Cotton Bowl: Arkansas Routs Kansas State

Cotton Bowl:
Arkansas Routs Kansas State
JoJo Doria

Arlington, TX

Joe Adams scored a spectacular 51-yard return that gave the No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks a big early lead en route to a 29-16 trouncing of the No. 7 Kansas State Wildcats in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic Friday night at Cowboys Stadium.

The victory enabled the Razorbacks (11-2, 6-2 SEC) to match a school record for wins in a season.

The Razorbacks, whose only setbacks were courtesy of SEC rivals - - No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama, also posted 11 wins in 1964 and '77.

Tyler Wilson threw for 216 yards and two TDs for Arkansas, which was making its 12th appearance in the game.

The Razorbacks' All-SEC quarterback, who was 20 of 31 for 216 yards, hooked up with Cobi Hamilton on a nine-yard TD strike at 3:57 in the third quarter for a 26-16 lead.

That decisive strike hiked the lead back to double-digits after Kansas State drew within 19-16 early in the period after trailing 19-9 at halftime.

Wilson's two TD passes came after Adams' punt return for a TD early in the second frame that sparked the Hogs, who were struggling on offense before that highlight.

It gave Arkansas a 10-0 advantage even before the Razorbacks gained a first down.

It was also the first return for a TD in the Cotton Bowl in 51 years.

Arkansas, which out-gained the Wildcats 345 to 260 in total yards, improved to 13-23-3 in bowl games and 4-7-1 in 12 Cotton Bowls. The Razorbacks last won the Cotton Bowl in Jan. 1 2000 against Texas.

Wildcats quarterback Collin Klein finished the game 16-of-30 and passed for 174 yards with a TD and an interception. He also registered 42 yards on 24 carries for Kansas State (10-3, 7-2 Big 12), which was trying to match its school record with 11 victories.