Dominique Johnson thought he was getting the ball. KJ Jefferson thought he was giving it to him.
The confusion that came from what would ultimately be a fake-handoff, was enough to confuse both Johnson and the Western Carolina defense.
Jefferson ran up the middle for 17 yards for Arkansas’ fourth touchdown of the first half, scoring with 2:56 let in the Razorbacks’ season opener against Western Carolina. The touchdown was the third for which Jefferson was responsible after he tossed earlier touchdown passes to Jaedon Wilson and Isaac TeSlaa.
On Jefferson’s rushing touchdown, he put the ball almost completely in the breadbasket of his running back, Johnson. With Western Carolina pressure clamping down, he took the ball out at seemingly the last possible moment, sending Johnson spinning and creating a massive hole through Jefferson easily scampered to the end zone.
KJ Jefferson: 3 total TDs
Western Carolina: 3 total points pic.twitter.com/pbjCDYu904— Mason Choate (@ChoateMason) September 2, 2023