Like it is

Taming of Tigers takes inexplicable twist

Missouri wide receiver J'Mon Moore (6) celebrates after a Missouri Tigers running back Nate Strong (29) touchdown on Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo., during the fourth quarter against Arkansas.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- At halftime Saturday at Faurot Field, it looked like the Arkansas Razorbacks were going to stroll to their eighth victory of the season, and the Missouri Tigers would go quietly into another lethargic basketball season.

The Hogs domination died in the third quarter as the 24-7 halftime lead -- the Tigers ran only 19 first-half plays and were on offense for 5:40 -- disappeared on Missouri's first three drives of the second half.

The Razorbacks went from looking like easy winners to trailing 28-24 early in the fourth quarter, and they never recovered.

It is one thing to lose to a ranked team from the Western Division; it is something totally different to lose to the last-place team in the Eastern Division.

The Tigers needed 15 plays to score two touchdowns on their first two drives of the second half as the Razorbacks' defense crumbled on third and long twice and got sucker-punched on fourth and 7 from the Tigers' 7 with a fake punt.

Fourth downs were disasters for the Hogs in the second half on both sides of the ball.

Unlike a week ago against Mississippi State, the West cellar dweller, the Razorbacks' offense couldn't score enough and failed twice on fourth down. The defense gave up two critical fourth-down conversions.

The long, hard slide started when Missouri faced a third and 11 that became a 48-yard Drew Lock to J'Mon Moore pass completion, then a third and 15 on the same drive turned into an 18-yard pass to Moore for a first down to set Missouri up with first and goal at the 3. It took three runs to punch it in from 3 yards out to make it 24-14.

Arkansas responded by driving to the Tigers' 3, but on third down Austin Allen -- under heavy pressure -- threw an interception.

The Hogs appeared to have stopped the home team at its 7, but on fourth down the defense allowed a 15-yard run for a first down on a fake punt when a stop would have all but sewed up the game.

Missouri capitalized on the trickery with an 11-yard completion and a 67-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Lock to Johnathan Johnson to pull within 24-21. If there was any doubt the momentum had swung, it would dissolve shortly thereafter.

For some reason, Arkansas tried three consecutive passes and punted, and more fourth-down disaster was on its way.

Missouri was staring at a fourth and 1 from its 28 and lined up to go for it, but it didn't need to. A Razorbacks defender touched the ball before the snap, resulting in an automatic penalty and first down.

The Tigers faced a third and 5, but a 49-yard completion from Lock to Moore gave Missouri first down at the Arkansas 13. Three runs by Nate Strong put it in the end zone, and the Hogs trailed 28-24 with 12:48 to play.

The Hogs had two shots at redemption but couldn't overcome 262 second-half Missouri yards and the 21 unanswered points.

A 60-yard punt by Toby Baker was downed at the Missouri 1, and it led to the Razorbacks finally getting the Tigers off the field after Missouri picked up two first downs.

It appeared the Razorbacks might escape the upset after regaining possession at their 34 with 7:12 to play.

Rawleigh Williams converted a screen pass for 52 yards to the Missouri 14, and a 10-yard Allen scramble gave the Hogs first and goal at the 4. But three runs netted a loss of 1 yard, and Allen, under pressure again on fourth down, thew in an interception in the end zone.

The Hogs got the ball back on more time after Missouri couldn't get a first down and again would drive for a first and goal -- this time from the 9 -- but a holding penalty pushed them back and they eventually faced fourth and goal from the 20. Allen was sacked for the fourth time back at the Missouri 37 with 35 seconds to play -- the Tigers' 11th tackle for loss -- and the Hogs, who had 503 yards of offense, were finished.

It was an unlikely, unexpected and ugly loss for the Razorbacks, and it will affect their bowl destination.

Sports on 11/26/2016