Arkansas – LSU: LIVE updates, scores and highlights from the first half

The Arkansas Razorbacks (2-0, 0-0 SEC) open conference play against the No. 12 LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge.

Both teams are on opposite trajectories as the Tigers are hitting their stride but the Hogs are having to regroup after a disappointing loss to BYU last week. Under Sam Pittman, the Hogs are 1-2 against the Tigers, with each of those games being decided by only a field goal.

LSU will be without their starting linebacker Omar Speights for a second consecutive week and Arkansas will be without their star running back Rocket Sanders for the third straight week.

LSU safety Greg Brooks Jr., who spent three seasons at Arkansas before transferring to Baton Rouge, will also miss tonight’s game as he underwent successful surgery to remove a brain tumor this week. Both teams will be wearing special No. 3 decals on their helmets tonight as a show of support for Brooks.

“The Boot” is on the line and it should be a very raucous environment inside Tiger Stadium. Follow along below for live drive-by-drive and score-by-score updates from Baton Rouge.

Arkansas 1st Drive

KJ Jefferson finds Tyrone Broden on first down for 5 yards. Hogs run similar play on the next down, but incomplete so they’re faced with a 3rd and 5. Jefferson keeps it on 3rd and 5, but is brought down short of the first down marker. Arkansas punts it to LSU and Tigers take over at their own 14.

LSU 1st Drive

The Arkansas defense forces a three-and-out from the Tigers. On first down, Daniels was hit as he threw the ball by Eric Gregory. Daniels scrambles on second down for 6 yards, but can’t connect with Nabers on 3rd and 4. Tigers punt and Arkansas take over near midfield – at their own 44.

Arkansas 2nd Drive

Arkansas tries a bubble screen to TeSlaa, but there’s nothing there as he’s stopped at the line of scrimmage. The Hogs run a misdirection with Green and he’s stopped for no gain. On 3rd and 10, KJ Jefferson scrambles for a 25-yard gain into LSU territory.

Next play, Jefferson is sacked for a 5-yard loss. On 2nd and 15, Jefferson and Armstrong connect for an 11-yard gain. 3rd and 4 sees Broden catch his second pass of the game for 7-yards and a first down.

Jefferson scrambles on first for a 6-yard gain and then Dubinion gets the carry to move the chains on second down. On 1st and goal, Jefferson keeps it once again for a short gain. Luke Hasz with a spectacular catch down to the 1-yard line, but Josh Braun gets a false start penalty. Jefferson and TeSlaa can’t connect, so it’s 4th and goal.

Cam Little’s 23-yard field goal attempt is good. Hogs strike first.

ARKANSAS LEADS 3-0

LSU 2nd Drive

Logan Diggs has a short rush up the middle on first and then Jayden Daniels find Malik Nabers for a 22-yard gain on the next play. Back-to-back rushes pick up 7 yards and then Diggs picks up a first down with a 6-yard rush. On 1st and 10, Daniels throws it and it’s picked off by Dwight McGlothern.

Arkansas takes over near midfield – their own 45-yard line.

Arkansas 3rd Drive

First play from scrimmage and Jefferson throws an interception right back. Andre Sam picks it off for the Tigers.

LSU 3rd Drive

LSU gets near the first in two plays but on 3rd and 1 the Tigers get a false start penalty. On 3rd and 6, Daniels connects with Nabers for the first. Daniels comes right back on the ground for 7 yards and takes a shot to Nabers on the next play – it falls incomplete bringing up 3rd down.

Daniels connects with Aaron Anderson to pick up 9 yards to move the chains.

END 1ST: ARKANSAS LEADS 3-0

On 1st and 10, Daniels is sacked by Keivie Rose for a loss of 8 yards. Next play Daniels can’t connect with Brian Thomas Jr., bringing up 3rd and 18. Daniels checks it down to Josh Williams, for a 7-yard pickup but Al Walcott stops him well shy of the first down. LSU has to punt it away and Arkansas takes over at their own 20-yard line.

Arkansas 4th Drive

Andrew Armstong picks up 22 yards on first down. AJ Green gets stuffed on the next play from scrimmage, but on the next play Jefferson connects with TeSlaa for a 14-yard gain.

LSU safety Major Burns gets called for holding on Luke Hasz to move Arkansas 10 yards forward. Jefferson trucks over an LSU defender for 7 yards on first down and Dubinion rumbles forward to move the chains a play later. Two plays later and Dubinion is stopped 5 yards shy of the marker. 3rd and 5 in the redzone for the Hogs.

Jefferson finds Armstrong for a spectacular sideline catch to get the first down. Two plays later Arkansas is faced with a 3rd and goal from the from the 5. On 3rd and goal, Jefferson just throws it away.

Cam Little’s 23-yard field goal attempt is good.

ARKANSAS LEADS 6-0

LSU 4th Drive

LSU is faced with a 3rd and 6 after two plays net only 4 yards. Daniels and Nabers connect for a first to move the chains (holding penalty on Al Walcott declined). Josh Williams gets open for 41-yard gain (awful penalty called on Al Walcott for the “horse collar”).

Arkansas defense stands tall on three straight plays with some aggressive blitzes. LSU is forced to settle for a field goal and they’re able to get on the board. Damian Ramos’ 24-yard field goal is good.

ARKANSAS LEADS 6-3

Arkansas 5th Drive

Arkansas takes over at their own 25-yard line with 4:02 left until halftime. The Hogs can’t really get anything going on their first two plays. They’re faced with a big 3rd and 9. Jefferson steps up in the pocket and finds Armstrong for a 14-yard gain.

Jefferson finds Dubinion for a 7-yard gain on first down. They come right back with a misdirection run for Dubinion who picks up 15 yards on the ground. Next play Jefferson connects with Armstrong once again for 13 yards.

Two plays later Jefferson takes a shot to the endzone where Broden gets interfered. The refs call an incomplete pass, but it’s under review. The call is reversed and Tyrone Broden is credited with a touchdown.

ARKANSAS LEADS 13-3

LSU 5th Drive

After an incomplete pass, Daniels connects with Thomas for a 26-yard gain. LSU calls a timeout with 38 seconds left. Next play, Daniels finds Thomas for a 49-yard touchdown with 30 seconds left until halftime.

ARKANSAS LEADS 13-10

Arkansas 6th Drive

Arkansas is able to get a couple of positive plays, but end the half with KJ Jefferson getting sacked. Harold Perkins Jr. hits Jefferson from behind and that ends the half.

HALFTIME: ARKANSAS LEADS 13-10

Story originally appeared on Razorbacks Wire