Marcel Reed passed for 280 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another to help Texas A&M remain unbeaten with a 45-42 victory over host Arkansas on Saturday at Fayetteville, Ark.
The No. 4 Aggies (7-0, 4-0 SEC) won their first seven games in a season for the first time since 1994 and withstood a resilient effort by the Razorbacks (2-5, 0-3 SEC), who lost their fifth consecutive game and second since promoting Bobby Petrino to head coach after firing Sam Pittman.
Reed completed 23 of 32 passes and did not throw an interception. He also ran for 55 yards on six attempts. Reuben Owens II led the Aggies in rushing with 69 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
Arkansas led only once after its first drive when it took a 3-0 lead following a 22-yard field goal by Scott Starzyk that was set up by a 48-yard run by Mike Washington Jr.
But the Razorbacks didn’t let Texas A&M build a lead larger than 11 points.
Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green played a huge role in keeping the Razorbacks in the game as he completed 19 of 32 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. Green also ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns on 12 attempts. Washington led Arkansas with 147 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Green’s 4-yard touchdown pass to CJ Brown with 10 seconds left capped a 93-yard drive and cut the Aggies’ lead to three. But Texas A&M recovered the ensuing onside kick and Reed took a knee to seal the win.
Dayon Hayes, Cashius Howell, Marco Jones and Dalton Brooks each had sacks over the Razorbacks’ final two possessions to help hold off Arkansas’ comeback attempt.
After Arkansas’ field goal to open the scoring, Reed led back-to-back touchdown drives to put Texas A&M ahead 14-3. Reed’s first touchdown pass from 24 yards out to Ashton Bethel-Roman put the Aggies ahead for good with 6:06 left in the first quarter.
