FAYETTEVILLE — The Razorbacks of old seemingly reared their ugly head in the Arkansas vs UAB game.
Despite optimism stemming from a double-overtime road loss to No. 16 Oklahoma State in a game it probably should have won, Arkansas laid an egg in the first half of its home opener.
The Blazers jumped out to a 17-3 lead before the Razorbacks fought back to tie it up at 20-20 just before halftime. The performance was so frustrating to Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman that he lashed out during his halftime interview with the UA radio broadcast.
“We oughta be thumping this football team,” Pittman said, before listing off a litany of issues.
In the first half, quarterback Taylen Green was particularly bad for Arkansas, completing only 3 of 14 passes for 52 yards and an interception. Several of his incompletions were terrible throws that his receivers had no chance of catching. The 6’6″ senior did improve in the second half, going 8 or 12 on the way to a 37-27 win over UAB.
Arkansas was successful on the ground, led by 147 yards on 15 carries by Ja’Quinden Jackson. Green also has 96 yards on 17 carries, including an impressive 14-yard touchdown run and the game-clinching TD late in the fourth quarter. Freshman Braylen Russell added a 2-yard touchdown plunge in the first half.
Perhaps most concerning has been the defense’s lack of resistance. It gave up 20 first-half points before slowing the onslaught down after halftime. It also helped that the Blazers tried a surprise onside kick that didn’t work and set up the Razorbacks in great field position (even though it led to just a field goal).
After giving up only 371 yards in regulation to the Cowboys last week, Arkansas allowed 212 yards in one half to the Blazers and 354 yards overall. Meanwhile, the Razorbacks’ offense gained just 192 yards in the first half before finishing the game with 427 yards.
“Obviously there’s a ton of things we have to do better when we go into SEC play, and you give you UAB credit as they had a really nice game plan,” Sam Pittman told the SEC Network after the game. “Their kids played extremely hard. We didn’t play smart. We’ve got to be able to stop the run better. We’ve got to be able to throw the ball better. We’ll work on it this week, see if we can’t get better this week. I believe we can.”
***
More the latest on Arkansas vs UAB, go here:
From pre Arkansas vs UAB:
FAYETTEVILLE — Even after taking a ranked opponent down to the wire on the road last week, some fans are still pessimistic about the Razorbacks’ prospects this season. Those on the other side of the Arkansas vs UAB matchup, though, seem much higher on Sam Pittman’s squad.
Look no further than the episode of the Blazer Victory Podcast previewing the game, which kicks off at 3:15 p.m. CT Saturday and will be televised on SEC Network. At one point, co-host Jimmy Marion mistakenly referenced Arkansas State before quickly correcting himself.
“I wish we were going against Arkansas State this weekend,” Marion said with a laugh.
That kind of outlook is understandable for the Blazers faithful. After all, they’re coming off a 32-6 loss at ULM and are now 22.5-point underdogs against Arkansas — which, interestingly enough, is the same spread for Arkansas State’s game at Michigan.
Even co-host Darion Smith, a former UAB offensive lineman, isn’t picking his alma mater to pull off an upset.
“I honestly don’t think this is a game we will win,” Smith said. “Can we win? Yes. Do I think we will win? I don’t.”
One reason for the lack of optimism on the Blazer Victory Podcast is the Razorbacks’ high-powered offense run by offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. They don’t sound like they believe UAB’s defense, which actually ranks 25th nationally at 236.5 yards allowed per game, can slow it down.
Led by quarterback Taylen Green, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson, a slew of wide receivers and tight ends, and a reshaped offensive line, Arkansas is averaging 667.5 yards through two games, which ranks second in the FBS behind only Ole Miss. It is also putting up 50.5 points per game, which ranks ninth in the country.
Those numbers are skewed a bit by the opener against an overmatched UAPB, one of the worst teams in the FCS, but the Razorbacks also put up big numbers against Oklahoma State and would have done even more damage had it not been for turnovers.
Needless to say, that unit has the attention of Smith after he watched some film, leading to a bit of a surprising comparison.
“Arkansas kind of reminds you of when I think about old West Virginia when they had Pat White and Steve Slaton, when they would just get you out in that open field and it was like make you make decisions and what you’re going to do, pick your poison, it’s going to be a touchdown,” Smith said. “That is what Arkansas reminds me of.”
WVU Had Some Bad, Bad Folks, Y’all
For those who were around to watch those West Virginia football teams from 2005-07, or played the NCAA Football video game during that era, you know how big of a compliment that is. It may not be a perfect comparison, because the 6’2″, 233-pound Jackson is a different style of back than the electric 5-foot-9 Slaton and there are certainly differences between Green and White, but the bigger point is the versatility of an offense in which the quarterback’s running presents such a severe threat.
It’s also an interesting parallel to draw because of how intertwined the programs appear to be despite never playing in football.
There are the ripple effects of then-West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez not taking the Alabama job (the Crimson Tide hired Nick Saban instead) and him actually taking the Michigan job (Ryan Mallett transferred to Arkansas), but the White-Slaton duo first burst onto the national scene with an exciting comeback and triple-overtime win over a Louisville team in 2005 coached by, you guessed it, Bobby Petrino.
In West Virginia’s 46-44 win over then No. 19 Louisville, Slaton ran for 188 yards while racking up 6 touchdowns in the second half alone as the Mountaineers overcame a 17-point second half deficit. White added 69 yards on the ground. It would take another decade, but Petrino would eventually get his own dual-threat dynamo at the QB position with Lamar Jackson. In more recent years, his standouts have been Missouri State’s Jason Shelley and now of course Taylen Green.
Follow along below for updates from the Arkansas vs UAB game Saturday afternoon…
LIVE UPDATES — Arkansas vs UAB
Pregame Tidbits
This is the first Arkansas vs UAB football game since 2014, when the Razorbacks won a 45-17 blowout that is remembered for Sebastian Tretola’s touchdown pass.
Safety Hudson Clark is not dressed out for the game. He suffered a back injury at Oklahoma State.
Cornerback Jaylon Braxton is dressed out, but Marquise Robinson and Jaheim Singletary took reps with the first-team defense in warmups. It doesn’t look like Braxton will play, as he’s dealing with tendinitis.
It appears Kyle Ramsey is still the starting kicker, based on pregame warmups.
7:33, 1Q – UAB 3, Arkansas 0
The Blazers won the coin toss and received the opening kickoff. They marched right down the field, converting their first three third downs before the Arkansas defense stood firm in the red zone. A 27-yard field goal by Jonah Delange capped a 15-play, 66-yard drive that ate up nearly half of the first quarter.
6:05, 1Q – UAB 10, Arkansas 0
Taylen Green’s pass was intercepted near midfield and returned to the 15 to give UAB great field position. Two plays later, Jacob Zeno threw a pop pass to Kam Shanks, who took it 15 yards to pay dirt. The Hogs are down by double digits and they’ve run three offensive plays.
4:00, 1Q – UAB 10, Arkansas 3
UAB tried a surprise onside kick, but Monte Harrison wasn’t fooled. He fielded it and actually returned it some. Despite being given excellent field position, though, starting at the 23, but had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Ramsey. Green is 0 for 5 passing so far.
END of 1Q – UAB 10, Arkansas 3
14:51, 2Q – UAB 17, Arkansas 3
Facing a third-and-10 on the first play of the second quarter, UAB not only converted, but Zeno hit Amare Thomas for a 34-yard touchdown.
9:17, 2Q – UAB 17, Arkansas 10
The Razorbacks had to convert a fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive, but they eventually cashed in with a 2-yard touchdown run by Braylen Russell. It came out of a jumbo package that featured a sixth offensive lineman, two tight ends and a fullback, in addition to the 253-pound Russell.
4:48, 2Q – Arkansas 17, UAB 17
After the defense forced UAB’s first punt of the game, the Razorbacks drove 69 yards in six plays. Green capped it with a great 14-yard touchdown scamper. Jackson was also great on the drive and is up to 74 yards on eight carries.
1:53, 2Q – UAB 20, Arkansas 17
There was a delay at the start of this drive because of a scary play that resulted in Brandon Buckhaulter being strapped to a stretcher and carted off the field. Following the delay, UAB marched right down the field. The defense stood firm in the red zone, though, limiting the damage to a field goal again. Delange’s 23-yard kick put the Blazers back on top.
1:03, 2Q – Arkansas 20, UAB 20
The Razorbacks got a couple of pass interference penalties to go their way, but a dropped pass by CJ Brown on the sideline stalled the drive. Ramsey booted a 51-yard field goal to tie it up.
HALF – Arkansas 20, UAB 20
10:00, 3Q – Arkansas 27, UAB 20
The Razorbacks marched right down the field to open the half, covering 84 yards on 11 plays. It would have been a quicker score, but Green missed a wide open Armstrong for an easy touchdown. It didn’t hurt, though, because Jackson scored on a 16-yard run a couple plays later. He’s up to 103 yards on 11 carries.
END of 3Q – Arkansas 27, UAB 20
13:31, 4Q – Arkansas 30, UAB 20
The Hogs have some breathing room after a 40-yard field goal by Kyle Ramsey, who missed a 45-yarder earlier.
6:55, 4Q – Arkansas 30, UAB 27
After converting two fourth downs, including one deep in its own territory, UAB scores on a 21-yard pass from Smith to Payne. There was some really poor tackling by the Razorbacks on the touchdown. It’s a one-score game again.
3:36, 4Q – Arkansas 37, UAB 27
On third-and-goal from the 9, Taylen Green took it himself and got into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the game. That might ice the victory for the Hogs.
FINAL – Arkansas 37, UAB 27
How to Watch Arkansas vs UAB
Date: Saturday, Sept. 14
Location: Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Kickoff time (TV): 3:15 p.m. CT (SEC Network)
Commentators: Dave Neal (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), Ashley ShahAhmadi (sideline reporter)
ESPN FPI: Arkansas has a 92.8% chance to win.
Odds/Betting Line: Arkansas, -22.5 | O/U 61.5 (BetSaracen)
***
Watch the full Arkansas vs UAB preview from the Blazer Victory podcast here:
Here’s a reminder of what those West Virginia football teams were like:
***
More coverage of Arkansas football and Arkansas vs UAB from BoAS…
