2003 Arkansas vs. Kentucky football game

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]