John and Tommy talk about the aftermath of the Auburn loss, interview Tom Murphy, plus Officer Breeden stops by!
McKeon header finishes shutout over Alabama on Sunday
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas utilized a gutsy performance Sunday night to shutout the Alabama Crimson Tide, 1-0, at the Alabama Soccer Complex.
It’s the second shutout of the year for Arkansas and the first in SEC play.
The win is Arkansas’ fourth win over the Tide in the last six meetings dating back to 2012 and second-straight conference victory, giving it six points in the SEC standings. Arkansas is now 7-2-2 on the year and 2-1-0 in conference play. Alabama falls to 6-5-1 overall and 0-3-0 in the SEC.
Arkansas’ attacking third broke through what was a defensive stalemate for nearly 80 minutes when junior Kayla McKeon headed home a cross at the far post from sophomore Taylor Malham. It was McKeon’s team-leading fifth goal of the year and Malham’s team-leading sixth assist.
McKeon nearly had her fifth goal of the year earlier in the match when Arkansas was awarded a penalty kick in the 31st minute, but her shot was knocked away by Alabama keeper Alex Plavin. McKeon finished the match with a team-high four shots in 67 minutes, two going on target.
The Razorbacks have won four of their last seven true road matches going back to last season and all four have been shutouts. The defense allowed only seven shots against the Crimson Tide on Sunday and just one corner kick. It’s the seventh match this year that an Arkansas opponent has taken two or less corners in a game.
Sound Byte
“The players were very good tonight and earned that one. We know Alabama is a very good team, who has scored a lot of goals, but I thought we limited their chances to one late. This was just a gutsy performance on the road and to get the shutout was a big goal of ours.” — Head coach Colby Hale on the road victory over Alabama
How It Went Down
31st minute – Arkansas had an opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in the latter part of the first half when Alabama was whistled for a foul inside the box on a run by Stefani Doyle. Kayla McKeon, taking her second penalty kick of the year, fired a right-footed shot, but Alabama goalkeeper Alex Plavin guessed correctly to make the save and keep the match scoreless.
79th minute – McKeon made good later in the match after the failed penalty conversion. After one of seven corners were taken by Taylor Malham on the right side of the field, Malham was able to reset the offense and take another cross at the end line and found McKeon at the far post. The junior timed her header perfectly and beat the keeper easily for her fifth goal of the year and third game winner.
Other Key Notes
• Junior Kayla McKeon scored her fifth goal of the year and 18th of her career Sunday night. She now has seven game-winners in her career.
• Arkansas’ defense held Alabama to only one corner kick in the match. It’s the seventh time this year a Razorback opponent has taken two corners or less in a match.
• Sophomore Taylor Malham earned her team-leading sixth assist of the season on McKeon’s goal. Her six assists tie for second in the SEC.
• Malham has recorded an assist in three-consecutive matches and now has eight points for the year. She’s earned at least one point in seven of 11 matches, more than any other Razorback.
• Redshirt sophomore Taylor Beitz earned her second victory of the year and played a career-high 90 minutes. She also tied a career-high three saves.
• After earning seven corner kicks Sunday against Alabama, Arkansas is now 6-2-1 when taking five or more corners this season.
Up Next
The Razorbacks return home next week to take on Missouri at Razorback Field on Thursday. First kick is slated for 6 p.m. and will be televised nationally on the SEC Network.
Ryan, Valley have career days in 3-1 loss at Missouri
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas dropped its first home SEC match in a 3-1 decision Sunday afternoon.
Two Razorbacks had milestone matches, with Okiana Valle recording a career 1,500 digs and freshman Gracie Ryan earning her first career start and double-double.
The Hogs will return to the court next weekend with a pair of road matches at Kentucky and Tennessee.
Sunday’s match at Tennessee will be streamed live on the SEC Network+ which is available through the WatchESPN app.
FINAL
Missouri 3, Arkansas 1 | Box Score
Attendance: 771 | Time: 1:58
Barnhill Arena
#RazorStats
• Stat leaders vs. Missouri
o Kills: Hailey Dirrigl – 17
o Digs: Okiana Valle – 22
o Blocks: Elizabeth Pamphile, Kelly O’Brien – 3.0
After dropping the first two sets, despite an early lead in the second, the Razorbacks dominated the third set with a 25-14 win. Arkansas had a .375 hitting percentage compared to Missouri’s .188, led by Ryan and Dirrigl’s .800 hitting percentage.
The Razorbacks maintained a close score in the fourth set, trailing by no more than six points until the Tigers pulled ahead and closed out the match.
Dirrigl’s 17 kills put her at 451 career kills, 216 away from ranking No. 25 in program history with 667.
Ryan’s 28 assists and 13 digs gave her the lone double-double of the match, while Valle’s 22 digs gave her 1,508 career digs.
The senior libero is now just 151 digs away from rankings No. 2 in program history.
KNWA VIDEO: Boyd with media after loss to Tigers Saturday
Video courtesy of KNWA
Arkansas running back Rakeem Boyd talked with the media after the 34-3 loss to Auburn about how the Hogs are close to being much improved team when “everyone buys in.”
KNWA VIDEO: Greenlaw after loss to Tigers Saturday
Video courtesy of KNWA
Arkansas linebacker Dre Greenlaw said he wasn’t 100 percent healthy Saturday night against Auburn, but wanted to be out there and he provided a spark.
KNWA VIDEO: Hogs offensive lineman Gibson after game
Video courtesy of KNWA
Arkansas offensive lineman Johnny Gibson talked with the media after the 34-3 loss at Auburn on Saturday night.
Storey provides step forward, but it has to continue
Chad Morris has said since the beginning of spring practice that being the starting quarterback at Arkansas is not a lifetime appointment.
That’s the way coaches point out you can lose it if you don’t perform. Ask Cole Kelley. For the last year it’s almost seemed like he was the one coaches kept trying to push into the starting role.
Storey, meanwhile, has been the guy who just quietly does what he’s supposed to, doesn’t create waves or do a lot to jump into the spotlight.
But when he’s in the spotlight it doesn’t particularly bother him.
“The moment was not too big for him,” Morris said in the wake following the 34-3 loss at Auburn on Saturday night.
Unless Storey somehow does something completely out of character, you got the idea listening to Morris after the game the quarterback position is now fixed.
“Ty was a warrior,” Morris said later. “He was a warrior and he was gritty. He played with a chip on his shoulder.”
Of course there are critics. Every Arkansas quarterback since the beginning of time have had the social media Hall of Fame armchair quarterbacks who THINK they have a clue and nitpick things most have no idea about.
By the numbers, Storey outplayed his counterpart Saturday night. The Hogs put up 290 yards of offense while Jarrett Stidham led Auburn to 225. That says a lot about the job John Chavis did with the defense in one week.
It also showed some ability for the offense to move the ball. Yes, there were miscues, but not as many as before. Only one interception. More concerning were the drops of perfectly placed passes that were dropped for no reason at all.
Let’s not forget, either, coming into this season Auburn’s defensive front was one of the most highly-touted in college football, in the top five of every discussion.
And Arkansas ran the ball for 182 yards. Take away the 19 yards in losses Storey had while trying to extend plays or just avoid the pressure, not have receivers drop wide open passes and we’re talking about a fairly solid night.
But they just couldn’t get into the end zone.
“It starts with me,” Storey said later. “I’ve got to make more plays, and we’ve got to put the ball in the end zone.”
What he did, though, was establish himself as the leader of the offense going forward.
“Obviously, there were some throws we wish he could have back,” Morris said. “But this is a guy who kept fighting, just like they all did.
“I’m very proud of Ty. I’m extremely proud of him moving forward and the way he played tonight. Ty did some really good things tonight.”
What Storey did was give this Razorback team something they can build on going forward.
“He carried the offense on his back tonight,” senior defensive end Randy Ramsey said later.
Ramsey was a big reason Stidham and the Auburn offense appeared out of sync nearly the entire evening. He only had one sack, but it’s a safe bet everyone for the Tigers knew his number all night.
And having an established leader at quarterback tends to have that carry-over affect for the entire team.
“Now we don’t have to worry about who’s playing this game, this game,” Ramsey said. “It’s good to know we have a solidified starter on the offense.”
Nobody’s ready to put Storey into the Hall of Fame after one solid performance that resulted in a 31-point loss and the offense didn’t get into the end zone, but it is a step forward.
Which is what Morris told us last week he was trying to do. He is looking for improvement every practice, every game.
At quarterback he got that Saturday night.
Now we see what happens moving forward.
KNWA VIDEO: Morris talks about loss to Tigers Saturday
Video courtesy of KNWA
Arkansas coach Chad Morris talked with the media in the aftermath of a 34-3 loss on The Plains at Auburn and said Ty Storey is the quarterback going forward.
KNWA VIDEO: Storey knows Hogs need touchdowns
Video courtesy of KNWA
Razorbacks quarterback Ty Storey talked with the media after the game about the offense needing to score touchdowns after the defense made big improvements against Auburn.
KNWA VIDEO: Ramsey after loss at Auburn Saturday night
Video courtesy of KNWA
Arkansas senior defensive end Randy Ramsey talked about the game against the Tigers and the 34-3 loss, despite the defense having to step up repeatedly.
Hogs lose to Auburn, but special teams made it worse
No one expected Arkansas to have much of a shot on the road against Auburn on Saturday night, but horrendous special teams play made the 34-3 final score worse than it should have been.
The Razorbacks weren’t nearly as bad against the Tigers as they were at home against North Texas last week, but the problems were glaring.
Especially in the special teams which consistently gift-wrapped field position for Auburn all night long.
Take a look at where the Tigers’ scoring drives started:
• Arkansas 27 after a punt return, resulting in a touchdown
• Arkansas 2 after a fumble recovery, resulting in a field goal
• Arkansas 9 after a punt return, resulting in a touchdown
• Kickoff return for a touchdown
• Auburn 28 after stopping the Hogs on downs, resulting in a touchdown
• Arkansas 15 after a punt return, resulting in a field goal
You’re reading that right. The Razorbacks gave up one sustained drive for a score and that came late when the defense was flat give-out.
The Hogs’ offense put up bigger numbers than the Tigers, but gave up 191 yards in punt and kickoff returns.
There will be some pointing out that’s what happens when you don’t have a special teams coach. Arkansas more or less does special teams by committee with several assistants handling different areas.
It all fell apart down on The Plains.
In addition to the returns, Arkansas punter Reid Bauer nearly had rushers beat the snap back to him and there really is no explanation how a guy can run past three blockers standing just in front of the punter.
When Bauer did get off a decent punt, nobody seemed to have a particular interest in tackling the guy who caught the ball.
The result was a track meet on special teams most of the night and Auburn won that with little competition.
There’s an old saying that statistics are for losers, but for the Hogs — a team looking for any kind of positives after six quarters of having an offense that resembled recess at kindergarten — winning the offensive game against the Tigers is a step in the right direction.
Yes, the offense did struggle. You will hear some talking heads mention that Ty Storey missed open receivers. In case you didn’t notice, his jersey turned from white to green sometime before halftime.
No quarterback has a great night completing passes from a horizontal position.
To be fair, Storey didn’t play that poorly. Yes, he threw an interception, but as you can see from the drive starts for the Tigers above, that wasn’t the issue in this game.
No, the offensive line was facing a defensive front as good as anything they’ve seen or likely will see.
The Tigers only had two sacks, but seven tackles for loss and nine quarterback hurries.
Don’t blame Storey for this one.
Or the defense for that matter.
The Hogs had four sacks, two quarterback hurries and nine tackles for loss. The only thing they didn’t do as well as they’ve done in the first two games was get a turnover. Credit that to a fourth-year junior quarterback in Jarrett Stidham with a full season under his belt in the SEC.
No, the defense played well enough to at least make this game competitive into the fourth quarter when the Tigers scaled their usual offense back, just trying to close out the game. Malzahn clearly had no interest in running up the score on his good friend, Chad Morris.
In the end, this was a building block for the Hogs.
Which is good because the road doesn’t get easier, going to Arlington, Texas, next week to face a Texas A&M team that was hammered by Alabama on Saturday, 45-23, in a game that wasn’t really that close.
