Arkansas coach Sam Pittman with the media after getting his first win in Fayetteville and the opportunistic defensive effort.
Burks on leaping one-handed catch against Ole Miss, playing injured in win
Razorbacks wide receiver Treylon Burks talked after the 33-21 win over the Rebels on Saturday and couldn’t rank his diving catch for TD.
Franks on defensive momentum, development of Burks, recapping win over Rebels
Hogs quarterback Feleipe Franks talked with the media about how the defense gave the team momentum, how Treylon Burks has progressed.
Hogs close out second SEC win, downing Ole Miss in fourth quarter
Arkansas’ defense and senior linebacker had a fourth-quarter push Saturday to down Ole Miss in Fayetteville, 33-21, for the first SEC win in Fayetteville since 2016.
4Q 3:07: When Arkansas’ defense needed a big play Grant Morgan provided it returning Matt Corral’s fifth interception of the day 23 yards into the end zone and maybe sealing a win.
Hogs 33, Rebels 21
4Q 5:30: Ole Miss appeared to be stopped on a three-and-out but MoMo Sanogo went 47 yards on a fake punt, then Snoop Conner scored three plays later to make this one close going down the stretch.
Hogs 26, Rebels 21
4Q 7:36: Arkansas answered Ole Miss’ touchdown with a 7-yard scoring pass from Feleipe Franks to Treylon Burks, who made a leaping one-handed catch in the corner of the end zone and got a toe down for the score. The Hogs’ went for 2, but that failed.
Hogs 26, Rebels 14
4Q 12:06: Ole Miss makes it an interesting fourth quarter, scoring on an eight-play, 66-yard drive with Matt Corral finding Jonathan Mingo for a 21-yard score on a secondary breakdown by the Hogs.
Hogs 20, Rebels 14
3Q 4:35: Ole Miss’ offense finally got untracked, but it wasn’t with big plays as Jerrion Ealy and Snoop Conner did most of the hard work in a 10-play, 56-yard drive after a huge goal-line stand by the Hogs.
Hogs 20, Rebels 7
Arkansas’ defense is real … at least for the first half against Ole Miss.
The Razorbacks’ defense scored seven points and the offense added 10 for a 20-OH! lead over the Rebels’ high-flying offense that was shut down by a fanatical effort by senior linebacker Grant Morgan with 11 tackles in the half.
But it was Jalen Catalon’s 35-yard interception return for a score early in the second quarter that highlighted one of the better defensive halves the Hogs have had in awhile.
The Hogs simply out-played Ole Miss on both sides of the ball.
Arkansas had more total offense (243-145) than the Rebels, who scored 48 on Alabama last week and had over 600 yards of offense.
Feleipe Franks wasn’t spectacular (12-of-19 for 159 yards) but managed the game while the Rebels’ Matt Corral was chased and harassed by the Hogs’ defense that had two sacks and two interceptions.
2Q 1:41: Arkansas managed getting to halftime with a lead, driving 50 yards in 12 plays and eating up 3:21 near the end of the half and A.J. Reed’s 32-yarder provided a big lead.
Hogs 20, Rebels 0
2Q 10:40: On first down after Arkansas’ score Catalon picked off Corral and returned it 35 yards to the end zone and give Arkansas the biggest lead it’s had in an SEC game in a few years.
Hogs 17, Rebels 0
2Q 10:50: After cornerback Hudson Clark intercepted an Ole Miss pass, the Hogs drove 42 yards in seven plays before Franks’ pass to Blake Kern in the end zone was tipped away. Reed kicked a 23-yard field goal and the Hogs added to their lead.
Hogs 10, Rebels 0
Arkansas is driving as the first quarter comes to an end, leading Ole Miss in total yards, 140-84, as the offense seems content to be getting short chunks down the field.
A pass from Franks to Treylon Burns down the left sideline for 55 yards was the longest play of the quarter.
The Hogs will start the second period at their own 45 facing second-and-9.
Hogs 7, Rebels 0
1Q 5:47: Rakeem Boyd gets into the end zone from a yard out to cap an 11-play, 95-yard drive that ate up 4:11 after Ole Miss ran into punter Reid Bauer trying to block it. A.J. Reed added the extra point.
Hogs 7, Rebels 0
1Q 9:58: Bauer “blasts” a 28-yard punt and Ole Miss gets a short field at their own 40. The Rebels drive to the Arkansas 1 Matt Corral fumbles an exchange and Jalen Catalon recovers at the 5.
Hogs 0, Rebels 0
Arkansas’ offense struggles on an opening possession after the opening kickoff and Franks’ pass on third down was intercepted by Ole Miss’ Jaylon Jones but he didn’t make it to the ground.
Ole Miss’ offense is now moving.
PETER’S PICKS: Razorbacks will down Rebels for first SEC win in state
As a young kid I once snuck into my older brother’s truck, turned on the stereo, and listened to his Journey cassette for hours until the battery died.
Needless to say Big Brother handled my grievance with an unusual physical aggression which to this day I have not fully forgotten.
Brothers fight; it is our nature. It’s being able to forgive and forget which provides us with the special bond we carry into our adult years.
I’ve heard it said Arkansas and Ole Miss are like brothers. We don’t really get along most of the time, yet we are somehow bonded in the public eye.
Perhaps it is because neither of us have won an SEC Championship Game? Is it possibly due to the two states being so close and similar (minus the mayflies)?
Maybe it is the gratitude we extend to Mississippi for always keeping us one notch farther from last place in education rankings.
Who knows? If one even subscribes to that theory and wonders whatever it is, we seem to enjoy each other’s misery.
Speaking of forgetting, the Razorbacks are doing everything they can to forget the atrocious call (or three missed calls on one play if you will) which the football nation ultimately says cost them the game against Auburn.
“We are looking to the game at Ole Miss,” seems to be the consensus out of Fayetteville.
Yet does anyone fully believe the misdeeds given at the hands of SEC officiating has completely been erased from the minds of these young athletes?
The NCAA announcing late in the week it is making a lucidity change for “clear and immediate recovery” will not help expunge the thoughts of Auburn being the benefactor of the officiating crew’s multiple errors.
If in fact the memory does linger, our hope is to utilize it as motivation.
Some, including Vegas, have stated this contest will be an offensive showcase, and several of those have further gone on record indicating Arkansas will not be able to hang with the Rebels’ big numbers for the full four quarters. I see it differently.
What I envision is the Razorback defense stepping up and keeping Ole Miss from frequenting the endzone. Do I have doubts in my prediction? Who wouldn’t?
One thing I have learned recently as an Arkansas fan is consistency and stability are not a reoccurring weekly theme.
This game will be a good fight between brothers fueled by hate instead of compassion, and hopefully the cool Arkansas fall evening will find those donning cardinal and white in a pleased mood.
My apologies to my sibling for my lack of respect to your personal property, and also for your punishment later handed down from Mom and Dad.
To this day I do not know how they found out. Furthermore, here’s to all the brothers (and even you sisters) who square off from time-to-time in an expression of frustration and love. Just try not to do it the week before picture day, okay, fellas?
Let’s return to business.
Why Arkansas will win:
Rakeem Boyd is back. Yes, I have been singing this kid’s praises since his time at Independence CC, and the word is his ankle is 100% ready to go.
Bringing him back healthy and utilizing the “on fire” Trelon Smith from the backfield has given Kendal Briles an entirely new option of attack.
The defense is still strong. Barry Odom has no doubt made the defense even more stern this week in preparation for Ole Miss.
Matt Corral will present a problem at quarterback, yet our secondary is… I cannot believe I am about to say this… second to none. [Lame comment #1]
Special Teams. They will perform better this week. In so many ways, they have no other option, and I feel a big play brewing in the football realm.
Why Ole Miss will win:
Their defense is said to be lesser than, and this gives hope to our offense of doing something big. Unfortunately, Arkansas has historically proven it can make anything deemed to be inferior look superior.
Love him or hate him, Lane Kiffin is not a bad coach. Sure, he’s an idiot, but he learned enough from his father to be mildly successful. He will have his team ready this week.
Matt Corral and the Ole Miss offense may be a team which has just the right mix of chemistry and strategy to rip apart Arkansas’s improved defense.
Final Thoughts:
I did not know the Grove at Ole Miss can no longer hold barbecues. Please forgive me for not being 100% certain which of the many talented talk show hosts were discussing this recently.
The over/under on this game is high. Like I mentioned above, I do not see this happening.
I still hate Mississippi State’s cowbells. No offense Blue Oyster Cult.
If you’re attending the game, be certain to use sign language to remind Lame Kiffin he has only won a single game this season. [Lame comment #2]
Confidence is key for Arkansas. Judging by recent interviews with the players, they have an abundance, and Pittman really has this group focused and humble.
This will be no upset.
Arkansas 34 – 17.
Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 3:30 p.m. via HitThatLine.com, and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
SEC Picks for Week 7
Andy texted me last week and asked … no, he strongly suggested a weekend in the SEC where nothing goes as planned. Upsets, crazy calls, and a group of cats whipping a rabid pack of dogs in Lexington.
“Facebook” even paid homage with a feline and a canine sleeping together (à la Peter Venkman), but that’s another topic. Even though I am still up by one (due to my having an off-week and Andy not trusting the voice inside him stating Halloween in the SEC started on Week 6), I must tip my hat to the older gentleman; he said the SEC would go haywire, and it certainly did.
(15) Auburn at South Carolina: Auburn was handed a gift last week. This week they travel to South Carolina hopeful a new clarification to a judgment enforcement does not impact their chances at a victory. It won’t. Tigers by 11.
Kentucky at (18) Tennessee: The two SEC Teams for which, respectively, I was not sold on early and think they are currently overrated. The jury is still out on the latter, and no verdict is given this week. Vols by 24.
Ole Miss at Arkansas: Homecoming. No one loses on homecoming, but, of course, as my friend from Johnson County Westside once told me, “Everywhere we went for a game it was homecoming”. Maybe Ole Miss will take it as an insult. Hogs by 17.
LSU at (10) Florida: Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I genuinely thought LSU would play better last week, and they did; however, give credit to Missouri for showing up and giving new life to their program’s faithful. Florida let me down by faltering late and losing to the Aggies in a close contest. The Gators are better this week. Florida by 18.
(11) Texas A&M at Mississippi State: What can be said? Arkansas’s victory over the Bulldogs does not look as impressive now, yet their all but beating Auburn still shows… Wait, this is about A&M and MSU. Aggies by 24.
Vanderbilt at Missouri: I honestly had minor thoughts Vandy might be a bit more competitive this season than they’ve shown. Meanwhile, Mizzou has been Drinkwitzing the Kool-Aid and is looking solid. [Yes, you guessed it, lame comment #3. Quota met.] Tigers by 30.
(3) Georgia at (2) Alabama [GAME OF THE WEEK]: Saban is out due to COVID. No, wait, he’s back in the building. No, he’s coaching from home. “Wait,” says those in power, “he cannot coach from home. Outside communications will be cut off.” HOLD IT! Now he has a negative COVID test, so he’ll be gracing the sidelines at Tuscaloosa. Weird week, huh, Andy? Saban will not be yelling at the scrubs this week though as there will be no mop-up duty. In fact, if Saban has a sense of smell, he is probably catching the unsettling aroma of an upset. Bulldogs by 9.
Hey, social media. Feel free to let me know how I did AFTER the game. Kidding.
Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS
Go HOGS!!!
Hogs have shot against Ole Miss, which could be another crazy one
Considering the Arkansas-Ole Miss series is full of drama, craziness and a disagreement over trivia, it probably isn’t too silly to think Saturday could be wild.
The Hogs and Rebels usually bring out a big effort in each other, but no series has created the collection of zaniness this one does.
The trivia argument is one that would just cause a massive rolling of the eyes these days, but in 1914, the Razorbacks claimed Ole Miss used an ineligible player and recorded a win, despite being on the short end on the scoreboard.
Here’s some others:
• 1954: No. 1-ranked Ole Miss was stopped early on the goal-line by the Hogs, then backup Buddy Bob Benson sailed a 66-yard pass to Preston Carpenter for the game’s only score and a 6-0 win in Little Rock. That game was the first to really put Arkansas in the national spotlight and the first overflow sellout at War Memorial Stadium.
• 1960: It looked like the teams would play a 7-7 tie after a short field goal was called good after referee Tommy Bell had called a timeout on a first attempt for “excessive crowd noise.” He signaled the second one good as soon as it was kicked and was wide and fistfights broke out all over the stadium.
• 2001 Seventh Heaven: Arkansas won a barn-burner in Oxford, going seven overtimes to win against Eli Manning and the Rebels. It was a game that seemed to never end.
• 2008 Familiar Coach: Houston Nutt left Fayetteville after the 2007 season for Oxford, beat the Hogs two out of four times and got fired.
• 2015 Henry Heave: In yet another game that appeared headed to lasting half the night, Arkansas faced a fourth-and-25, tight end Hunter Henry caught a pass and wasn’t going to get the first down and threw the ball backwards. Alex Collins got the first down, the Razorbacks scored and Austin Allen converted a 2-point conversion for a 53-52 win.
Those are just the highlights. Twice as many have had all sorts of drama and surprising finishes and everything is there for a crazy game this year.
Ole Miss is a slight (-1.5) favorite but the Hogs have a 57.4% chance of winning, according to the ESPN Power Index.
Maybe the best-looking bet is an over-under of only 76.5. Considering Ole Miss’ offense wasn’t stopped last week against Alabama and their defense couldn’t stop the Crimson Tide, what Kendal Briles comes up with on the Hogs’ offense may be the key.
Assuming, of course, Barry Odom doesn’t have something cooked up to slow down the Rebels’ attack.
I’ll take the over and the Hogs in what may come down to who gets the ball last.
Arkansas 56, Ole Miss 45
Before last week’s games started I told Pete Morgan there would be a crazy week, but I didn’t know when. It turned out to be last week … and it may not be the only one is a wacky season. We were both 3-4.
Pete leads by a single win with a 15-6 mark.
• Auburn (-2.5) at South Carolina
Two weeks ago the Tigers would be a much bigger favorite but, apparently, the oddsmakers took notice of Auburn’s theft of a win over the Hogs last week. Now Auburn has to go on the road with a team that hasn’t looked as good as it’s rating in the polls.
It is beyond temptation to take the Gamecocks here, but I’m not convinced they can pull out a win.
Auburn 24, South Carolina 21
• Kentucky at Tennessee (-6.5)
At 43.5, take the Under in this one. Both teams have really good defenses and the Vols started fast against Georgia before the Bulldogs stomped them last week. I’m going out on a limb here, but the Wildcats’ running game will be the difference in this one.
Kentucky 21, Tennessee 20
• Texas A&M at Mississippi State
Neither team’s fans really know which one of these dual personalities for both teams will show up in this one. The Aggies shocked Florida and me last week. The Bulldogs shocked by their ineptitude against Kentucky. The Bulldogs can’t run at all and the guess is their free-fall continues.
Texas A&M 31, Mississippi State 28
• Georgia at Alabama (-4.5)
With the news Nick Saban tested negative after his positive test earlier in the week, he may actually be on the sidelines for the game and the guess here is he’ll be there. It may be the difference for the Crimson Tide, who win this one big.
Alabama 31, Georgia 21
Fantasy Football Sunday — w/ Davis Mattek of SportsGrid
Tye & Evan recap the Mon/Tue games, look ahead to the weekend and take your mailbag questions!
Regardless of bad call, Arkansas has a competitive football team
While you were enduring the worst era in Arkansas football last season, if someone had told you this year the Hogs would beat a ranked team and be within a bad call of beating another in back-to-back weeks, you’d have taken that, right?
While it is extremely difficult to see the big picture when your team is hosed, the proper prospective should help. It was just a year ago, Auburn smoked the Hogs.
It would have seemed impossible that a year later, Arkansas would erase a 17-point deficit and hold the lead on the Tigers with less than a minute to play.
For the record, the call was atrocious. Various officiating experts agree the officiating crew botched the call on Bo Nix’s fumbled spike attempt which was really a backward pass and fumble recovered by Arkansas.
Anyway, the call can’t be overturned and the win is officially a loss. But, what can’t be argued is Arkansas is much, much better than anyone dreamed they could be.
It’s clear that first-year coach Sam Pittman and his staff have taken Morris’ players that seemed uninspired and less-than-athletic as a whole and have pushed them to improvement and to play beyond their capabilities.
Most were optimistic, Pittman, a career offensive line coach, could recruit the talent needed to rebuild the Hogs. Those hunches were confirmed when Pittman scored several big-time recruits early on.
However, fans braced for the worst because it appeared it would take a miracle to transform last year’s team into a winner, even with an infusion of some talent.
The process would be a long haul. That fact seemed to be confirmed when the SEC gave Arkansas the most difficult schedule in college football history.
All Pittman and Co. has done is lead Georgia at halftime, upset Mississippi State at Starkville and take Auburn the distance on its home field. All ranked teams with no spring practice, no tune-ups.
Forget the 1-2 record, Arkansas has a chance to be competitive most every week with a schedule that I figured could cause the Hogs to go winless without little shame.
So, while the Auburn loss was a tough pill to swallow, it isn’t near as bad as watching a clueless Morris direct Arkansas in a home loss to mid-major San Jose State. There is a tremendous amount of hope and not just the future – immediate hope.
The Hogs will face another winnable foe this week in a home tilt against Ole Miss and first-year Coach Lane Kiffin.
The Rebels are racking up points in Kiffin’s trademark fast-paced, high-octane but have also felt the pain of a difficult schedule with losses to SEC heavyweights Florida and Georgia sandwiched between a slim win against Kentucky.
Kiffin insists the schedule isn’t easier this week.
“Well, we’re playing a really good team. I wish they were like last year, but they’ve done an awesome job,” Kiffin told the media this week. “Completely different on defense. Physical, run to the ball, play as hard as can be, giving people problems.
“Offensively, very explosive with the tempo. Sam’s done a great job. We’re gonna have our hands full.”
Defensive coordinator Barry Odom has done a fantastic job turning a lifeless Hogs defense into a force at times.
His understanding of defending schemes and communicating that to his troops has been evident in slowing down Mike Leach’s prolific offense at Mississippi State, which set the SEC all-time passing record in his first game.
Arkansas also did a respectable job against a tough Tigers offense. It’s a prospect that seemed improbable this season.
Kiffin’s scheme alone is hard to defend and tougher when you have an athlete such as Matt Corral running it. In three games, Corral has racked up 1,080 yards passing converting on 67 of 88 passes with nine touchdowns and a long pass of 68 yards.
“The guy is playing incredible. He’s such a gifted athlete and he can throw any pass. He can throw a dart” Pittman said during a media session this week. “He can throw a touch pass. He certainly can get away from pressure. That guy is a winner. He’s a really good football player and he’s got some really good weapons.
“The thing about Ole Miss is they can run the ball and they can throw it. But you can’t do any of that without a great quarterback, and that guy is a really, really good quarterback.”
If Arkansas can slow down Ole Miss, its offense can be effective against the Rebels. The unit could be aided by the potential return of senior star running back Rakeem Boyd.
The other major factor in the game is how COVID-19 is affecting the Rebels roster. Kiffin acknowledged the virus has taken a toll, and it appeared earlier in the week the game may be in doubt.
If testing goes well Friday, the game will be played, but it is unclear how many Ole Miss players may be absent.
“We are dealing with our first COVID issues of the season, unfortunately,” Kififn said. “We did in camp but had been great through three games. So that’s been a big challenge this week. We were already banged up from a physical, high play count versus a great team in ‘Bama. This is going to be very challenging.
“If we were to play today we could play. Hopefully it stays that way.”
With LSU’s struggles, including last week’s loss to Missouri, the upper echelon of the SEC West doesn’t seem to be a stretch for either team. Of course, both need to win this game.
For whichever team that wins, a possible third place West finish would be well within reach even considering tough games that remain for both teams.
However, based on what has occurred with Arkansas in three games, it seems that Arkansas has more winnable games on its schedule, including Ole Miss.
While last Saturday’s turn of events at Auburn were frustrating but not hopeless as the past two years have been and 2020 seemed.
This Arkansas team will win more games and it has a good chance of happening Saturday.
Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast – Getting that first Home SEC win since 2016
Tye & Tommy on how good Matt Corral is, SEC news, new immediate recovery rule plus Tony Barnhart!
NCAA changes ‘clear and immediate recovery’ guidelines too late for Hogs
It will be too late to help Arkansas, but the NCAA this week is making a change to the replay guidelines for “clear and immediate recovery” on loose balls following an inadvertent whistle.
Against Auburn last week, the Razorbacks lost a replay decision after Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, trying to set up a play to kill the clock and set up a winning field goal, fumbled the snap from center, then threw the ball behind him trying to spike the ball. During the play, the officials incorrectly whistled the play dead, even though the pass was backwards as confirmed by replay.
The Razorbacks’ Joe Foucha recovered the ball on a second attempt after a first one was considered in the immediate continuing action. After it squirted out, the next recovery was not considered immediate.
Officials and replay looked at the play, which was called intentional grounding on the field, then gave the Tigers a chance for a winning field goal that was converted by Anders Carlson for the 30-28 win.
The new guideline will allow replay to consider ANY recovery, it was reported during The Morning Rush on ESPN Arkansas on Friday morning.
The Morning Rush was able to confirm this with two different sources with direct knowledge of the information sent to replay officials yesterday.
