Arkansas tight end C.J. O’Grady grabbed a pass from quarterback Nick Starkel and probably could have gone down to run the clock, but broke numerous tackles for a 62-yard scoring run to break the game open with 2:10 to play.
PHOTO BY TED McCLENNING | HITTHATLINE.COM
Arkansas has matched the season win total from last year and actually had a big-time offensive explosion, but there will be a lot of fans who wear themselves out focusing on the negatives.
Yeah, there will be a lot of paralysis by analysis after a 55-34 win over Colorado State on Saturday.
“We challenged our guys to respond and I started seeing the response last Saturday night in the locker room,” Chad Morris said immediately after the game, one where the Razorbacks found themselves tied 34-34 headed into the final quarter.
The offense in particular seemed to have found itself. The “Starkel Sparkel” proved to be glittering on a day at Razorback Stadium that had an announced attendance just over 51,000 squirming for three quarters.
Nick Starkel started and put up more points than the first two games combined and a whopping 520 yards of total offense.
The reason people were squirming was the defense gave up 425.
“We made some plays in big moments,” Morris said.
Especially in the fourth quarter. Since the day after Thanksgiving in 2016 until, well, last week against Ole Miss, the Hogs’ have collapsed in the fourth quarter on a far too often.
Against the Rams, they allowed just 34 yards in the fourth quarter.
“We didn’t know how to communicate,” was how defensive lineman McTelvin Agim described the past problems compared to Saturday. “This year the leaders have been doing a better job of communicating on the sidelines and making sure everybody is tuned into what we’re trying to do.”
It worked in the fourth quarter because they stopped Colorado State, who started with a 75-yard scoring run on the second play of the game right down the sprinkler heads and kept moving the ball … until the final period.
The offense answered immediately.
Starkel found freshman wide receiver Treylon Burks on the Hogs’ first play of the game for 38 yards down the right sideline.
After a pair of runs by Rakeem Boyd (who finished with 122 for the game), Starkel hit Mike Woods for 6, then threw a pass that Trey Knox went up and got for a score from 24 yards out and the game was tied.
That was more what fans have been wanting to see out of Morris’ offense.
And the defense liked it, too.
“It was big,” Agim said later. “You could see the momentum on the sidelines. It was something we could feed off of.”
Safety Kamren Curl has been around for a few of those collapses and part of it are the changes Morris has been trying to instill since he got here.
“We all just bought in,” he said after Saturday’s win. “Last year, we probably would have gotten down. Everyone would have gotten down and they would have kept scoring. Now, we know how to respond as a team, I feel like that will really help us keep going.”
While the offense found itself in the second half against Ole Miss, the defense got some success in the fourth quarter Saturday when the team needed something from them.
“We responded and we finished,” Morris said. “That was the next part. I wanted to see our guys finish and I thought we did that.”
At one point the offense had raced out to a 21-7 lead on a 59-yard run by Boyd with 5:59 left in the first quarter (yes, Arkansas scored 24 in the first quarter, more than in either of the first two games of the year).
It looked like the offense couldn’t be stopped.
Except it could. After the explosion in the first period, the second quarter turned into a contest of kicking field goals … and the Hogs won that with Connor Limpert hitting one from 54 and another from 22.
“That kick probably could have went from 65, when it came off his foot it was a rock,” Morris said about the long one. “It was great to see him respond after missing one last week.”
In the second and third quarters, the Rams clawed their way to a tie, mainly when freshman receiver Dante Wright caught a pass from quarterback Pat O’Brien after Hogs safety Myles Mason gambled on an interception and the ball sailed over his head.
Not that Starkel didn’t have opportunities, but he missed some throws.
“Thanks for pointing that out,” Starkel said later … with a smile. “I missed a lot of throws today. We’re going to go to the film, watch it and correct it. There was a lot of stuff there.”
And that is what Razorback fans should be taking from this game.
“We got a lot of mistakes we got to clean up and we all understand that,” Morris said. “We’ll get back in here and work on that tomorrow, but we’re going to enjoy this one tonight.”
Which is what fans should be doing.
There’s a whole week to paralyze themselves by over-analyzing a three-touchdown win.
Arkansas coach Chad Morris talked all week about his team responding to adversity and they did in the fourth quarter in a 55-34 win over Colorado State
Hogs defensive lineman McTelvin Agim, defensive back Kamren Curl and running back Rakeem Boyd on responding and finishing strong against Colorado State.
Razorbacks C.J. O’Grady, Scoota Harris and Nick Starkel talking about the 55-34 win over Colorado State on Saturday afternoon.
Arkansas added two late scores on a defensive scoop-and-score and a touchdown reception and breakaway by C.J. O’Grady to turn a 34-34 tie in the fourth quarter into a 55-34 win Saturday afternoon.
4Q-8:52: Devwah Whaley scores on a 5-yard run after Arkansas gets a missed 50-yard field goal attempt by Colorado State to cap a nine-play, 68-yard drive that took 2:43. Hogs 41, Colorado State 34
3Q-2:26: Myles Mason gambles — and loses — on a third-and-long pass from Pat O’Brien to Dante Wright that ends up being a 75-yard scoring strike and the game is tied at 34-34. Hogs 34, Colorado State 34.
3Q-5:45: Colorado State answers Hogs’ score with a methodical 72-yard, 15-play drive that ate up 7:22 of the quarter, helped by a third-down penalty early against Joe Foucha. Camper kicks a 21-yard field goal. Hogs 34, Colorado State 27
3Q-13:07: Hogs take second-half kickoff and go 75 yards in eight plays with Nick Starkel finding Treylon Burks twice for big plays. Rakeem Boyd ran for the final 4 yards to cap a drive only lasting 1:53. Hogs 34, Colorado State 24
2Q-:04: Arkansas misfires on an offensive possession with Nick Starkel over-throwing a wide open Treylon Burks going down the left sideline, then come back and drive 52 yards in 20 plays and get a 46-yard field goal to make it a one-score game at halftime. Hogs 27, Colorado State 24
2Q-7:31: Colorado State recovers a Rakeem Boyd-Nick Starkel fumble and go 40 yards in five plays, helped along with a pass interference penalty and cut the Hogs’ lead to 27-21. Hogs 27, Colorado State 21
2Q-11:41: Hogs get a drive going after Montaric Brown recovers a fumble, but a couple of misfires on passes into the end zone result in Connor Limpert coming on for a 22-yard field goal with 11:41 left in the second quarter. Hogs 27, Colorado State 14
The first quarter comes to an end … finally … with Arkansas leading Colorado State, 24-14, scoring more points than they have an in any game this year … the first period.
Razorbacks have 249 yards of offense in the first quarter, including 137 on the ground and starting quarterback Nick Starkel is 7-of-12 for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Rakeem Boyd has 81 yards rushing, Devwah Whaley has run for 60.
1Q-1:02: Arkansas’ offense gets bogged down after a no-call on a pass to De’Vion Warren in the Endzone, then Myron Cunningham gives up a sack. Connor Limpert knocks a 54-yard field goal through. Hogs 24, Colorado State 14
1Q-3:27: Colorado State isn’t dead yet. The Rams go 75 yards in five plays, ripping off a couple of big runs on the edge of the Hogs’ defense for a 14-yard scoring pass from Collin Hill to Warren Jackson. Hogs 21, Colorado State 14
1Q-5:54: Rakeem Boyd blows through a gaping hole in the middle and out-runs everybody for a 69-yard scoring jaunt, giving Arkansas the most points scored in a game … in the first quarter. Hogs have 216 yards offense, 113 on the ground. Hogs 21, Colorado State 7
1Q-7:54: Nick Starkel hits his second touchdown pass of the day, finding tight end Chase Harrell from 14 yards out to cap an 82-yard drive. Hogs have 157 yards of offense halfway through first period. Hogs 14, Colorado State 7
1Q-13:00: Hogs answer opening score with a 75-yard drive in five plays with Nick Starkel hitting first Treylon Burks for 38 yards, running a couple of times, then letting Trey Knox grab a 24-yard score. Hogs 7, Colorado State 7
1Q-14:42: On the second play of the game after the kickoff, Colorado State’s Marvin Kinsey runs through the middle of the Arkansas line for a 75-yard score and, just like that, the Hogs find themselves down. Colorado State 7, Hogs 0
A year ago, Colorado State started Arkansas’ tumble to what was a disastrous year and now the rematch starts shortly at Razorback Stadium with Nick Starkel starting at quarterback.
Do we really need to rehash yet again the game last week in Oxford? Who really has the wherewithal to take a second drink of milk to verify it is spoiled?
Yes, Arkansas fans would be in an overt ho-hum if not for one thing, the promotion of Nick Starkel to starting quarterback. If the public speculation is true, the kid from Argyle just became this season’s Obi Wan Kenobi.
Let us not get this wrong. Many of us like Ben Hicks and definitely want him to do well not only during his time on “The Hill” but in life after football as well.
Many were tough on him following this past Saturday’s game because of his attitude on the sideline during the second half.
Remember, he is a competitor who knew he had just lost his job. In sports or in life, most of us would be exactly the same. Give him some time to adjust.
Who knows, maybe this will inspire both of them to play better.
Regardless, the Hogs host Colorado State this weekend at 3:00, and the game can be watched on the SEC Network while you listen to the game on HitThatLine.com.
You all remember the Rams from last year. Cole Kelley had was two-for-two passing with two-touchdowns. Arkansas led 27–9 with 2:48 left in the third quarter, yet the Rams made a great comeback scoring the go-ahead and winning touchdown with eight-seconds left in the game.
Surely you can recall that game, or was the agony blocked by your every synapse? I certainly do recollect.
I tried to omit it from my thought process for a year, however, it’s like the time you forgot you had eaten state fair Mexican until your 15th second on the Scrambler.
News flash: Your ex-girlfriend still evokes your ride of infamy to her children. But I digest… digress.
Enough about our failed REO Speedwagon T-shirt social lives. On to what some are dubbing “revenge” along with quick thoughts for the Razorbacks’ success:
• Our quarterback to receiver timing must be perfect. Colorado State’s defense is not the best we will see all season, yet it is definitely nothing to overlook.
• Have some pride. Channel Houston Nutt’s “Razorback on the Helmet” speech if you have to, players, but find a way to have some sense of who you are and what you represent.
• Close the freezer door. If the WildHog package was the only flavor we had outside of vanilla, keep my offense bland. I only want to hear “wildcat” if something good is happening in Lexington.
• Cover their wide receivers. As mentioned in my interview with Kelly Lyell, Colorado State is known for producing great wideouts, and this year they have a better signal caller to get them the ball.
Protection. Protection. PROTECTION!!!
You did not need it that night after the fair, however, the Hogs will need to protect Starkel even though he has his quick release as he runs this offense for the first time as a starter.
• Call some offensive plays yourself, coach Chad Morris.
• NO DUMB PENALTIES. Hit them high. Hit them in the middle. Hit them low. But ONLY hit them legally and inbounds. Please. And please chill on the false starts … and offsides.
• Make the Rams secondary respect the pass and open up some room for the running game. Keep feeding Rakeem Boyd and Devwah Whaley the ball in this formula, and we will see his full potential.
• Catch the ball!!! I really did not want to say it again this week. Notice it is in lowercase this time. Maybe that will help.
• Remember, we are the SEC Team. We are the home Team. We are the RAZORBACKS! No one is permitted to come into our house and walk away with a victory.
Especially Colorado State.
Like Kane North told me last year, “Even though our talent level is down, we are an SEC school that should always have a minimum of equal talent to a team in the Mountain West Conference. We just got out-coached.”
Arkansas 24 – 17.
Week Two was an 11 – 2 push between Andy Hodges and me our pursuit of the HTL Pick’em Championship Cup race.
Holding onto a slim one-game lead, Hodges feels his 20–6 record is but a small step to what will eventually evolve into a blowout over my current 19–7 standing.
Oh, Mr. Andy, your arrogance rivals that of Ronald Acuna at a Little League game and will thus be your downfall.
On with Week Three:
• Arkansas State at (2) Georgia: Can our in-state Sun Belt Conference contender pull off a major upset at Georgia? As much as I would love to say yes, I feel this is but a paycheck for the Red Wolves. Bulldogs by 30.
• Kansas State at Mississippi State: Tough choice, so I called my Mom, and she said she saw Kansas in concert once. I consulted a psychic, and she told me to avoid a woman with a tattoo on her face. So I flipped a coin. The coin was silver. I choose the Bulldogs in this one as well, only this time it is by 21.
• Chattanooga at Tennessee: Oh my poor ol’ Volunteers… I simply have no words to express the disdain the Tennessee fans have for Jeremy Pruitt at the moment, however, even though one fan has the coach’s “six”, the squad in orange had better put up far more points than that to even begin to get him off of the hot seat radar this week. Tennessee at home by 40.
• (2) Alabama at South Carolina: The Gamecocks look bad in their defeat by North Carolina. The Tarheels looked bad until the end against Wake Forest. The only way Alabama looks bad is if they run the score up too high. Tide by 44.
• Southeast Louisiana at Ole Miss [SLOPFEST OF THE WEEK]: The Rebels may have been able to beat Arkansas far better than we expected, however, they are still a messy football team. Southeast Louisiana will not win, but they will assist in earning this game the “Slopfest of the Week”. Ole Miss by 24.
• Colorado State at Arkansas: Last chance for me to change my mind…. I just cannot do it. I guess it is just the homer in me. Arkansas by 7.
• Kent State at (8) Auburn: Whatever happened to Stan Heath anyway? Last I heard he was working his “Magic” in the G-League. Oh, Tigers by 48.
• (9) Florida at Kentucky [GAME OF THE WEEK]: The Wildcats remind me of Ricky Bobby, precocious and full of wonderment. The hope which started on the heels of last season takes a lump. Gators by 22.
• Lamar at (16) Texas A&M: I remember playing Lamar in high school. What a pleasant little trip over to Johnson County. The Warriors … What? Oh, my bad. The Cardinals will fare with A&M the way the Warriors fared with us. Aggies by 38.
• Northwestern State at (4) LSU: Set your slumber alarm because this one will be a snoozefest. Tigers by 42.
• Southeast Missouri State at Missouri: Kelly Bryant looked better in Week One. The rest of the Missouri players looked better in Week Two. They really had no other option. The Tigers will continue to improve against the Redhawks. Missouri by 36.
Go HOGS!!!
Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — It was back and forth all night in College Park as Arkansas the first match of the Maryland Invite to the Terrapins, 3-1.
The Razorbacks had a dominant second set after dropping the first to tie the match at one set apiece, but an efficient third and fourth set by Maryland would give them control of the match and the win.
HOG HIGHLIGHTS
• Hailey Dirrigl | 15 kills | .270 hitting percentage | 3 service aces
• Devyn Wheeler | 14 kills | .379 hitting percentage | 2 blocks
• Liz Pamphile | 9 kills | .667 hitting percentage | 4 blocks
• Rachel Rippee | 34 assists | 5 digs
THE TURNING POINT
Trailing 2-1 in the match, Arkansas called its first timeout of the fourth set as Maryland led 12-11. The Razorbacks and Terrapins went point for point and the Hogs took an 18-16 lead after a service ace by Rippee.
Maryland responded with eight consecutive points to take a 24-18 lead. The Hogs would score once more to end the run by the Terrapins, but the deficit was too much to overcome and dropped the final match, 25-19.
FROM COACH WATSON
“Solid performance after our match with UAPB. I really felt like we competed and gave ourselves the chance to win. The learning curve is steep on the road, but we continue to improve and gain precious experience. We have a group of athletes with strong resolve and a true willingness to learn and improve.”
NOTABLES
• Dirrigl’s 15 kills and Wheeler’s 14 kills were both season highs for the juniors.
• The 34 assists by Rippee is a new season high, she has now led the squad in assists in seven of eight matches.
• Arkansas’ largest lead was six points, when they led 7-1 in the fourth set. Their longest rally was in the first set, when they Hogs used an 8-0 scoring run to take an 8-3 lead at the start of the match.
UP NEXT
Arkansas will be back in action on day two of the Maryland Invite on Saturday and will play Princeton and George Mason with matches at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.
Both games are available to watch online only with a subscription to FloVolleyball. Fans can find both live scoring and live streams links here.
Normally, three games into a coach’s second season isn’t the time folks start wondering whether the right guy is running the program.
At least that’s what a lot of Arkansas fans are asking.
Chad Morris, going into just his 15th game with the Razorbacks, knows this. You get the idea he knew things were likely to land here in the North Texas game last year … a week after a fourth-quarter collapse against the Rams.
People are wondering exactly why it’s taken this long and what is now five quarterbacks starting behind center and things don’t appear to be getting straightened out.
When you’re 3-11, that tends to happen.
Colorado State comes into Fayetteville on Saturday with a projected NFL draft pick at quarterback against the Hogs’ breaking in a new starter in Nick Starkel.
Exactly what else the Rams have other than a quarterback largely depends on who you ask. They may or may not be better than the were last year.
It’s a lot of unknowns, right?
About the only thing we know right now is Starkel will be starting at quarterback and it’s clearly what most people have been thinking should have happened before the season opener against Portland State.
With an offense that basically looked like an old car chugging down the road with only half of the cylinders firing, Morris finally unleashed Starkel. There wasn’t a miracle in Oxford in the second half, but Morris said there was a spark.
He’s hoping it’s the kind that gets all the cylinders firing and doesn’t put the whole thing up in flames,
All of that is why this game is huge for Morris. That doesn’t mean just moving the ball and looking better to most of the fans.
They want a win. Even a disappointing one.
The Hogs should get a win Saturday. It may be more optimistic than realistic, but I figure one of these days I’ll be right when I say it will be a comfortable win.
Starkel may be exactly what this team needed and if he does sparkel (yes, I know the correct spelling, but it is better this way) then there may be some questions about why it took so long to do the obvious, but it will be easier to deal with after a win.
Don’t even ask what happens after a loss. It will be ugly.
Arkansas 34, Colorado State 21
Both Peter Morgan and I were 11-2 last week and he’s still on the backside of a one-game lead. It will sort itself out when some of these easy games turn into real matchups.
Easy pickings
Tennessee over Tennessee-Chattanooga (there’s not even a line on the game), Ole Miss (31) over Southeast Louisiana, Auburn (35.5) over Kent State, LSU (51) over Northwestern State, Missouri (34) over Southeast Missouri State and Texas A&M (43.5) over Lamar.
Arkansas State at Georgia (33)
When Larry Lacewell was the coach in Jonesboro, he called Bear Bryant to get a game against Alabama and it didn’t take long to get an agreement on everything but the date.
“It’ll have to be early,” Bear told his fellow Fordyce native. “If it’s later in the year I’ll be playing for a national championship and have to beat the [deleted] out of you.”
That was when the polls decided things. Now it’s about style points in September making a difference in December and the Bulldogs are wanting to be there.
Georgia 49, Arkansas State 6
Kansas State at Mississippi State (7)
It’s tempting here to pick the Wildcats after seeing an interesting line on this one. You would think the Bulldogs would be a little bigger of a favorite than this, but what it probably means is everybody is waiting to see if they are any good.
Mississippi State 30, Kansas State 24
Alabama at South Carolina (25.5)
This would probably should be in the easy pickings category, but any time you get a chance to throw some shade at the Gamecocks, well, you take advantage of it.
Will Muschamp is continuing the fine tradition at South Carolina of doing okay, but not really challenging for any kind of title.
Coming into the league with Arkansas in 1992, they haven’t won a league title, either, and pretty much have been the eastern version of the Hogs.
While the Hogs have won at a 53 percent clip, the Gamecocks are at 54 percent since coming into the league.
This week won’t help that at all. Saban has never lost to an ex-assistant and it won’t start this week.
Alabama 51, South Carolina 10
Florida (9) at Kentucky
Let’s face it, the Wildcats have never really had much of a home edge … in football.
And, in my opinion, they’re riding the wave of last yea’s success, which is something they only have every 40 years or so.
The last time they won 10 games in a season, they went 4-6-1 the next year.
In college football, you are what you are and it all levels out over time and Kentucky won’t win 10 games this year … or even get close.
Florida 31, Kentucky 10
Behind enemy lines … ever heard the expression?
Study to defeat. Know them better than they know themselves. Infiltrate and conquer.
Who am I kidding? I am a writer (in a very loose definition of the word) who gets the weekly privilege of visiting with those in the know regarding Arkansas’ next football victim (also a very loose definition of the word).
This week I was pleased to visit with Kelly Lyell from the Coloradoan. Lyell covers everything athletic within the friendly realm of Fort Collins.
We spent a little time reminiscing about Colorado State’s comeback upset while hosting Arkansas last season, our thoughts on this weekend’s game in Fayetteville and which Bronco would make a better coach McGrath in a “Wildcats” reboot — John Elway or Tim Tebow? [Elway has his own Nintendo game… I’m just saying.]
With that said, here are the high points:
HitThatLine: Colorado State was on the receiving end of a loss versus your tough in-state foe Colorado to open the season. In week two, the Rams made short-work of Western Illinois on the turf of Canvas Stadium. How do you see the Razorbacks comparing to those two teams?
Kelly Lyell: I don’t think Arkansas is as good as Colorado, but the Razorbacks are probably a lot closer to that level than they are to the level of Western Illinois, which is an FCS program.
HTL: Last season Arkansas was up 27–9 with 2:48 left in the third quarter. The Rams made a great comeback scoring the go-ahead and winning touchdown with eight-seconds left in the game.
Do you feel Colorado State can put up late game points in a hurry in the same fashion as they accomplished in the 2018 meeting?
KL: Other than that game, one of Colorado State’s biggest problems under Mike Bobo has been the ability to finish games. The Rams often start fast but frequently play with less energy and stumble in the second half.
That was the case in each of their first two games this season, too, so I do not expect the Rams to be able to mount a big comeback if they ball behind like that again.
HTL: The Rams have received praise for their development of wide receivers.
How big of an impact do you believe your corps of wideouts this year will have as the team travels to Fayetteville and for the remainder of the season?
KL: Receivers remain the strength of Colorado State’s offense, and they have a far better quarterback running the show this year in a healthy and confident Collin Hill than they did last year when they were playing a grad transfer using a watered-down version of Mike Bobo’s offense.
Warren Jackson has the potential to be as good, or better, than the receivers CSU has sent to the NFL in recent years (Rashard Higgins with the Cleveland Browns, Michael Gallup with the Dallas Cowboys, Preston Williams with the Miami Dolphins, and Bisi Johnson with the Minnesota Vikings).
They have another great young receiver in Dante Wright (who has scored four touchdowns in two games as a true freshman) playing along with others who could develop into something special.
CSU will not have Auburn transfer Nate Craig-Myers for this game, but expect him to be available for the rest of the season.
He had to sit out a full calendar year from his last game at Auburn, which was September 15, 2018.
HTL: Why will Colorado State win this Saturday?
KL: If the Rams win it will because their defense stepped up and created a couple of turnovers more than their offense committed, or, perhaps, they made a couple stops.
Their offense can trade scores with just about anyone, but the defense has not been able to play at the same level.
And turnovers have been a huge problem through two games, with the Rams at minus-5 for the season.
HTL: Why will Arkansas win this non-conference match-up at home?
KL: CSU’s defense, as I mentioned above, is not very good, so Arkansas should be able to move the ball and put up some points.
If Arkansas’ defense can get one or two more stops or turnovers than CSU’s defense, the Razorbacks will win.
HTL: Score prediction?
KL: Arkansas 28, CSU 21.
HTL: Bonus Question: Pick a favorite – Canvas Stadium or Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium?
KL: Canvas Stadium, where the field is also named in honor of Sonny Lubick, by a longshot. Hughes was a great venue for many, many years for CSU, but it never made sense to have a stadium 3-4 miles from campus, up against the foothills.
It made for great tailgating, with everyone essentially a part of the same pregame party, but otherwise it left a lot to be desired as it aged.
We would like to once again thank Lyell for his time, and we wish his team the best of luck this Saturday as Arkansas hosts Colorado State at 3 p.m. You can watch the game on the SEC Network and listen to at HitThatLine.com.
Go HOGS!!!
Find me on ‘Twitter’: @petermorganwps
HitThatLine.com is the website for ESPN Arkansas. Listen at 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 FM in Fort Smith and the River Valley, 96.3 FM in Hot Springs and 104.3 FM in Harrison.
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