Arkansas fans wouldn't describe the 45-27 win yesterday in Fayetteville, Ark. as a pretty win, but the team rallied in spite of their off night to score 21 fourth-quarter points and thus escape the clutches of Middle Tennessee State with a win.

Steven Day's 80-yard run on yet another option pitch from Anthony Singleton in the third quarter gave Middle Tennessee a stunning 27-24 lead with 4:56 remaining in the third quarter.

Arkansas would use its superior defense and power running game to firmly take control in the fourth quarter. A long drive resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by Fullback Justin Johnson, and after an Anthony Singleton interception the Razorbacks moved quickly down the short field and into the end zone on a five-yard touchdown pass.

The final points of the game - and the final nail driven into the coffin - came on another Singelton interception that was returned 65 yards for a touchdown by player of the game Dan Holmes.

"We figured out what Singleton could and couldn't do by the fourth quarter," said Holmes, who had two interceptions. "He's a dangerous weapon for them but we were able to make a couple of plays that really made the difference."

Middle Tennessese hung around in this game despite a 45-yard punt return touchdown by Troy Lewis on the Blue Raiders' first punt of the game. That and a susbsequent 2-yard touchdown run on an easy drive early in the second quarter could have spelled doom against the vastly superior Razorbacks.

Yet the team fought back.

Brandon Douglas provided a spark with a 56-yard punt return with 5:03 remaining in the second quarter to get the Blue Raiders on the board and to within a touchdown at 14-7.

Harold McCoy sandwiched two field goals around halftime and an Arkansas field goal, and the Blue Raiders were down just 17-13 early in the third quarter.

Steven Day ran for a six-yard touchdown that gave MTSU a 20-17 lead before the Razorbacks executed a long drive resulting in a 13-yard touchdown pass as they re-acquired the lead.

On the first play of the next drive, Singleton ran left and juked one defender before pitching just as he was hit, once again giving Steven Day a clear path on an 80-yard touchdown run.

"Steven should thank his lucky stars for Singleton," joked Clark afterward, who was clearly impressed with his team's performance. "He would have about two yards per carry if it weren't for those great pitches."