SEC ROUNDUP
Arkansas 45, Arkansas-pine Bluff 3: Sophomore quarterback K.J. Jefferson threw for a career-high four touchdowns, all coming before halftime, as Arkansas (5-3) scored the first 45 points and defeated visiting Arkansas-pine Bluff (1-6) on Saturday.
Arkansas was in dire need of a bounce-back on the heels of a three-game losing streak, all against Southeastern Conference foes, and got it Saturday, at the expense of the Golden Lions.
The Razorbacks scored touchdowns on each of their first two possessions and made big plays in all three phases – offense, defense and special teams – breaking that losing streak in grand style.
Treylon Burks, a junior wide receiver, caught two of Jefferson’s TD passes and also had a 49-yard sweep around the right side for the Razorbacks’ second touchdown.
In the first half, the Razorbacks rolled up 426 yards of total offense, 232 of those on the ground. For the game, they finished with 504 yards (291 rushing, 213 passing).
But the Razorbacks showed out in other areas. Myles Slusher intercepted a pass in the end zone early in the second quarter to stop a potential UAPB scoring threat. That set up a 95-yard drive that ended with an 18-yard TD pass from Jefferson to Burks, extending the Razorbacks’ lead to 24-0.
Arkansas’ defense then forced a punt on the next series. Nathan Parodi fielded the punt at his own 20, reversed his field to the right side and dashed 80 yards into the end zone, the first time since 2011 the Razorbacks returned a punt for a touchdown.