LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Bobby Petrino saved his toughest call for Arkansas’ biggest game of the season.
Petrino went for it on fourth-and-3 in the fourth quarter Saturday and Ryan Mallett made the move pay off with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Joe Adams. The play paved the way for the No. 12 Razorbacks’ 31-23 win over No. 6 LSU, and it kept alive Arkansas’ chances for the school’s first BCS bowl bid.
“We didn’t come to paint,” Petrino said. “We came to win the game.”
The Razorbacks (10-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) led 21-20 early in the fourth quarter when their drive appeared to stall at the LSU 39. After a timeout, Adams lined up in the left slot and used a stop-and-go move to get behind Tigers’ defender Tyrann Mathieu.
Mallett, who threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, lofted the ball perfectly over Mathieu to Adams for the touchdown. The play gave the Razorbacks a 28-20 lead, one they held onto thanks to a dominant running game that featured 153 yards rushing by Knile Davis against the SEC’s top defense.
“It’s a play we’ve been working on since LSU last year,” Mallett said. “I could have checked out of that play, but it was man coverage and Joe made a great play to make his man miss.”
The Tigers (10-2, 6-2) never led against the Razorbacks and were outgained 464-294. Jordan Jefferson passed for 184 yards and ran for 34 yards, but LSU’s inconsistent season on offense continued.
“I’m not happy,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “It’s not how it was supposed to end for us.”
