Two-Minute Drill: Razorbacks Rain on Rebels Parade 30-0

 

By Jim Harris

HOW ARKANSAS WON
The Razorbacks forced six turnovers (three fumbles, three interceptions) and held Ole Miss to 63 yards rushing for the game in recording their second consecutive shutout in SEC play, both at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. It marked Arkansas’s first back-to-back blanking of SEC teams since the Hogs joined the league for football in 1992, and it was the first time the Arkansas program had shut out back-to-back conference foes since 1965, when the Razorbacks were in the midst of a 22-game winning streak and the top program in the Southwest Conference. One turnover, Rohan Gaines’ interception at the goal line, was returned 100 yards for the back-breaking score than ended any doubt in the third quarter, putting the Hogs up 27-0. But the game’s tone was set in the first quarter, when Arkansas scored seven more points than the Rebels had allowed in the opening quarter all season. Arkansas won the coin toss and chose to defer — usually the Hogs would take the ball. With Ole Miss unable to run and its receivers dropping Bo Wallace passes, then Wallace fumbling himself, the Razorbacks used great field position to score 17 points in the opening stanza. It was hard to believe that 17 points would prove to be much more than needed against the No. 8 team in the polls and a unit that had ostensibly had three weeks to prepare for the game.

WELCOME BACK
Safety Rohan Gaines was forced to sit out the first half because of his ejection in the second half of last week’s game with LSU for a hit on a Tiger receiver that was ruled targeting above the shoulders. Hence, Gaines was the most rested player on the field when he returned to the lineup to being the second half. He made his presence felt to Ole Miss on a big and legal hit on the Rebels’ second possession, which carried deep into Arkansas territory (the first Ole Miss drive had ended on downs on the Hogs’ end via a 14-yard sack of Wallace by Trey Flowers on fourth down). Then, a few plays later, Gaines read an Ole Miss route perfect — the Rebels brought tight end Evan Engram in motion from behind the wide receiver lined up left, then had them run a crossing route that was to let Engram get open deep in the left side of the end zone. Gaines had the play all the way, as Wallace’s pass seemed to hang up. Gaines then followed a convoy of Razorbacks, including big defensive tackle Bihjon Jackson the distance. Gaines was about to have the ball dislodged by an Ole Miss chaser at the goal line, and the replay official would look at the finish, but Arkansas’s Tevin Mitchel had fallen on the ball in the end zone anyone. The TD went to Gaines as the originally ruling of touchdown was upheld. Freshman Josh Liddell started for Gaines in the first half and played well in Gaines’ stead.

BOWL ELIGIBILITY
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema intentionally downplayed the fact that a win over Ole Miss would make Arkansas bowl eligible, instead insisting that the team just focus on the game and getting the win. Nevertheless, now Arkansas is bowl eligible for the first time in three years with six wins. It also marks the first time an SEC division has had every member gain bowl eligibility, with all seven SEC West teams now having at least six wins.

BROTHER TO BROTHER
Arkansas played without Brandon Allen for the last two series of the first half and all of the second half after the junior suffered what was described as a hip injury. In his place was his younger brother, redshirt freshman Austin Allen, who had only taken limited snaps in mop-up situations in nonconference games and one snap against Georgia when Brandon temporarily was shaken up. Brandon Allen finished 5 for 10 passing for 87 yards. Austin Allen completed a 28-yard pass to Drew Morgan to spark a last-minute drive in the first half, but Arkansas failed to get points when Adam McFain, who made two other field goal tries, missed from 37 yards. Austin Allen was 3 of 5 passing for 65 yards but also was sacked twice, holding the ball too long against the fast charging Rebels’ defense.

SO MANY STORIES
Inside the big story that Arkansas curb-stomped Ole Miss 30-0 to send shockwaves throughout college football Saturday, validating the 17-0 blanking of LSU last week, were several other important stories from the day: Jonathan Williams, who led Arkansas with 81 yards, passed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing for the season, while Alex Collins moved ever closer with 79 yards … Drew Morgan bounced back from a bad night of dropped passes against LSU to lead Arkansas with three catches Saturday for 51 yards … Ole Miss actually outgained Arkansas 316 yards to 311, mainly because of its success between the 20s in the second half, but the Rebels couldn’t convert … Tevin Mitchel had a bad moment in pass defense, giving up a 40-yard catch and run to Quincy Adeboyejo, yet came back two plays later to stop an Ole Miss scoring threat late in the first half with a good close on the football to steal a pass toward Markell Pack, who for a moment was wide open at the goal line … Wallace floated that pass as well as the one that Gaines caught. Saturday, the nation (CBS television) got to see the “bad” Bo after the “good” Bo had been so touted by commentator Gary Danielson for his play against Alabama earlier in the season, the Rebels’ win that put them in the top 3 earlier this season … Unlike LSU, whose hopes had been dashed by Alabama the week before in a crushing loss, Ole Miss had everything to play for Saturday, including a shot at the SEC West and a 10-2 regular seasion, and the possibility of moving up the playoff standings with upsets ahead of them. All that was dashed on a rainy, 55-degree day in Fayetteville.

UP NEXT
Arkansas (6-5, 2-5) journeys to Columbia, Mo., for the regular season finale on Friday. Missouri (9-2, 6-1) needs a win over Arkansas to clinch the SEC East and a spot in the SEC Championship Game. Arkansas can enhance its bowl positioning with its seventh win of the season.

razorbacks rain on Rebels parade

 

 

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