NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A pair of interceptions proved costly for Vanderbilt football Saturday night as Arkansas scored 10 points off the turnovers to claim a 31-21 victory at FirstBank Stadium.
Arkansas (3-4, 1-3 SEC) racked up 438 yards of total offense behind quarterback KJ Jackson who threw for 251 yards while rushing for another 58 and a score. Vanderbilt (3-4, 0-4 SEC) produced 390 yards of offense but was undone by the pair of interceptions, one a pick six, in the loss. Sedrick Alexander rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown while Makhilyn Young added 45 yards on the ground and a score of his own.
The Commodores and Razorbacks traded blows in the opening half, reaching the break tied at 14-14. Sedrick Alexander opened the scoring with a four-yard rushing touchdown set up by a 39-yard connection from Jared Curtis to Ja’Cory Thomas two plays earlier.
Arkansas knotted the game at 7-7 with a 25-yard pick six as Joker Johnson stepped in front of a Curtis pass intended for Junior Sherrill with 6:16 to play in the half. Curtis responded with a 24-yard dime to Sherrill on the ensuing drive to cap an 8-play, 71-yard march.
The Razorbacks had the answer once again, going 75 yards in 1:54 to draw level on Cam Settles’ 11-yard touchdown run. Arkansas completed the halftime bookend with a 7-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half and take its first lead of the game.
After Arkansas misfired on a 51-yard field goal attempt, Curtis connected with Maurice Veney for a juggling, 45-yard strike to spark a 3-play, 67-yard drive. The catch was the longest of Veney’s career while Young punched it in from three yards out to draw the black and gold level at 21-21 with 5:42 to play in the third quarter.
The Hogs answered right back with a 5-play, 53-yard drive punctuated by a 3-yard Settles rush late in the third quarter. Arkansas’ defense stood tall the rest of the way, snagging a second interception to end a 14-play, 63-yard drive by the Commodores. The Razorbacks then drove the field to ice the game with a 39-yard field goal with 24 seconds to play.
Vanderbilt returns to action next Saturday at Kentucky. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
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