conversion to Jared Casey (who else?), even after he took a shot to the pinnacle on the primary try that resulted in an Arkansas focusing on penalty to offer Kansas one other likelihood.

However in the end, the decision that ended the sport was one to take the ball out of Jalon Daniels’ arms. Within the third additional time, the place groups begin buying and selling 2-point conversions, Kansas referred to as a reverse move for Jason Bean, and as an alternative of operating the ball into the tip zone, he tried to loft a move over the protection and missed badly.

However that does not take away from the outstanding performances we noticed throughout the board for the Jayhawks, each throughout this season and on this particular person sport. Jalon Daniels ended the evening setting 7 totally different Liberty Bowl information, together with probably the most passing yards with 544 and passing touchdowns with 5. And the protection stepped up with a number of massive performs from a number of massive gamers.

The loss was painful for the Jayhawks, as Daniels mentioned within the postgame press convention, However after the ache goes away, all of those gamers must be pleased with their efficiency tonight.

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