ARLINGTON, Texas — Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino urged his team to be at its best Friday night, wanting to reward an influential senior class by collecting a Cotton Bowl trophy.
The Razorbacks accomplished their mission with a 29-16 win against Kansas State in front of an announced crowd of 80,596 in Cowboys Stadium.
As a result, the 2011 team also secured its spot among the best in school history.
Arkansas leaned on a stingy defense that sacked Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein six times, one final spectacular special teams moment from senior punt returner Joe Adams, and just enough offensive firepower from quarterback Tyler Wilson and company to wrap up its first Cotton Bowl win since 2000.
It meant the Razorbacks also equaled the school record with 11 wins. It was the first time Arkansas has reached the mark since 1977 and just the third time in school history (the 1964 national championship team was the first to accomplish it).
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“We really wanted to get (the seniors) 11 wins and make sure everybody remembered this football team,” Petrino said about Arkansas’ goals. “It’s the end of one season and the start of another. Everyone understands what our goals are and this helps us get started for next year. It was a great game for us.”
Arkansas looked like it was ready to cruise after jumping out to a 19-0 lead. The first 10 points came before the Razorbacks even gained a first down.
Defensive end Jake Bequette — who was named the game’s most valuable defensive player — turned in the first big play when he sacked quarterback Collin Klein, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Tenarius Wright at Kansas State’s 13-yard line. But Arkansas’ offense couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone, settling for a Zach Hocker field goal.
Joe Adams turned in the next big play in electrifying fashion. The senior fielded a punt at the Arkansas 49, made a brilliant cut, and followed blockers to the end zone for a 51-yard score.
It was Adams’ fourth punt return touchdown this season, which tied Kentucky receiver Derek Abney’s SEC record. It also was the first in the Cotton Bowl since 1961, when former Hog Lance Alworth returned one 49 yards in the 7-6 loss to Duke.
“It made a major difference,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. “How did I like it? I didn’t like it a bit. We knew he was a talented player and we knew he could make you miss him.”
Said Petrino: “It was another one of those where you go, ‘Wow.’ … You could see when Joe made the catch he had in mind what he was going to do.”
Arkansas got in gear offensively after that, collecting its first first down on a 28-yard run by junior Dennis Johnson. But, once again, the Hogs were bogged down deep in Kansas State territory and settled for another field goal to take a 13-0 lead.
Wilson finally found his favorite target, Jarius Wright, for a 45-yard touchdown pass. The score was Wright’s 12 touchdown reception of the season, which moved him ahead of Marcus Monk for Arkansas’ single-season record. It also gave the Hogs a 19-0 lead.
“Joe really sparked us,” Wilson said. “He’s a great player, made plays like that all year long. … So the next possession we were able to come out and execute and put some points on the board.”
But momentum quickly shifted on the extra point, when Kansas State defensive tackle Raphael Guidry knifed through the line and blocked Hocker’s kick.
The ball was picked up by cornerback Nigel Malone and returned for a safety that made it 19-2.
Arkansas got the ball back late in the half, but made another big mistake trying to put together a late drive. Wilson was hit from behind trying to avoid a pass rush and the ball squirted free. It was recovered by Kansas State’s Ryan Mueller.
Klein got the Wildcats in the end zone three plays later, throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass to Andre McDonald to cut the deficit to 19-9 at halftime.
Kansas State made things even more interesting early in the third quarter, marching downfield for its most impressive drive of the game. The Wildcats moved inside Arkansas’ 10, then punched it in when Klein bulled into the end zone on a 6-yard touchdown run.
Klein’s 27th rushing touchdown of the season equaled former Texas running back Ricky Williams’ Big 12 record. It cut Arkansas’ lead to 19-16.
But Arkansas responded with its best drive of the night. The Razorbacks went 58 yards in 9 plays to regain its 10-point cushion. Wilson completed two third-down passes on the drive, including a nine-yard strike to Cobi Hamilton on third-and-goal.
“Offensively we kept our poise well,” Petrino said. “We did a nice job of keep playing, keep working.”
The touchdown pass was Wilson’s second of the night and gave the Razorbacks a 26-16 lead. Wilson, who completed 20 of 31 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns, was named the game’s offensive MVP.
It was all Arkansas needed thanks to a defense that harassed Klein and the Kansas State offense.
The Razorbacks, playing their first game with new coordinator Paul Haynes in charge, finished with 260 yards of total offense. It included just 87 rushing yards, which was 100 below its season average.
“We had kind of a chip on our shoulders,” Bequette said. “Coach Haynes did an excellent job preparing us. We stayed patient, played in our gaps … When we had the opportunity to get off and make things happen in the passing game, we did that.”
Klein completed 16 of 30 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. He ran for 42 yards and another score.
“We had our chances and weren’t able to finish the job and execute on the field,” Klein said. “We just came up short and didn’t get it done as a unit.”
Fittingly, one of Arkansas’ seniors put a cap on the game in the closing seconds. Safety Jerico Nelson intercepted a pass from Klein and returned it deep into Kansas State territory with five seconds left.
Wilson downed the ball on the final snap from scrimmage, triggering a Cotton Bowl celebration.
Confetti fell from the sky as the Razorbacks stormed the field. Players were handed Cotton Bowl championship hats and Petrino was presented the bowl trophy during a postgame ceremony. Nelson toted around the team’s sledgehammer, while others like guard Grant Cook saluted the crowd.
Arkansas will likely be rewarded with a top-five finish when the final polls are released after the bowl season. It’s something Petrino was proud his team accomplished for its memorable senior class.
“I’m proud of them,” Petrino said during the postgame news conference. “It was a great win.”