2003 Arkansas vs. Kentucky football game

Last updated

Longest game in NCAA Division I-A history
Arkansas Razorbacks Kentucky Wildcats
(4–3)(4–4)
7163
Head coach: 
Houston Nutt 		Head coach: 
Rich Brooks
1234OT2OT3OT4OT5OT6OT7OTTotal
Arkansas71403773868871
Kentucky70710773868063
DateNovember 1–2, 2003
Season 2003
Stadium Commonwealth Stadium
Location Lexington, Kentucky
Referee Thomas Ritter
Attendance66,124
United States TV coverage
Network ESPN2

The 2003 Arkansas vs. Kentucky football game was a college football game played on November 1, 2003 between the University of Arkansas Razorbacks and the University of Kentucky Wildcats; at the time, it tied an NCAA record for the longest football game ever played. The game included seven overtime periods. Penn State and the Illinois beat that record in October 2021, albeit under different overtime rules. Arkansas led the game all but a few minutes of regulation until a Kentucky touchdown drive in the last few minutes tied it at 24–24. [1] Both teams had a blocked punt recovered for a touchdown, another rarity. The game ended in the seventh overtime period when Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen fumbled the football on a quarterback keeper play, ending the game. [1]

Contents

Before the game

Coincidentally, Arkansas played a 7 overtime game against Ole Miss on November 3, 2001 - winning that game 58–56. [1] Arkansas also lost a 6 overtime game to Tennessee in 2002, 38–41. Former Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt has been recorded as saying about overtime, "Winning is always fun, but when you win in overtime, where your players had to go that extra mile, it's really gratifying and special." [2] Nutt continued to say, "I always like our chances in overtime." [2]

Kentucky's head man Rich Brooks has said of overtime, "[Nutt has] obviously been through a lot of them, and when you get through them and know you've had success and your team knows you've had success, I think mentally that goes a long ways in helping you get the victory ultimately whether it goes one, two, three, four or seven overtimes." [2]

Kentucky was 1–1 in overtime coming into this contest, beating Alabama and losing to Louisville both by the score of 40–34, both being only one overtime affairs.

Game summary

First quarter

The game began at 7:00 pm eastern time on November 1, 2003, but would continue into November 2. The game opened with three punts before Decori Birmingham ran for a ten-yard score for Arkansas to give the Hogs a 7-0 lead. [3] Another three punts before Arkansas' had their punt blocked, to be recovered by Kentucky's Andrew Hopewell for a touchdown to tie the game 7-7. [4]

Second quarter

Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones threw a 26-yard touchdown strike to Richard Smith to open the scoring in the second period. [3] It wasn't long before Arkansas' special teams returned the favor to Kentucky, blocking a Wildcat punt and scoring to push the Razorback advantage to 21-7. [4] A promising drive was ended when an errant pass by Jared Lorenzen was intercepted by Ahmad Carroll, but the Razorbacks failed to capitalize, missing the 40-yard field goal before heading into the locker room for halftime. [3]

Third quarter

The Wildcats came out and scored on the first second half possession, a 51-yard touchdown toss by Lorenzen to fullback Alexis Bwenge, cutting into the Razorbacks cushion. [3] Cedric Cobbs of Arkansas fumbled at the end of the third quarter, but after recovering Kentucky was forced to punt, down 21-14. [4]

Fourth quarter

Both teams swapped field goals before Lorenzen hit Chris Bernard to tie the game at 24. [4] Arkansas had a chance at a game-winning drive with the ball with 1:30 left and two timeouts, but the drive ended in a punt with fourteen ticks left on the clock. [3]

Overtime

In college football, both teams start on the opponent's twenty-five yard line and try to score (similar to innings in baseball). These overtimes repeat until a winner is decided. This system was adopted in 1996.

First overtime

Birmingham started off the extra frame with three straight rushes and a first down. [1] Matt Jones added an 11-yard completion before fullback Mark Pierce scored from one yard out. [4] Kentucky's drive was helped out by Arkansas, with ten and seven yard penalties bringing the Wildcats seventeen of the twenty five yards required to score a touchdown. [3] A two-yard touchdown run from Alexis Bwenge, with complete extra point from placekicker Taylor Begley knotted the game at 31. [4]

Second overtime

Kentucky began on the offensive end in the second overtime, and scored on their second play. [1] First, an 18-yard hookup from Lorenzen to Jeremiah Drobney before Alexis Bwenge again scored the go-ahead touchdown to give the Wildcats a 38-31 lead. [3] Arkansas ran the ball five times before calling a timeout with a third down on the Kentucky two-yard line. [1] Arkansas came out of the time out and committed a penalty costing the Razorbacks five precious yards, [3] but Matt Jones completed his pass across the middle to Jason Peters to force a third overtime. [4]

Third overtime

As per NCAA rules, beginning with the third overtime teams must go for a two-point conversion instead of kicking an extra point, but both Arkansas and Kentucky could only manage field goals on their possessions. [4]

Matt Jones began with a 13-yard completion, but the Arkansas drive stalled and Chris Balseiro had to kick a 25-yard field goal. [1] Similar to Arkansas' first overtime drive, Kentucky ran the ball five times before calling a timeout on a third down on the Arkansas two-yard line. [3] The Razorback defense kept Ronald (Rock) Johnson out of the end zone, forcing a Taylor Begley field goal and tying the game at 41. [4]

Fourth overtime

Lorenzen completed two passes on the drive, and finally ran in for the score in the fourth overtime. The two point play was a Jared Lorenzen completion to Derek Abney. [1] Arkansas moved to the Kentucky two before Matt Jones fumbled. [4] Jones recovered his own miscue. After a timeout, an incomplete Jones pass meant Arkansas must either score on the fourth down play or drop a fourth straight game. [3] Jones scrambled into the end zone, and then completed a pass to Mark Pierce to draw to a 49-49 tie heading into the fifth overtime. [3]

Fifth overtime

After an 11-yard Birmingham run, Jones slung a 15-yard touchdown pass to take the lead into the fifth overtime, but the two point pass to Wilson was incomplete, [3] meaning Kentucky had only to score and make the two-point conversion to end the game. [4] A two-yard run by Derek Abney, followed with a Jared Lorenzen pass across the middle complete to Jeremiah Drobney for 7 yards put the Wildcats in business. "Hefty Lefty" [5] Jared Lorenzen then ran the ball four plays, culminating in fourteen yards total and a touchdown. [3] Tied at 55, Kentucky attempted the two point play that could have finished the game. The pass to Tommy Cook was incomplete, however, sending the game into a sixth overtime. [4]

Sixth overtime

Lorenzen continued his success on the ground with eighteen yards in the sixth overtime, one of his runs a one-yard touchdown run. [3] This time, the pass to Tommy Cook was good, giving the Wildcats a 63-55 advantage. [4] Matt Jones quickly answered with a sixteen-yard pass and seven-yard rush, moving the Hog offense to the two. [4] Mark Pierce rumbled the additional two yards to score, and Arkansas was a two-point play away from a seventh overtime. [1] Jones completed the pass to Wilson to knot the game at 63. [3]

Seventh overtime

Matt Jones threw an incomplete pass before Decori Birmingham scored on a 25-yard touchdown run to give the Hogs a 69-63 advantage. [4] The all-important two-point conversion was a completion to Jason Peters, giving Arkansas a 71-63 cushion. [3] Kentucky first completed a pass for twelve yards, but a fourth and three on the Razorback five proved the game winner, as a Lorenzen fumble was recovered by all-SEC linebacker Tony Bua of Arkansas. [4]

Arkansas Razorbacks at Kentucky Wildcats
1234OT2OT3OT4OT5OT6OT7OTTotal
Razorbacks71403773868871
Wildcats70710773868063

at Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky

  • Date: November 1, 2003
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C) • Wind: Calm • Weather: Mostly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 66,124
  • Referee: Thomas Ritter
  • TV: ESPN2
Game information
First quarter
  • ARK – DeCori Birmingham 10-yard run (Chris Balseiro kick), 7:57. Razorbacks 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 49 yards, 1:04.
  • UK – Andrew Hopewell 6-yard blocked punt return (Taylor Begley kick), 0:10. Tied 7–7.

Second quarter

  • ARK – Richard Smith 26-yard pass from Matt Jones (Chris Balseiro kick), 8:54. Razorbacks 14–7. Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 6:22.
  • ARK – Tom Crowder 0-yard blocked punt return (Chris Balseiro kick), 6:45. Razorbacks 21–7.

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

  • UK – Taylor Begley 34-yard field goal, 7:11. Razorbacks 21–17. Drive: 16 plays, 49 yards, 5:41.
  • ARK – Chris Balseiro 37-yard field goal, 3:22. Razorbacks 24–17. Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 3:50.
  • UK – Chris Bernard 13-yard pass from Jared Lorenzen (Taylor Begley kick), 1:38. Tied 24–24. Drive: 9 plays, 79 yards, 1:45.

First overtime

  • ARK – Mark Pierce 1-yard run (Chris Balseiro kick). Razorbacks 31–24. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards.
  • UK – Alexis Bwenge 2-yard run (Taylor Begley kick). Tied 31–31. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards.

Second overtime

  • UK – Alexis Bwenge 7-yard run (Taylor Begley kick). Wildcats 38–31. 2 plays, 25 yards.
  • ARK – Jason Peters 7-yard pass from Matt Jones (Chris Balseiro kick). Tied 38–38. Drive: 6 plays, 25 yards.

Third overtime

  • ARK – Chris Balseiro 25-yard field goal. Razorbacks 41–38. Drive: 5 plays, 17 yards.
  • UK – Taylor Begley 24-yard field goal. Tied 41–41. Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards.

Fourth overtime

  • UK – Jared Lorenzen 1-yard run (Jared Lorezen pass to Derek Abney). Wildcats 49–41. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards.
  • ARK – Matt Jones 3-yard run (Matt Jones pass to Mark Pierce). Tied 49–49. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards.

Fifth overtime

  • ARK – George Wilson 15-yard pass from Matt Jones (pass failed). Razorbacks 55–49. Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards.
  • UK – Jared Lorenzen 2-yard run (pass failed). Tied 55–55. Drive: 8 plays, 25 yards.

Sixth overtime

  • UK – Jared Lorenzen 1-yard run (Jared Lorezen pass to Tommy Cook). Wildcats 63–55. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards.
  • ARK – Mark Pierce 2-yard run (Matt Jones pass to George Wilson). Tied 63–63. Drive: 3 plays, 25 yards.

Seventh overtime

  • ARK – DeCori Birmingham 25-yard run (Matt Jones pass to Jason Peters). Razorbacks 71–63. Drive: 2 plays, 25 yards.

Statistics

StatisticsArkansasKentucky
First downs2929
Total yards605506
Rushing yards334180
Passing yards271326
Turnovers22
Time of possession32:5327:07
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ArkansasPassing Matt Jones 16/25, 260 yards, 3 TD
Rushing DeCori Birmingham 40 rushes, 196 yards, 2 TD
Receiving George Wilson 9 receptions, 172 yards, TD
KentuckyPassing Jared Lorenzen 28/49, 326 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Alexis Bwenge 22 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Derek Abney 10 receptions, 91 yards

Aftermath

The game ended at 12:01 am on November 2, 2003. [4] This game also set an NCAA record for the most points scored in a game (after 1950, until 2018). Arkansas scored 47 points in overtime, breaking their own record of 41. Both teams combined for 86 overtime points, six more than the 2001 seven overtime affair. [3] The game lasted 4 hours and 56 minutes. [4]

Players involved

Matt Jones went 16 of 25 passing for 260 yards and three TDs, [1] while running for 112 yards and a score. [1] Decori Birmingham, normally a receiver but filling in for injured tailbacks, had 196 yards rushing and two touchdowns for Arkansas. [3] Arkansas wideout George Wilson caught nine passes for 172 yards and a score. [1] [4]

For Kentucky, Lorenzen went 28 of 49, throwing for 326 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. [1] [4] Lorenzen also added 39 rushing yards and three rushing TD's to his total. [4] Abney was Lorenzen's favorite target, catching ten balls for 91 yards. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

Matthew Jones is a former American football wide receiver and former sports radio personality. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and also played for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at Arkansas.

Paul Eells was an American sportscaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Florida Gators football team</span> American college football season

The 2006 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2006 college football season. The Gators competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and played their home games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The season was the second for head coach Urban Meyer, who led the Gators to an SEC Championship, a BCS National Championship, and an overall win–loss record of 13–1 (.929).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas–LSU football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Arkansas–LSU football rivalry, formally known as the Battle for the Boot but more recently sometimes informally called the Battle for the Golden Boot, is an American college football rivalry between the Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas and Tigers of Louisiana State University. The first game between the Razorbacks and Tigers was played in 1901. With the admission of Arkansas as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1992, the rivalry became an annual game between these members of the SEC Western Division. "The Boot" trophy was first awarded to the game's winner in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Florida Gators football team</span> American college football season

The 2008 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gators competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and played their home games in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida, campus. They were led by fourth-year head coach Urban Meyer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2006 Arkansas Razorbacks football team completed the season with a 10–4 record. The Razorbacks had a regular season SEC record of 7–1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2008 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2008 football season. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and one home game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Razorbacks finished the season with an overall record of 5–7 and a conference record of 2–6 in Bobby Petrino's inaugural season.

The 2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 69th as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and its 12th within the SEC Western Division. The team was led by head coach Mike Shula, in his first year, and played their home games at Legion Field in Birmingham and Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of four wins and nine losses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2002 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and three home games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Razorbacks reached the 2002 SEC Championship Game and the 2002 Music City Bowl in Houston Nutt's fifth season as head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas–Ole Miss football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Arkansas–Ole Miss football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Arkansas Razorbacks football team of the University of Arkansas and the Ole Miss Rebels football team of the University of Mississippi. The teams first met in 1908, and have played each other every year since 1981. Arkansas leads the series, which includes two wins by Ole Miss in postseason bowl games, the 1963 and 1970 Sugar Bowls.

The 2001 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and two home games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Razorbacks reached the 2002 Cotton Bowl Classic in Houston Nutt's fourth season as head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2009 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and two home games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. Head coach Bobby Petrino was in his second season at Arkansas. The Razorbacks finished the season 8–5, 3–5 in SEC play and won the Liberty Bowl 20–17 against East Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2010 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team played five home games at Razorback Stadium and two home games at War Memorial Stadium. Coach Bobby Petrino was in his third year with the Razorbacks. They were members of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. The Razorbacks finished the season 10–2, 6–2 in SEC play and earned a berth in the Sugar Bowl, their first major bowl appearance since playing in the 1990 Cotton Bowl Classic, where they were defeated by Ohio State by a 31–26 score.

The 2011 Kansas State Wildcats football team represented Kansas State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats played their home games at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, in Manhattan, Kansas as they have done since 1968. It was the 116th season in school history. The Wildcats were led by head coach Bill Snyder in his 20th overall and third straight season since taking over his second tenure in 2009. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. After winning all three non-conference games, the conference schedule began with a close victory at home over the Baylor Bears, and ended with a victory over the rival Iowa State Cyclones in the Farmageddon showdown. Kansas State made to a 7–0 start for first time since 1999. In the week 10 action, Kansas State earned a quadruple-overtime win over the Texas A&M Aggies. It was the first overtime game in school history since the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game, a game that also saw the Wildcats and Aggies play, which they lost 36–33 in double-overtime.

The National Football League playoffs for the 2012 season began on January 5, 2013. The postseason tournament concluded with the Baltimore Ravens defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII, 34–31, on February 3, at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Arkansas Razorbacks football team</span> American college football season

The 2003 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and two home games at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team</span> American college football season

The 2013 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Mullen, who was in fifth season with Mississippi State in the 2013 season. The Bulldogs played their home games at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mile High Miracle</span> Notable NFL playoff game

The Mile High Miracle is both the NFL 2012 AFC Divisional playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos on January 12, 2013, and its defining play, a game-tying 70-yard touchdown pass from Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco to receiver Jacoby Jones with under a minute left in regulation. Playing on the road against the heavily favored Broncos, who had decisively defeated the struggling Ravens late in the regular season while on an 11-game winning streak, Flacco and the Ravens forced the Peyton Manning-led Broncos into double overtime, when rookie kicker Justin Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal to secure a 38–35 win. With 28 points scored in the first eleven minutes of the game, three return touchdowns, five lead changes, and single-digit temperatures, the game was described by Sports Illustrated as "one of the most exciting and entertaining postseason games in NFL history." The Ravens would go on to beat the New England Patriots, and two weeks later, defeat the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII for the franchise's second championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Kentucky Wildcats football team</span> 2014 University of Kentucky football season

The 2014 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wildcats competed as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) as part of its Eastern Division. The team was led by head coach Mark Stoops, in his second year, and played its home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. The team started 5-1, but lost their final six games and finished the season 5–7, 2–6 in SEC play, and sixth place in the Eastern Division.

The 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game played on December 31, 2016, at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The 72nd edition of the Gator Bowl featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets of the Atlantic Coast Conference against the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference. It began at 11 AM EST and aired on ESPN. It was one of the 2016–17 bowl games concluding the 2016 FBS football season. The game's naming rights sponsor was tax preparation software company TaxSlayer.com, and for sponsorship reasons was officially known as the TaxSlayer Bowl.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Arkansas Goes Seven Overtimes To Beat Kentucky 71-63." 11/01/2003.Game Summary at hogwired.com Retrieved on March 8, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 Holt, Bob. "OT, oh yes." October 1, 2006. NWA News.com [ permanent dead link ] Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved on March 4, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Arkansas 71, Kentucky 69." Play by Play. Retrieved on March 8, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "Arkansas 71, Kentucky 63." Game is the longest in NCAA history. Retrieved on March 8, 2008.
  5. ↑ "'Hefty Lefty' Lorenzen shaping up for Big Blue ." Hefty Lefty. Retrieved on March 4, 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.