LITTLE ROCK — The script didn’t go as planned for Arkansas. The fifth-ranked Hogs caught No. 9 LSU off guard early on its scripted first possession with a sixplay, 80-yard scoring march.

Arkansas’ offense shredded the nation’s top overall defense for 298 yards rushing. But it was the Hogs who retreated to Fayetteville after a 31-26 loss at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock Friday night.

LSU (10-2 ) couldn’t stop tailbacks Darren McFadden or Felix Jones. But Arkansas (10-2 ) helped by stopping itself with a nonexistent passing game.

On a night when McFadden rushed for 182 yards on 21 carries and broke the UA single-season rushing record, Jones rushed for 137 yards and ran a kick back 62 yards and receiver Marcus Monk tied the UA single-season and career touchdown reception record, Arkansas lost.

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The longest pass of the day was complete by McFadden. Arkansas sophomore signal caller Casey Dick was hassled for the duration and completed just 3 of 17 for 29 yards with one interception. McFadden completed 2 of 3 for 33 yards.

It was the first time an LSU opponent had two running backs rush for over 100 yards in the same contest since Ole Miss in 1999.

Despite the success of the running game early on, UA offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and the Hogs’ staff opted for passing plays on key downs with the game on the line.

“ I liked our approach, ” Malzahn said. “ We moved the ball and we did some things to try to keep them off balance. We just had some crucial plays during the game that we didn’t execute and we’ll look at several of them and wish we had them back. ”

Possibly the most devastating blow was a fourth-and-3 call at the LSU 26 with 13: 58 left in the he fourth quarter. Dick had hit on only 3 of 11 passes at that point but the Hogs elected to throw on fourth down despite the steamrolling Arkansas’ ground game. Dick rolled right and shifted direction after reading double coverage on his target. Dick was chased down for a loss of 15 yards.

Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said in the locker room after the game that he was shouting for a timeout to call a different play but the official didn’t see him.

“ On the fourth-and-3, you would like to think we could convert that into some points, ” Malzahn said. “ We had a couple of different options. We were trying to get it to Monk and he got doubled. We had some other options but they got some pressure and unfortunately Casey got sacked. ”

It wasn’t the only time LSU snuffed out an Arkansas pass play to disastrous results.

The Hogs tried to surprise LSU with a post route on first-and-10 from their own 20 early in the fourth quarter. But Dick overthrew his intended receiver and LSU’s LaRon Landry picked off the pass and ran it back to the 9, setting up first-and-goal for the Tigers.

“ You’ve got keep a team like that off balance and I felt like that was the right thing to do, ” Malzahn said. “ LSU’s the type of team that if they know you’re going to run it every time, it’s going to be tough. ”

Matters appeared promising early on Arkansas’ first scripted drive, which clicked with crisp execution.

Arkansas shrugged off its conservative approach and spiced up its running game with misdirection on the first play from scrimmage. Dick faked the handoff to McFadden and dished to Jones, who darted for 40 yards down to the LSU 40.

Dick walked up under center on the subsequent play before backpedaling to the shotgun formation; the receivers spread wide before Dick went with a quick count. Dick promptly hit McFadden on a screen pass for 7 yards.

McFadden saddled up at shotgun on the ensuing snap in the Wildcat formation. McFadden pump-faked and fired a 28-yard strike to former quarterback Robert Johnson to set up first-and-goal at the LSU 5. McFadden later plowed in from 1 yard out.

It was the first time this season that any team had managed a touchdown on its opening possession against LSU.

“ This is one of those games when you look back at crucial opportunities and we just didn’t get it done, ” Malzahn said. “ They’re the No. 1 defense in the country and you’ve got to give them some of the credit. ”