Arkansas Razorbacks beat Florida Gators 39-36 in overtime

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA — The Florida Gators still aren’t bowl eligible. And after Saturday’s defeat, there are doubts about them getting there.

The Gators lost to Arkansas 39-36 in overtime at The Swamp and it was a devastating setback to say the least. The Razorbacks had never previously won here.

The road for Billy Napier’s team won’t get any easier.

Florida, now 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the SEC, still has games remaining against LSU, Missouri and Florida State. Those teams have a combined three losses.

The Gators had a chance to win Saturday’s game in regulation but Tre Smack’s 44-yard field with :03 left on the clock missed to the right. Had it not been for a botched PAT attempt earlier in the game, Florida wouldn’t have needed it.

Arkansas (3-6, 1-5), which had arguably the worst offense in the SEC entering the game and fired its offensive coordinator a week ago, amassed 481 yards.

The Razorbacks scored early and easily on an opening drive that covered 75 yards. Then, Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall fumbled on the Gators’ first offensive play and Arkansas’ Jaylon Braxton returned it 34 yards for six.

Just like that, it was 14-0 three minutes and six seconds into the game.

But Florida rallied. And after two touchdown strikes from Graham Mertz to Eugene Wilson, it was 14-all after one quarter.

From there, the teams went back and forth the rest of the way until the Razorbacks finally won it in overtime.

Mertz finished 26 of 42 for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Trevor Etienne added 80 yards rushing.

But the story was Florida’s inability to stop what had been an anemic Arkansas offense. Quarterback KJ Jefferson accounted for 255 passing yards and 92 rushing yards. Meanwhile, running back Raheim Sanders produced 103 yards on the ground.

In overtime, Jefferson threw a touchdown pass to Tyrone Broden of 4 yards to win it after Florida had earlier settled for a field goal.

Florida wore black jerseys for the first time in school history before an announced crowd of 89,782.

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OVERTIME

-Arkansas committed a hold on first down. KJ Jefferson then ran for 20 yards and Rocket Sanders added 10 more on the next play Jefferson threw a touchdown pass to Tyrone Broden of 4 yards to win it.

-Florida had the ball first. The Gators threw incomplete on third down. Trey Smack then attempted a 39-yard field goal — and he made it. (Florida 36-33)

FOURTH QUARTER

-Florida just missed a 44-yard field with :03 left that would have won it. And we are headed to overtime.

-And, we are tied again after a Cam Little field goal of 49 yards for the Razorbacks. (33-33, 0:44)

-Florida responded to an Arkansas touchdown with one of its own. The Gators just went 72 yards on only three plays. Running back Trevor Etienne was the star. He first had a 41-yard reception and followed it up with a 26-yard touchdown run. (Florida 33-30, 3:02)

-The back-and-forth continues. Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson just went 25 yards on a quarterback keeper to cap an 84-yard, 10-play drive. (Arkansas 30-26, 4:26)

–Trey Smack’s 34-yard field goal has Florida back ahead. The big play on the 59-yard drive was an 18-yard completion from Graham Mertz to Eugene Wilson on 3rd-and-9 from the Arkansas 47.

-Another field goal by Cam Little, this time from 22 yards out, has tied it. Arkansas just drove 66 yards on 10 plays. The Razorbacks now have over 300 yards — something they haven’t done often. (23-23, 12:54)

THIRD QUARTER

-One play after the turnover, the Gators went ahead 23-20 on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Graham Mertz to Ricky Pearsall. The PAT was no good after another Gators special teams miscue, something that has plagued Florida all season. (Florida 23-20, 1:38)

-Ahead by three, Arkansas just lost a fumble.with 1:46 left in the third quarter. It was forced by Scooby Williams and recovered by Jaydon Hill.

-With a 41-yard field goal by Cam Little, Arkansas is back in front. The seven-play drive covered 57 yards. (Arkansas 20-17, 10:34)

SECOND QUARTER

-We are tied again after a 47-yard field goal by Florida’s Trey Smack. That was a 12-play, 46-yard drive. (17-17, 0:29)

-Arkansas has re-taken the lead on a 37-yard Cam Little field goal. That capped a 64-yard drive. (Arkansas 17-14, 4:39)

-Another Gators drive ends with a punt and Arkansas takes over at the Razorbacks 18 with 7:34 left in the half.

-A Florida drive stalled to open the second quarter on the Gators 14.

FIRST QUARTER

-An Arkansas drive just ended with the first career interception by Florida freshman safety Jordan Castell.

-We’re now tied. A 40-yard punt return by Ricky Pearsall gave the Gators great field position and they took advantage of it. A four-play drive ended on a touchdown pass from Graham Mertz to Eugene Wilson — again. (14-14, 2:04)

-Florida gets on the board with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Graham Mertz to Eugene Wilson. It was a six-play, 33-yard drive. (Arkansas 14-7, 5:33)

-On Florida’s first offensive play of the game, receiver Ricky Pearsall fumbled and Jaylon Braxton returned it 34 yards for a Razorbacks score. (Arkansas 14-0, 11:54)

-Arkansas opened the game with a seven-play 75-yard drive to take an early lead. The Razorbacks scored on an 8-yard pass from KJ Jefferson to AJ Green. (Arkansas 7-0, 12:06)