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Razorbacks shutout, 3-0, despite strong performance against Kentucky

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Despite a strong performance on the road, Arkansas fell to No. 19 Kentucky, 3-0, on Friday.

Junior Rachel Rippee had a milestone match, moving to fifth place in program history for career assists. With the loss, the Razorbacks fell to 6-7 on the season and 0-3 in conference play.

FINAL
No. 19 Kentucky 3, Arkansas 0 | Box Score
Attendance: 2089 | Time: 1:24
Memorial Coliseum

#RazorStats
• Stat leaders at Kentucky
o Kills: Kelly O’Brien – 10
o Digs: Okiana Valle – 12
o Blocks: Fernanda Guitron – 5.0

The Razorbacks had a slow start in the second set, falling 14-25. The team gained momentum in the second set, leading early but eventually falling 24-26.

Both teams played close in the third set until the Wildcats pulled away and won the match.

The Hogs will return to the court Sunday afternoon, ending their weekend road stretch at Tennessee. The match will stream on the SEC Network+, with first serve set for 12:30 p.m.

Razorbacks stay unbeaten with late goal from Malham to beat Mizzou

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas remained unbeaten at home Thursday night, beating Missouri, 1-0, on the back of a strong defensive stand and a 59th-minute goal from sophomore Taylor Malham.

It’s the third-straight conference win for Arkansas and second-straight shutout.

Arkansas is unbeaten through the last four matches dating back to a 1-1 draw with Providence on Sept. 16 and ups its home record to 6-0-1.

Overall, the Razorbacks are now 8-2-2 and 3-1-0 in the SEC. The Tigers fall to 4-6-2 overall and 1-2-1 in league play.

Malham, who had been held goalless over the previous seven matches, came up big early in the second half when she received a key pass from freshman Emily Russell at the far post back into the middle of the box.

Stefani Doyle was also key on the play as she helped set the offense from the right side with her cross after beating the defender to the end line.

Malham now has two goals on the year and 10 points. She joins junior Kayla McKeon as the only two Razorbacks with 10 or more points through the first 12 matches.

For Malham, six of her 10 points have come off assists.

Throughout the match, Arkansas endured a tenacious attack from Missouri. Combined, both teams managed only five shots with two coming on goal.

However, the Razorbacks turned up the heat in the second half, creating 14 shots with three finding the target.

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Beitz, making her second-consecutive start in the net, had three saves in the game and improved to 3-0-0.

It was Arkansas’ third shutout of the year and second-straight. Beitz has been in goal for both of the previous two clean sheets.

Sound Byte
“That was obviously a huge point of emphasis, we were giving up some goals and we worked on that. At halftime, we said, ‘there are just games that you don’t have you’re A-game and you’re not sure why and your legs are little heavy, but we have to gut out a 1-0 win.’ I thought they did a tremendous job with that.” — Colby Hale on the overall play throughout the game

“It wasn’t quite us. You could tell we didn’t have our legs. Up front we were losing the physical battle and we weren’t as dynamic as we’ve been. There are days that that happens. We just have to gut out a 1-0 win and the second half we created a ton more chances and could have scored a few more goals, but we were a lot better.” — Hale on playing a tough game

“I think our team handles these games pretty well. We knew going into the second half we needed to pick up our game and put more pressure on them. I think we really improved that going into it and obviously we got a goal and we just needed to keep it up.” — Sophomore Taylor Malham on gutting out a 1-0 win

“I think all the credit goes to the backs. They make my job a lot easier. The team in front is making it easier for me to get shutouts. We had 14 shots in the second half which is a big change from the first half and that makes it a lot easier as well. It’s a big confidence booster going into the home stretch of SEC matches.” — Redshirt sophomore Taylor Beitz on back-to-back shutout wins

Other Key Notes

• Arkansas remained unbeaten at home this season with the 1-0 victory over Missouri. With a 6-0-1 record at Razorback Field, Arkansas is one of five teams in the SEC with an undefeated record at home in 2018.

• Sophomore Taylor Malham scored her second goal of the year and secured two more points to up her season total to 10. She joins Kayla McKeon as the only Razorbacks with 10 or more points this season.

• For the second-straight match, the Arkansas defense kept its opponent off the scoreboard, recording its third shutout of the year and second-straight in SEC play. Taylor Beitz has been in goal for both of the previous two shutouts.

• Thursday’s match was Arkansas’ sixth one-goal game of the year and third straight. Arkansas is now 5-1 on the year in one-goal games.

• For the third-straight appearance, Taylor Beitz tied her career high with three saves made against Missouri. In 283 minutes, Beitz has made 11 saves and only allowed two goals.

• The Razorbacks are now 6-3-0 against the Tigers all-time and have won five of the last six dating back to 2012.

Up Next

The Razorbacks have the rest of the weekend off and will return to the field on Oct. 4 when they take on LSU at 6:30 p.m. That match will be televised online on SEC Network+.

Catalon talks about official visit for Alabama game

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Mansfield, Texas, Legacy High School four-star safety Jalen Catalon discussed his upcoming official visit to Arkansas next weekend against top-ranked Alabama.
“I look forward to having fun and seeing the game like atmosphere,” Catalon said.
Catalon is enjoying the recruiting process.
“Recruiting is going great,” Catalon said. “I love the care from the coaches.”
Catalon was asked what he likes about each of his top four teams of Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and TCU?
“Each school offers me a great education and the atmosphere is great,” Catalon said.
Catalon commented on what makes Arkansas different from any other school recruiting him?
“Out of my four schools they all stand out at the same level,” Catalon said.
Catalon talked about what team is recruiting him the hardest at the moment.
“It’s hard to tell … all four are really recruiting me really well,” Catalon said.
Catalon has a great relationship with the Arkansas coaching staff.
“Coaching staff is great and relationship with them is unique,” Catalon said.
Catalon knows when he will commit to his school of choice.
“Sometime in January,” Catalon said.
Catalon elaborated on what would be the determining factor on where he will go to college at.
“Just my overall feeling for the education and how I feel about fitting the program as a person,” Catalon said.
Catalon spoke on his skill sets as a football player.
“I believe I have great passion and IQ for the game,” Catalon said.
Catalon went into depth what it would mean if his teammates Tauren Carter and Arkansas commitment Enoch Jackson all ended up at Arkansas.
“It would be a blessing too,” Catalon said. “But love them no matter where they go or where we end up.But if it works out like that. It would be special.”
Catalon top four remains Arkansas, TCU, Texas, and Oklahoma. No particular order.

???? Thursday Halftime Pod — Featuring Bob Holt

Tye Richardson
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???? Thursday Halftime Pod — Featuring Bob Holt

Phil and Tye discuss Kelly Bryant possibly ending up at Arkansas, most expensive tickets, plus Bob Holt!

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday

John, Tommy, and Nick Mason discuss giving out phone numbers, Kelly Bryant plus Tom Murphy.

LISTEN: Boyd: Bryant would fit in Morris’ system

Tye Richardson
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Photo creds: Sports Illustrated

Storey shrugging off eye poke a good sign for a QB

Andy Hodges
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In the third quarter against Auburn, there was one of those notable moments for Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey.

Tigers’ defensive lineman Marlon Davidson just reached his big paw inside Storey’s facemask had a go at his eyes. There’s not really any way to describe it, but none of the officials seemed particularly interested.

“He definitely got a finger in my eye,” Storey said earlier this week. “It actually popped my contact out.”

The SEC Network cameras caught it in living color, as they used to say when black-and-white TV sets were the norm.

Arkansas called timeout to discuss the upcoming fourth-and-2 situation and Storey discussed it with the officials to no avail. Cole Kelley came in and got the first down while Storey was getting a new contact lens on the sideline.

“Our training staff is always well prepared,” Storey said. “They popped a new one in, and we were ready to go.”

He more or less shrugged over the whole deal, but he wasn’t happy about it during the game.

“We were pretty heated about that,” Storey said.

Before practice Wednesday, Morris was asked about the eye-poke and if he’d sent the video to the league office in Birmingham.

“That’s pretty customary for everybody across the country,” Morris said. “There’s different things that come up in the course of a game and you want to get a response back from the officiating crew.”

But what about the eye-poke, Chad?

“I’m not going to go into all that,” he said. “We send in a bunch of plays and there were several of them, just asking for interpretations.

How Storey responded, though, was likely what Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock were looking for in a quarterback.

He didn’t let it bother him. By Tuesday, he was just kinda shrugging about the whole thing.

“I guess that’s part of the game,” he said. “I thought it was kind of dirty. But it’s whatever. It’s part of the game.”

Storey pretty much has taken it all in stride, which has more or less been the way he’s handled everything since being in Fayetteville all the way back to 2015.

That whole incident, as much as anything, may offer a clue why he never seemed to make much progress under the previous coaching staff.

Kelley did, apparently leapfrogging Storey in the pecking order of things.

Did the previous staff value that raw emotion that sometimes just pours out of Kelley more than a calm, almost laid-back approach that Storey has?

Just one of those questions that come up now and then.

 

PHOTOS: Quarterbacks working in rain Wednesday

Andy Hodges
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Arkansas quarterbacks, including starter Ty Storey, worked in a light rain Wednesday, but not in full pads as temperatures dropped dramatically and the wind picked up.

Photos by Andy Hodges | HitThatLine.com

Morris on Southwest Classic against Texas A&M

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks coach Chad Morris met with the media Wednesday for the final time before the game Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington against Texas A&M.

???? Wednesday Halftime Pod — Featuring Bill King

Tye Richardson
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Phil and Tye talk about Kelly Bryant transferring, clips from the players last night, the Change My Mind segment and more!

Should Hogs be going after Clemson quarterback?

Andy Hodges
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Chad Morris may have been part of the recruitment of Kelly Bryant to Clemson back in 2014, but he never got to coach him.

Morris was gone to SMU by the time Bryant enrolled in January of 2015, but it’s a good bet the two know each other.

How well may be interesting to find out in the coming days.

The news broke late Tuesday night and Wednesday morning that Bryant had not shown up at the Tigers’ practice Tuesday and In an exclusive interview with Orange & White, Bryant told Manie Robinson he was leaving.

As soon as that broke, Arkansas fans added two and two, hoping they came up with the right answer that the Hogs might be a potential landing spot.

Bryant did guide Clemson to the College Football Playoff last season and began this season as the starter. But Tigers coach Dabo Swinney made the decision Sunday to go with freshman Trevor Lawrence as the starter.

And Bryant decided to move on.

He spent two years backing up Deshaun Watson, got his shot last year and had a couple of stumbles along the way, got the Tigers into the CFP, but the hyped semifinal shootout with Alabama came off as the Cap Pistol Follies as Clemson struggled.

Now could Arkansas be on his radar?

Nobody knows, but it’s a good bet this story could be updated with the media visiting with Morris before the Hogs’ practice Wednesday.

Not being a recruiter, I have no idea what the rules are on coaches commenting on a graduate transfer.The guess is Morris won’t say much, if anything beyond he knows Bryant.

The bigger question is how Bryant would fit at Arkansas.

Initial knee-jerk reactions say he would fit nicely. Knows what the Hogs want to do with the offense, is more mobile than any quarterback on campus since Matt Jones and has won games at a big time level.

All of those are the positives.

But what message does that send to what is likely to be a diminishing group in the quarterback room.

Cole Kelley is a redshirt sophomore, so if he’s leaving for anything other than an FCS or DII school, he’s got to sit a year, then have one season left.

Ty Storey could do the graduate transfer path, but his options will likely be limited. Daulton Hyatt may be out.

Incoming freshman K.J. Jefferson may not be ready for a year or two, according to some who have seen him closely at North Panola the last few years. He’s a raw talent, but plays in a smaller conference and gauging his skillset is tough.

North Panola is not South Panola, the one-time national powerhouse at the other end of Panola County around Batesville, Mississippi, that churned out highly-rated players every year.

Bryant could be a fit at Arkansas … and maybe the answer at the offensive position that has appeared to have Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock stymied.

The biggest question, though, is if Bryant would be interested in Arkansas.

Speculation in the national media has thrown out everywhere from Ohio State to Florida and everything in between as possible landing spots for Bryant.

Are the Razorbacks an option?

We won’t know for awhile, but there does have to be an interest on both sides.

And you thought things were going to settle down, huh?

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