Murphy feels Pittman has Hogs ahead of Pruitt’s rebuild with Vols

In half of a season, Sam Pittman has moved Arkansas ahead of what Tennessee’s Jeremy Pruitt has managed to accomplish in his third year.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette writer Tom Murphy pointed that out Monday morning to Tye Richardson and Tommy Craft (The Morning Rush) on ESPN Arkansas.

After spotting the Vols a 13-0 lead through the first half Saturday night where the Razorbacks didn’t appear to be able stop a running back in a timely fashion or manage to score, they put up 24 points in the third quarter and pitched a shutout the rest of the way for a 24-13 win.

“It just comes from who Sam Pittman is and the type of coaches he hires,” Murphy said on the statewide morning show. “Jeremy Pruitt is in year three of a rebuild, they’ve recruited very well, but Arkansas is ahead of them.”

Tennessee fans won’t like hearing that. The success at the end of last season had them expecting bigger and better things this year and if there were any questions left among the faithful, they faded away in the third quarter Saturday night.

“Arkansas in year one of Sam Pittman is ahead of the Tennessee rebuild,” Murphy said. “These are very similar programs, so it was an amazing statement the Razorbacks made (Saturday night).”

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19Georgia11:00 AM
ABC
Sat, Sep 26TulsaTBA
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&MTBA
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeTBA
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltTBA
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriTBA
Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Bentonville (13)2-01551
2.Conway1-11242
3.Benton (1)1-01203
4.Bentonville West (1)2-01065
5.Shiloh Christian (1)2-0996
6.Bryant0-2754
7.Joe T. Robinson2-0597
8.Searcy2-05110
9.North Little Rock2-0489
10.Sylvan Hills2-012
Others receiving votes: Greenwood 10, Fayetteville 7, Van Buren 3, Rogers 3, Greenbrier 2, Pulaski Academy 2, Jonesboro 2, Springdale Har-Ber 1, Elkins 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bentonville (13)2-0771
2.Conway1-1532
4.Bentonville West (1)2-0404
5.Shiloh Christian (1)2-0345
3.Bryant (1)0-2253
Others receiving votes: North Little Rock 10, Pulaski Academy 1.
CLASS 6A
1.Benton (15)1-0791
2.Searcy (1)2-0622
3.Sylvan Hills2-0433
4.Van Buren2-0154
5.Mountain Home1-1115t
Jonesboro2-0115t
Others receiving votes: El Dorado 10, FS Southside 4, Sheridan 4, Marion 1.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (15)2-0791
2.Greenwood (1)0-2522
3.Greenbrier1-0443
5.Farmington2-0305
4.Little Rock Parkview1-1144
Others receiving votes: HS Lakeside 10, Valley View 5, Jacksonville 4, Morrilton 2.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (13)2-0751
2.Elkins (2)2-0482
3.Nashville (1)2-0434
4.Bauxite2-0215t
5.Gosnell2-0145t
Others receiving votes: Gravette 11, Arkadelphia 8, Ozark 6, Warren 6, Fountain Lake 4, Lonoke 3, Pottsville 1.


CLASS 3A
1.Fordyce (11)0-1701
2.Mansfield (1)1-1412
3.Glen Rose1-1294
4.Bismarck1-1273
5.Prescott (3)2-0215t
Others receiving votes: Walnut Ridge (1) 19, Rivercrest 19, Smackover 7, Rison 3, Newport 2, Cedarville 1, Helena-West Helena 1.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (9)2-0722
2.Junction City (5)1-1601
3.Baptist Prep (1)2-0234t
4.Des Arc1-119
5.Earle (1)2-017
Others receiving votes: Bigelow 9, East Poinsett County (1) 8, Hector 7, Des Arc 6, Earle 6, Magnet Cove 4, Poyen 3, Marked Tree 2, Dierks 2, Cross County 1, Hazen 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (5)2-0252t
2.Cedar Ridge (7)2-0241
3.Woodlawn (1)1-014
Others receiving votes: Magazine 7, Strong (1) 6, Izard County 5, Lafayette County 1, Johnson County Westside 1.