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How Arkansas’ highest-ranked teams fared this week

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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How the teams ranked in the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll fared on Friday:

Overall
1. North Little Rock (3-0) defeated Memphis Whitehaven, 46-35
2. Bryant (2-1) lost to No. 3 Fayetteville 36-35
3. Fayetteville (3-0 defeated No. 2 Bryant 36-35
4. Conway (3-0) was off
5. FS Northside (3-0) was off
6. Pulaski Academy (2-1) lost to Bossier City (La.) Parkway 30-22
7. Cabot (2-1) lost to Benton 56-41
8. Greenwood (2-1) defeated Sand Springs (Okla.) Page 49-13
9. Springdale (3-0) was off
10. Warren (2-0) defeated Dollarway 43-0

Class 6A
1. Greenwood (2-1) defeated Sand Springs (Okla.) Page 49-13
2. West Memphis (3-0) defeated Wynne 21-0
3. Benton (2-1) defeated Cabot 56-41
4. Pine Bluff (0-2-1) lost to Springdale Har-Ber 27-18
5. Searcy (3-0) was off

Class 5A
1. Pulaski Academy (2-1) lost to Bossier City (La.) Parkway 30-22
2. LR Christian (3-0) defeated Greenbrier 56-13
3. LR McClellan (3-0) defeated LR Fair (52-0)
4. Harrison (3-0) was off
5. Texarkana (2-1) was off

Class 4A
1. Warren (2-0) defeated Dollarway 43-0
2. Joe T. Robinson (2-1) defeated Camden Fairview 41-12
3. Nasville (3-0) was off
4. Rivrcrest (3-0) defeated Osceola 16-14
5. Southside Batesville (2-1) defeated Pocahontas 28-8

Class 3A
1. Booneville (3-0) was off
2. Clinton (3-0) defeated Central Ark. Christian 48-28
3. Prescott (3-0) defeated Hope 46-13
4. Mayflower (3-0) defeated Parkers Chapel 52-8
5. McGehee (1-2) defeated Crossett 8-6

Class 2A
1. Mount Ida (3-0) defeate Magnet Cove 28-7
2. Foreman (2-0) defeated Horatio 34-0
3. Hazen (2-0) defeated Marked Tree 51-0
4. Junction City (1-2) lost to Haynesville, La., 33-0
5. Mineral Springs (3-0) defeated England 35-0

Chad doesn’t want to admit it, but he’s got a rebuild to do

Andy Hodges
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This one is going to take awhile for Arkansas fans to get over.

Even though many fans weren’t holding out a lot of hope after last week’s fourth-quarter meltdown against Colorado State, nobody was thinking the Razorbacks would lose 44-17 to a Conference USA team.

As we said, many didn’t show up (slightly over 44,000 actually attended) and things went downhill in an ugly, ugly fashion.

Chad Morris said in the post-mortem later that he wasn’t calling this a rebuild, but that’s exactly what it is.

“No one in that locker room wants to hear the word ‘rebuild,’ especially if you’re a senior that’s invested time in this program,” he said.

They may not want to hear it. He may not want to say it.

But he better believe it and if he wants to reclaim a large part of the fan base, Morris might want to admit it and start building for the future.

He can look in the mirror until it falls off the wall, have the players stare a hole into every mirror in the multi-million dollar facilities and it’s not going to change anything.

That goes for some in the media, too, starting with me. I thought this team had a shot at getting seven, maybe eight wins. I reserved the right to revise and extend my preseason prediction and now I’m saying if this team gets three wins you might want to start checking for lightning bolts.

It starts with the most prominent position. Quarterback is a train wreck. No matter what Cole Kelley does in practice, he’s not a gamer. For whatever reason, when the lights come on, the band starts playing, he appears as lost as a goose in this offense.

“(The players) do want to hear the fact that you’ve got to get better and improve and find ways to improve,” Morris said.

He sounded as baffled by what happened in a game where the Hogs couldn’t do anything right against a Mean Green team that shouldn’t be 27 points better, but was on Saturday.

Morris said several times in the postgame everyone has to look in those mirrors.

“There are some guys that are playing especially hard,” he said. “We’ve just got to continue to develop and, again, like I said you’ve got to go back and look in the mirror.”

Again, though, like Razorback fans have done for years, it all starts with the quarterback and for this game that was going to be Kelley, who threw three interceptions in the first half and appeared several times to not be familiar with the same page of the playbook as his receivers.

“I was trying to get to the point of staying with one guy as long as we could with the hopes to give the entire game to Cole,” Morris said, trying to explain what no one can really explain. “Cole had the better week of practice, so we made the decision to go with Cole and made the decision to stay with Cole in the second half.

“I wanted to see if he could rally us back.”

In other words, Morris wanted to see if he could pull off the same thing he did against Ole Miss last year in engineering that comeback. It was also a matter of showing some confidence in him.

“We got in there at halftime and had some good adjustments and talked and let him know that, ‘hey, we’ll go right back with you,'” he said.

Kelley started the second half and promptly threw an interception and that ended his day. Connor Noland was next, not Ty Storey, who had battled Kelley throughout fall camp and started last week.

“I didn’t want to put Ty in that situation with them being down that far,” Morris said.

Noland couldn’t do much, primarily because the offensive line couldn’t block a North Texas defense that at times was rushing only three people … and getting them to Noland almost as fast as the snap.

It was the same thing with John Stephen Jones later. Both of the freshmen threw an interception so the Hogs ended up giving the Mean Green six gifts.

At least the Hogs didn’t fumble a single time all day, which really may be the only positive you can see looking at the numbers.

Arkansas ended up with 336 yards of total offense, just 40 behind North Texas. That is a little deceptive, though, because the Hogs got 91 of those in the fourth quarter when the Mean Green were just sorta trying to get the game over with.

Where does Arkansas go from here?

We won’t know for awhile, but it’s going to get worse before it gets better. They start a stretch of games against Auburn, Texas A&M and Alabama in the next three weeks.

Unless something unseen happens, you don’t have to be an expert to know what direction things are headed.

Ramirez, Cornelius, Froholdt after Hogs’ blowout loss

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas players Santos Ramirez, Jared Cornelius and Hjalte Froholdt didn’t hold back talking about fans that showed displeasure with some of the Razorbacks in the 44-17 blowout loss at home.

Morris talking about Arkansas’ 44-17 loss

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks coach Chad Morris after the loss to the Mean Green and how he was wanting to go with one quarterback in this game, but glad to see freshmen get some game reps.

Don’t be nervous about Hogs against North Texas today

Pete Morgan
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Nervous yet? You shouldn’t be.

Just because a former Washington quarterback got hot on the Razorbacks defense in the second half should not create the urgency to smack your hand onto the panic button.

Instead let’s focus upon how the Hogs will turn the season around this weekend as it welcomes North Texas to Fayetteville.

The defense can only desire to build upon the first half from last week’s game while hoping the second half has gone the way of my Dad’s short-term memory.

This will be no cakewalk as some have stated Mason Fine, the starting quarterback for the Mean Green (which may be the lamest mascot in NCAA D-I), is the best passer in Texas.

Personally, I think it is a bandwagon of “small school hype”. However, if we learned anything last week it’s that we cannot take ANYONE lightly.

North Texas does like to throw the ball around the field though, and Arkansas did give up almost 400 yards passing to Colorado State.

Therefore, it will be a strong concern for Razorbacks fans as kickoff nears knowing Fine has thrown for over 400 yards in his first two games, including against Morris’s previous school, SMU.

On second thought, maybe I should not have used the word “hype”

Well, Dre Greenlaw is back, even if it may be in limited action, and North Texas’ second game was against Incarnate Word, so maybe the numbers are a little askew early in the season.

Wait, at the risk of sounding blasphemous, who did you say the Mean Green played last week?

Offensively who knows where Arkansas stands?

At the time of prosing this masterpiece prediction I am uncertain exactly what will be the plan for the signal caller(s) throughout the game.

However, we’ve said it before, and we will probably say it again: the offensive line must afford whomever takes the snaps for the Hogs more time in the pocket. Does that devoid our quarterbacks any responsibility for making bad throws? Absolutely not.

If the run works like it did versus Colorado State, Morris and his staff would be foolish to stray away from it like they did late last week. Even the 64-yard pass credited to Cole Kelley was nothing more than a front-flipped handoff to TJ Hammonds.

There is a lot of solid (but not standout) talent for the Razorbacks in the running back position needing to be utilized. And call it “Netflix Celebrity Status” if you will, but I am anxious to see Rakeem Boyd get more touches.

Punting, placekicking, and all things on the special aspects of football strategy must improve. Word has it Jared Cornelius had difficulty finding punts from the Rams due to the scoreboard lights in the thin Colorado air.

Fortunately, Deon Stewart was able to step in and contribute. There is a level of curiosity as to which one of these two (if not both) will be the primary returner against North Texas.

Conner Limpert may be a key to the momentum in Saturday’s contest early.

Being at home will boost the young man’s confidence, and there’s a piece of instinct proposing his name may be called in being the deciding factor late in this contest.

Across the field, his former teammate, Cole Hedlund, will head up the placekicking duties for the Mean Green. You guys remember Hedlund? Reports say he has fully recovered from his injuries sustained in Bret Bielema’s Under the Bus Tour.

Furthermore, let’s forget about the fact that our early season loss was against Colorado State.

Yet on a contrary thought, you might get ready to depress the aforementioned panic button. And if we happen to lose to the Mean Green, there will be an emphasis on the word “depress.”

Final thoughts: I have a feeling one quarterback will turn the page today. The defense must pressure Fine in the backfield all afternoon (and the evening as well if any of the defensive players are reading) to prevent him from having a field day in Donald W Reynolds.

And. lastly, to quote a certain CBS color commentator: “Arkansas, run the dang football!”

“We shall not fail.” Arkansas 38-24.

The contest between Sir Andy Hodges and myself rolls on. With last week being a push, he retains the overall season lead. Let’s rock these SEC picks to rightly establish myself at the top of the heap. What type of heap you ask? No comment.

  • Middle Tennessee State at (3) Georgia – Bulldogs by 38
  • Murray State at Kentucky – The hot Wildcats by 28
  • University of Texas – El Paso at Tennessee – Vols in a close 21
  • Vanderbilt at (8) Notre Dame – The Fighting Irish fans will boast a 12-point victory over the SEC
  • (12) LSU at (7) Auburn – LSU’s momentum ends here in a 17-point loss to the “Eagles”
  • Colorado State at Florida – Can the Rams do it two weeks in a row? No. Gators by 20
  • (1) Alabama at Ole Miss – No hope for a Rebs upset this season. Bama by 34
  • Louisiana (Who?) at (16) Mississippi State – Bulldogs by 30
  • Missouri at Purdue – Vegas agrees with us. Tigers by 22
  • University of Louisiana Monroe at Texas A&M

Two weeks in a row with no “Upset Alert” … have I lost my gutsy edge? Maybe.

On a side note, I am somehow reminded that I need to pick up my Metamucil this weekend. Fingers crossed that Andy picked LSU over the Plainsmen. Oh, and Go HOGS!!!

Hogs will rebound against over-matched North Texas

Andy Hodges
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Last week’s fourth-quarter collapse against Colorado State has caused an incredibly huge number of Arkansas fans to jump off the bandwagon before this week’s game against North Texas.

That didn’t take long, did it?

It’s like everything else in life … nothing’s as good as it seems and nothing’s as bad as it seems and reality is somewhere in the middle. That’s not me. Lou Holtz first said it in 1977 after his team suffered it’s only loss of the season against Texas.

Lou also had another saying as the world of college football evolved over the last 40 years that’s especially true now: Different week, different team.

The Mean Green haven’t played anybody that’s any good. There’s SMU that has struggled after Chad Morris left, but they didn’t have any defense when he was there so let’s not debate that a lot.

Then they played Incarnate Word. They are from San Antonio and I’m pretty sure most of you reading this didn’t know that. They are an FCS team in the Southland Conference and they aren’t very good in that league.

No, North Texas has a pretty nifty little quarterback. Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis said Monday that Mason Fine can “spin it” with the best.

In reality, Fine might make second team at an SEC school. Well, maybe half of the schools. He’s listed at 5-foot-11, which means if North Texas’ measuring system is like most schools he’s actually 5-9.

Let’s see what he does against an SEC defense, no matter how bad some Razorback fans want to downgrade it.

I’m guessing Chavis and a defense that has a chip on it’s shoulder is going to look better than most people think.

We don’t have a clue who will be the quarterback against North Texas, but I’m still not convinced we won’t see one of the freshmen, despite the fact they weren’t on the depth chart for this game.

It may be a slow first quarter, but the Hogs will take control of this game and this time they won’t blow the lead late.

Arkansas 63, North Texas 24

Last week I was 10-2 bringing me to 22-3 on the season. The Hogs and Florida losing for the first time in 31 years to Kentucky did me in.

Let’s take care of the easy ones first:

Georgia beats Middle Tennessee, Kentucky downs Murray State, Tennessee over UTEP, Notre Dame over Vanderbilt, Florida over Colorado State, Mississippi State over Louisiana and Texas A&M over Louisiana-Monroe.

LSU at -10.5 Auburn

The Tigers will win. Guaranteed.

Okay, bad joke.

LSU comes into this game set up for a kill about as well as any time I’ve seen in awhile. Auburn is still smarting from that second-half meltdown at Tiger Stadium last year and they’ve spent two weeks wanting to erase that memory.

After losing maybe it’s best defensive player last week, this one doesn’t look for LSU.

It’s rare to see a double-digit point spread on two teams ranked as high as they are. Auburn is No. 9 and LSU is No. 12 and it’s a 10.5-point spread.

Auburn 31, LSU 10

Alabama -22.5 at Ole Miss

The Rebels’ faithful will remind you they are the last SEC team to beat Alabama two years in a row. It should have been three, but Ole Miss melted down in 2016 even faster than Hog fans are used to.

The Crimson Tide have the talent to slow down the Ole Miss offense while their offense will likely face better opposition in practice than what the Rebels will muster.

There won’t be any upset here and Ole Miss won’t cover.

Alabama 63, Ole Miss 24

Missouri -5 at Purdue

Even the Tigers won’t mess this one up … at least you wouldn’t think so, huh?

Sooner or later they will realize making Derek Dooley the offensive coordinator might not necessarily be the best idea.

Neither team has much defense, but I don’t think Missouri will cover the spread.

Missouri 42, Purdue 41

Kjerstad on fall drills, upcoming exhibition matches

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad talked with the media Wednesday about his summer and fall practices, including the upcoming exhibition games against Oklahoma and Wichita State.

Van Horn talking about Hogs’ fall practices before scrimmage

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn visited with the media Friday afternoon before a scrimmage as they continue fall practices in addition to talking about playing Oklahoma and Wichita State in exhibition games.

???? Friday Halftime Pod — Featuring Aaron Torres and Brett Goode

Tye Richardson
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???? Friday Halftime Pod — Featuring Aaron Torres and Brett Goode

Phil Elson and Tye Richardson discuss what needs to happen Saturday, interview KSR’s Aaron Torres, plus former Hog Brett Goode in-studio.

Hogs to play Oklahoma, Wichita State in fall games

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Dave Van Horn announced a pair of fall exhibition games for Arkansas on Friday.

The Razorbacks will take on Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Noon at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Oklahoma, before hosting Wichita State at Baum Stadium on Friday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.

Both games will not count toward the team’s 56-game regular season schedule due to the rule changes announced by the NCAA last spring.

2018 Fall Exhibition Schedule
Sept. 22 – at Oklahoma (Noon)
Oct. 5 – vs. Wichita State (6 p.m.)

Tickets for the game against the Sooners will cost $5, but spectators with tickets to the football game between Oklahoma and Army later that day will be admitted for free.

As for the game at Baum Stadium with the Shockers, admission 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.

A member of the Big 12 conference, Oklahoma and Arkansas have met on 25 previous occasions, but not since 2012 in a midweek contest.

Arkansas is 14-11 all time against the Sooners and have faced them three of the last six times in the NCAA Tournament.

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.

SportsInformationTraders.com’s Jon Price shares some picks for the weekend

Tye Richardson
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