No. 14 Texas A&M rallies for 28-21 OT win over Arkansas

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kyle Allen threw for 358 yards, with a 20-yard touchdown to Christian Kirk in overtime as No. 14 Texas A&M completed another late comeback against Arkansas, winning the SEC opener 28-21 on Saturday night.

The Aggies (4-0) had a chance to win the game on the final play of regulation, but Taylor Bertolet’s 38-yard field goal attempt was just wide right.

Allen, who was 21 of 28 passing with both of his touchdowns to Kirk, hit the true freshman receiver in the end zone on the second play of overtime.

Arkansas (1-3, 0-1) then got its chance, but DeVante Harris tipped away Brandon Allen’s pass to Drew Morgan on fourth-and-4 from the 19.

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Kirk finished with eight catches for 173 yards. Josh Reynolds had three catches for 106 yards, including a 63-yard play to set up Tra Carson’s 2-yard touchdown run with 2:50 left before catching the tying 2-point conversion.

Texas A&M overcame a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter against the Razorbacks last year before winning in overtime in game played annually in the Dallas Cowboys’ NFL stadium built by Arkansas alumnus Jerry Jones.

The Aggies have won all four meetings since joining their former Southwest Conference rival in the SEC in 2012.

The Aggies have won consecutive conference openers for the first time since 2004-05, when they were still in the Big 12.

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National sacks leader Myles Garrett was held without a sack until just over a minute left in regulation, when he wrapped up Brandon Allen and forced a fumble. A.J. Hilliard recovered at the Arkansas 41 before a roughing the passer penalty on the next play immediately got them into field goal range.

Garrett has 6 1/2 sacks, and the Aggies had two against an Arkansas line that hadn’t allowed one all season.

But Bertolet, who earlier made kicks of 22 and 23 yards, pushed the kick to the right of the upright.

Brandon Allen completed 20 of 25 passes for 225 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Razorbacks, who were coming off consecutive home losses to Toledo and Texas Tech.

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Alex Collins ran for 151 yards, with a 4-yard touchdown that put Arkansas up 14-13 before Rawleigh Williams had a 3-yard TD in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

This was a gut punch for the Razorbacks even if it didn’t qualify as another kick in the rear as had been predicted by Kliff Kingsbury after the Red Raiders won in Fayetteville last week. Kingsbury’s former boss is Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin.