AF2 : Twisters’ loss sealed with interception
Posted on Sunday, May 4, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/224720/
HOUSTON — It came down to one play that didn’t work for the Arkansas Twisters.
Armar Watson intercepted Kyle Rowley’s fourth-down pass in the end zone with two seconds left to secure the Texas Copperheads’ 37-30 victory over Arkansas at Berry Center on Saturday night.
Texas (1-5 ) had lost 1 5 consecutive games. Its last victory came on May 13, 2007.
Watson scored on two pass receptions, a run, and an interception return. He had 9. 5 tackles and 2 interceptions.
Arkansas (2-3 ) dominated early, and had a chance to build a large lead in the third quarter.
Rowley’s 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Isaac Morales gave Arkansas a 30-13 lead with 9: 19 left in the third quarter. Jon Schoonover recovered James Paul’s subsequent onside kick, but Paul missed a 27-yard fieldgoal attempt to end the drive.
Steve Wasil’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Watson put Texas within 30-20 with 4: 29 left in the third quarter.
Watson ended Arkansas next possession with a 19-yard interception return for a touchdown to cut Arkansas’ lead to 30-27.
Watson’s 1-yard touchdown run gave Texas a 34-30 lead with 11: 31 left in the fourth quarter.
Former Arkansas State kicker Nick Gatto kicked a 20-yard field goal to complete the scoring with 3: 19 left.
Arkansas faced first-and-10 at Texas’ 13 in the final minute, but two incomplete passes, a 3-yard loss on a screen from Rowley to Schoonover, and a delay-ofgame penalty left Arkansas with its final chance at fourth-and-17 from the 21 with eight seconds left, when Watson intercepted Rowley’s final pass.
Texas took a 3-0 lead on a 24-yard field goal by Gatto on its first possession, but Arkansas quickly took control.
A touchdown run by fullback John Sessler, a safety on a sack by defensive lineman Tito Hannah, followed by Rowley’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Rouzard gave Arkansas a 16-3 first-quarter lead.
Arkansas led 23-13 at halftime after a 19-yard touchdown pass from Rowley to Patrick Rouzard, and Texas scores on a 10-yard pass from Wasil to Watson and a 24-yard field goal by Gatto.
Rowley completed 31 of 49 passes for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns. He threw three interceptions after throwing two in Arkansas’ first four games.
Jamaal eight passes for 49 yards to lead Arkansas in the first half, but a rib injury left him unavailable for the second.