John and Tommy discuss Arkansas-Auburn, interview Raymond House, and Fenceman Friday!
Hogs knock off second-ranked Texas A&M, 3-2
FAYETTEVILLE — With the help of a brace from junior Tori Cannata and a first career goal from freshman Bryana Hunter, Arkansas withstood an aggressive match from start to finish to knock off second-ranked Texas A&M, 3-2, Thursday night at Razorback Field.
It’s the first win for Arkansas over Texas A&M since 1993 and snaps the Aggies 25-match overall win streak that dated back to Sept. 17, 2017.
Both of Cannata’s goals were of the go-ahead variety as she gave Arkansas the early lead in the 14th minute before Texas A&M was able to equalize in the 16th minute off a set piece.
The brace was Cannata’s first of her career and her first four-point match in her three years as a Razorback.
Bryana Hunter, who had not appeared in a match yet this year due to an injury, was logging her first career minutes off the bench and came through with a clutch goal in the 75th minute, one of two shots she had in just 23 minutes of action.
Hunter is the ninth different Razorback with at least one goal this year.
The Razorbacks remain undefeated at home at 5-0-1 and tonight’s win was their second over a top-10 team this year and first over a team ranked in the top-two since beating No. 2 Duke, 2-1, on Aug. 26, 2016.
Since 2016, Arkansas has defeated or tied five top-10 teams, which is the most of any team in the SEC.
Sound Bytes
Head coach Colby Hale
“It’s a big win, I told the team at halftime ‘that’s the number-two team in the polls’ we thought that we were every bit as good as them. It’s an upset on the books based on rankings. We thought it was toe to toe, shots were 14 to 12. We thought it was a deserving win. We still have to sort out a few things, but it was good.” — on the win over Texas A&M
“They were really good. Both goals were on set pieces and direct free kicks. In the run of play we were incredibly good defending in every aspect. We’ll clean up a few things and we’ll be good.” — on the defensive play
“I actually said that she was going to score the game-winner at halftime. I said guys, ‘Bryana Hunter is playing up front and she’s going to score the game-winner.” — on Bryana Hunter scoring the game-winner for her first career goal
Tori Cannata – Jr. Forward
“After losing to Texas A&M last year in the SEC Tournament final, we really wanted this win and we got it. I didn’t do all the work tonight. My teammates just passed me the ball and put me in good spots. You just have to keep making runs and you’ll get rewarded.” — on the win over Texas A&M and her two-goal performance
“I thought we were totally engaged the entire game. We were focused and there wasn’t one moment where someone wasn’t paying attention to what was going on. I think that definitely played a role in our win tonight.” — on the focus showed by the entire team throughout the match
Reece Christopherson – Sr. Defender
“Coach (Colby Hale) always talks to us about fearless and tonight we were definitely fearless. Every one of us. Every single substitution. Everyone contributed tonight and was loud. Our fans were incredible. It was a whole Arkansas win.” — on what was the contributing factor to the victory
“That was so awesome. Coach said it at halftime, he said, ‘Bryana, you are going to have the game-winning goal,’ and she did!” — on freshman Bryana Hunter scoring her first goal of her career
How It Went Down
14th minute – It didn’t take long for Arkansas to light up the scoreboard early in the match as Cannata received a great pass from junior Stefani Doyle on the right side of the field, where she one-timed it past the keeper to make it 1-0 Arkansas. Doyle earned two assists on the night, giving her three assists and seven points for the year.
16th minute – Texas A&M quickly answered with of a goal of their own. Kendall Ritchie was able to squeeze the ball past Rachel Harris’ hands in the top shelf off a free kick from 25 yards out.
58th minute – After halftime the Razorbacks earned the lead right back. This time, Cannata found herself, again, in the right place, right-footing a ball past Cosette Morche from roughly 10 yards out off a flip throw from the right side of the field. It was the final lead change of the night.
74th minute – Arkansas doubled its lead 16 minutes later as Doyle was the playmaker again. Racing down the right side of the field on a counterattack, the junior saw an opportunity for a cross off the end line and Hunter stayed onside with a great timed run to chip the ball over Morche’s head. Hunter’s goal made it 3-1 Arkansas, eclipsing the entire total of goals allowed by Texas A&M this season (2).
84th minute – Texas A&M pulled within a single goal with six minutes to play. Asdis Halldorsdottir scored from 35 yards out, hitting a line drive to the left side of the net to give the Aggies their second goal of the night off a free kick.
Up Next
The Razorbacks go back on the road for their next match as they travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide on Sunday. First kick is at 6 p.m. and can be seen on SEC Network+.
Weather forecast forces cancellation of OU exhibition
FAYETTEVILLE — Due to the threat of heavy rain in the Norman, Oklahoma area this weekend, Arkansas’ scheduled fall exhibition with Oklahoma for this Saturday has been canceled.
A replacement game for a later date is in the works, but the opponent has not been determined at this time. Arkansas is still scheduled to play Wichita State at Baum Stadium on Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.
2018 Fall Exhibition Schedule
Oct. 5 – vs. Wichita State (6 p.m.)
Admission for the game with the Shockers will be free.
The Razorbacks are asking each fan to bring non-perishable food items and new or gently used coats to benefit the Salvation Army and the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Campus Food Pantry, who will be collecting these items at the stadium gates.
Seating throughout the stadium will be first-come, first-serve and parking will be free and the Hog Pen will also be open. Gates will open at 5 p.m.
Light concessions will be available via cash only and fans will also be allowed to bring in outside food and beverages with the exception of alcohol.
No coolers will be allowed in the main seating bowl, but will be allowed in the Hog Pen.
Wichita State, coached by former Arkansas assistant Todd Butler, will be visiting Fayetteville the day before the Razorback football team takes on Alabama.
The Shockers, a 35-win team from a year ago, faces Arkansas for only the second time since 2007.
The Razorbacks and Shockers faced each other one time during the 2013 NCAA Manhattan (Kansas) Regional and were regular opponents almost every year during the 1990s and early 2000s.
All fall practices through the month of September and October at Baum Stadium are open to the public. The dates for the annual Fall World Series will be announced at a later time.
???? Thursday Halftime Pod — Featuring the ADG’s Bob Holt
Phil Elson and Tye Richardson talk about Chad Morris weathering the storm, the You Spent What Segement, plus Bob Holt of the ADG.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Thursday
John and Tommy talk about recruiting, punt return safety, interviewed Richard Davenport with Brett Goode in the studio!
How will Hogs respond to Morris’ stern lecture Sunday?
After last Saturday’s 44-17 loss to North Texas, one of the better teams in Conference USA, it wasn’t hard to tell Chad Morris was ticked off afterwards.
Not so much because of WHAT he said, but HOW he said it.
Then, as he left the stadium after recording his weekly television show, Morris strode from the new North End Zone to the parking lot outside the Fred Smith Center like a man trying to get somewhere in a hurry.
All of that is why we weren’t surprised Monday to hear that in the Sunday meeting with the team, Morris went off on the entire team. According to what we were told, there were no punches pulled and the words used left little doubt as to what Morris was feeling.
Good. Great. That’s the best news I’ve heard in a trainwreck of a season that flew off course in the fourth quarter against Colorado State and wandered in the wilderness against a North Texas team Arkansas should have beaten by four touchdowns.
No, this Razorback team isn’t devoid of talent. There appeared to be the appearance of going through the motions by some folks on the field and Cole Kelley simply melted down in a game situation.
Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock, desperate to get some stability at quarterback, even gave Kelley a vote of confidence and put him back on the field in the third quarter.
And Kelley responded with another interception. For a team looking for consistency at maybe the most critical position on the team, Kelley provided that … he was consistently throwing the ball to the other guys.
Blame who you want. Morris and Craddock on Monday tried to deflect some of the blame from Kelley, but there was something there because for the first time since spring practice started, Morris stepped up and named a starting quarterback early in the week, giving Ty Storey the nod with no equivocation.
Kelley is a big, tall kid with a strong arm. It’s amazing how many of those I’ve seen over the years that absolutely blew you away in practice. Then get in a game and lose their mind.
The classic sign of that is the quarterback pointing to everyone on the field but himself after every interception. Kelley looked like one of those guys near the terminal at an airport waving in the airplanes the way he was waving his hands coming off the field.
At halftime I remarked to somebody in the pressbox they should have Kelley untie his shoes and tie them back so he can say he did at least one thing right in the game.
It was surprising he started the second half. It wasn’t surprising when Connor Noland replaced him in the third quarter.
Now Storey gets his chance.
For the first time in his career in Fayetteville, Ty is given the same backing that other quarterbacks got under the previous coaching staff.
Morris and Craddock didn’t mention anybody else. Apparently they are going with Storey against Auburn, sink or swim. Some think if he can just dog paddle and stay alive that will be progress.
Don’t misunderstand the simplification of the offense. That doesn’t mean Storey’s just going to turn and hand the ball off to the running back three times, then send in the punter and let the adventure begin with THAT aspect of the Hogs’ game.
The reads won’t be as complex for either Storey or the receivers.
In practice Wednesday, Storey was much sharper in most of the passing drills I saw, connecting with receivers consistently more than other quarterbacks. He has looked more relaxed with his body language this week.
What does that mean for Saturday?
I have no idea. It could be incredibly ugly with a final score. After getting beaten at home by LSU last week, the Tigers will be looking for redemption.
But, let’s face it, it can’t be any worse that what we’ve seen the last two years from Auburn. The Hogs have lost 56-3 and 52-20 each of the last two games … that’s 108-23 over the last couple of seasons.
We’ll see how Morris’ stern talk Sunday night plays out with this team Saturday.
Razorbacks fall in SEC opener on road against Texas A&M
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Arkansas dropped its SEC opener Wednesday evening at Texas A&M.
Hailey Dirrigl led the team with seven kills while Ellease Crumpton and Kelly O’Brien each tallied five kills and five blocks in the setback.
With the result, the Razorbacks are now 6-5 overall with a 0-1 mark in conference play.
Arkansas returns to Barnhilll Arena on Sunday afternoon for its SEC home opener against Missouri. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on the SEC Network+ which is available through the WatchESPN app.
FINAL
Texas A&M 3, Arkansas 0 | Box Score
Attendance: 1,529 | Time: 1:34
Reed Arena (College Station, Texas)
#RazorStats
• Stat leaders at Texas A&M
o Kills: Hailey Dirrigl – 7
o Digs: Okiana Valle – 12
o Blocks: Ellease Crumpton, Kelly O’Brien – 5.0
After dropping the first two sets—despite late leads in each—the Razorbacks fell behind 10-2 in the third set.
Texas A&M (8-5, 1-0 SEC) maintained its advantage and led 22-14 before Arkansas put together a late-set rally of its own, winning eight of the next nine points to pull within one on a kill by Dirrigl.
The sophomore outside hitter went on to save a match point with her seventh kill of the night but the home team clinched the win on the following point.
Six different Razorbacks had at least four kills in the match including redshirt freshman Maia Stripp who put down four kills on four swings with a pair of blocks in the third set.
Junior setter Rachel Rippee tallied 25 assists, seven digs, two aces and a kill against the Aggies.
PHOTOS: Best pictures from Hogs’ practice Wednesday
It was hot Wednesday afternoon when Arkansas took the field in preparation for their matchup with Auburn on Saturday and here are the best pictures from the limited media availability during the beginning of the workouts.
Photos by Andy Hodges | HitThatLine.com
Morris says Hogs had good day of practice Tuesday
In Chad Morris’ last media availability on game week before Auburn, he talked about a good day of preparation on Tuesday and how he was looking forward to another good practice Wednesday.
???? Wednesday Halftime Pod — Featuring Bill King
Phil Elson and Tye Richardson discuss bright spots on the Arkansas football team, the Change My Mind Segment, plus Bill King of Nashville Sports Radio.
