View from the Cheap Seats-Razorbacks
“They hate our guts” – Sark
“They hate our guts” – Sark
“I don’t know what Darrell Royal did to these guys back in the 60’s but they hate our guts”. Sark in the pre-game interview. Yep, these guys hate us more than they love themselves.
Arkansas was sky high for the game and the fans were loud. TEXAS would stumble and bumble to a 10-Zip halftime lead which should have been more but some home-cooking by the refs ignored a blatant pass interference in the end zone that denied TEXAS a 1st and goal. Not much doubt in this writer's mind that had we gone up 17-0 at that point, the Pigs would have folded. In many ways, this was similar to the Vandy game where small mistakes such as dropped passes or just off target throws kept the game close. Remember the old adage, let a dog hang around, they might bite you late. That was Arkansas’ strategy and it almost played out that way.
4 years ago when Sark was hired, if you said TEXAS would be a defense-first team our 1st year of SEC play, most would have thought you nuts. But that is where we are today, leaning on the defense to win games. And did they ever play well. In the opening half, Coach Pete’s young charges would force 5 punts and an INT on Arkansas’ 6 drives. For the game, they would force 9 tackles for loss to go with 6 sacks and 2 turnovers. The single biggest play of the game would come halfway into the 4th quarter. Arkansas had climbed back to be within reach of TEXAS at 13-10. TEXAS would answer with a long drive to go up 20-10. Razorbacks’ offense was starting to click and they had moved the ball near the TEXAS red zone only to see big Alfred Collins run down their WR from behind and force a strip which Michael “Can you believe I was a walk-on” Taffe scooped up the bouncing ball at the 6:55 mark of the 4th quarter.
TEXAS’ old friend Ja’Quadian Jackson made his presence known in the 2nd half as the one-time QB prospect for the Horns, one-time Utah QB/RB would help get the Pigs offense on track. His 5.1 yards per carry and TD helped the Pigs make a game of it.
TEXAS would not give the Pigs the ball back as the Horns would go on a 14-play, almost 7-minute drive to end the game. Not the Horn's best game of the season but certainly not the worst. One of those solid wins vs an opponent playing for their season and a team that flat-out doesn’t like TEXAS.
Though 10 games, Gunnar Helm is TEXAS’ leading pass catcher both in terms of total receptions and yards. Another of those stats we did not expect to see through 10 games. Part of this is Quinn spreads the ball around very well with 9 different players catching balls in this game alone. Gunnar has been a very reliable safety blanket for Quinn and he is climbing his way up NFL draft boards. We can see him as a late 2 or early 3rd round pick. He’s made himself some money this year.
Glass half full: 1 penalty on the offensive line this week and that a meaningless false start as Big Bird Auburn would make the re-kick.
Glass half empty: 2 sacks, both allowed by All-American Banks and 9 tackles for loss. Oddly both came as Quinn was trying to move up in the pocket.
And while it lacked the style points of the win vs the Gators, say Hello Win Column all the same. Oddly, both TEXAS and Texas A&M both control their path to the SEC title game and each must simply win the next two.
Offensive Player of the Game
Jayden Blue- Lead all rushers for the game with 84 yards and a 5.9 ypc average to go with 3 receptions for 19 yards. He scared us with a fumble late in the game but the ball dribbled safely out of bounds.
Honorable Mention-Matthew Golden, 2 catches 2 TDs, we like it.
Defensive Player of the Game
Alfred Collins forced a fumble in the 4th on a hustle play where he chased down a WR, created the turnover which Michael Taffe quickly secured. This would close out the game as the Pigs would not touch the rock again. TEXAS would run the next 6:55 off the clock. In addition, he would record a sack and 2 tackles for loss. He’s on a roll, here’s to him keeping it going.
Honorable Mention-Jahdea Barron, 6 solo tackles a key interception which led to 7 points, 2 tackles for loss, a pass break up and a sack. He leads the SEC with 4 interceptions on the season.
Special Teams Player of the Game
Kick off return team-Twice they pinned Arkansas back inside their own 15
Stats that Matter
- 2/7 2 turnovers gained, 7 points and a drive ending in victory formation
- 2/0 2 total penalties on TEXAS with ZERO turnovers
- 10 TEXAS/Sark is 10-0 in their last 10 true road games
- 80 80th game between TEXAS and Arkansas dating to 1894
- 15 Interceptions by the Horns on the year leading the SEC
- 2 of 5 5 Red Zone Trips, 2 TDs and 2 FGs, punt
- 13-21 In SEC play, TEXAS has scored 13 TDs on 21 trips into the RZ
History
This was the 80th match-up between our former Southwest Conference partner. TEXAS now leads the series 57-23. There were some classic games played by these 2, none bigger than the Big Shootout, played Dec 6th 1969. This would also be the author's first football game to watch, ever. Watched it on a black and white Sanyo TV. The game where President Richard Nixon attended and declared TEXAS the National Champion. Nixon was always a football fan and had played as a walk-on at Whitter College.
The book, Horns, Hogs and Nixon Coming is an outstanding look at the backstories of the game and at life in the late 60s.
The movie My All-American also delves into the game.
On Deck
TRAP GAME. Kentucky is coming to town. This is a team that beat Ole Miss and lost to Georgia by 1. Sark has to make sure the team not looking ahead to it’s game with Aggie where the winner is assured an SEC title game spot. Let’s face it, TEXAS often plays down to their competition. Kentucky isn’t a strong offensive team (#109 Scoring offense) but they play solid defense (ranked #30 in scoring D). This would be a great game to jump on them early, force them to be one dimensional, and get a big enough lead to get the backups some needed reps.
We see this one 30-10.
Hard to believe we are down to 2 games in the regular season already. Often a bittersweet time of the year.
Fighting Mack Browns
Mack’s crew beat Wake Forest to qualify for a bowl game.
If we had a playoff vote:
TEXAS v Arkansas Highlights
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