Columns

Harry KingHARRY KING
Sports Columnist for The Morning News

Robbie NeiswangerROBBIE NEISWANGER
Sports Columnist for The Morning News



Sponsors

Defining Moments In Razorback Victory

Last updated Saturday, November 1, 2008 9:16 PM CDT
in Razorback Central

By Ryan Malashock
The Morning News

Related Photos

Momentum seemed to reside on the Tulsa sideline. The Golden Hurricane had just tied the game at 23 with a field goal, driving 80 yards in 15 plays and eating more than five minutes off the clock.

But Arkansas freshman running back Dennis Johnson immediately re-energized the crowd of 70,021 inside Reynolds Razorback Stadium late in the third quarter. Johnson caught the ensuing kickoff, took his time as he jogged upfield and finally darted through a hole to the right.

He stiff-armed Tulsa kicker Cory Jefferis and outran two more Golden Hurricane defenders, racing 96 yards for a touchdown that marked the game’s final points.

“It killed us,” Tulsa coach Todd Graham said. “It was the difference in the game.”

Arkansas still had to make two key defensive plays in the final minute to seal its fourth win this season. After senior Casey Dick’s interception in the Tulsa end zone, the Golden Hurricane drove deep into Arkansas territory.

Junior safety Matt Harris stuffed A.J. Whitmore for a loss on third down from the Arkansas 4, and senior cornerback Jamar Love’s tight coverage forced an incompletion on fourth down.

Record Receiving



Sophomore tight end D.J. Williams and freshman receiver Jarius Wright each recorded more than 100 receiving yards, the first time in nine years such a feat has occurred. Williams caught six passes for 129 yards, and Wright hauled in five for 112.

The last time two Arkansas receivers went over the 100-yard mark was when Anthony Eubanks and Anthony Lucas did so against LSU on Nov. 28, 1997.

“We knew if we were going to have a great chance of winning, the receivers and tight ends were going to have to step up,” Wright said.

Smith Locked Down



Tulsa held Arkansas junior running back Michael Smith to his second-lowest rushing total this season. Smith carried 23 times for 67 yards, and he gained only eight yards on eight second-half carries.

Smith, who gained only 42 yards at Texas, is now 13 yards short of gaining 1,000 yards this season.

Tejada Back At It



Arkansas sophomore kicker Alex Tejada was perfect in his return to full-time kicking duties. He booted field goals of 30, 22 and 22 yards and converted both of his extra points.

Tejada said he learned from his time watching sophomore Shay Haddock kick in his place the past month.

“I learned from it and I was patient and I waited my time,” Tejada said. “I just kept working hard. These coaches gave me a second chance and I just went out there and did my job.”

Petrino Frustrated



Petrino didn’t seem happy about the 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty called on Johnson after his kickoff return.

“(Dennis) said he pounded his chest in front of the crowd,” Petrino said. “That was the reason he gave me. That one upsets me a little bit. I’ve been watching all year long, and they’re not calling stuff. We had one team that we played this year where they were doing the throat-slashing and they weren’t calling it.”

Quick Hitters



Arkansas had four other changes in the starting lineup compared with last week — junior Michael Aguirre (offensive tackle), sophomore Damario Ambrose (defensive end), junior Rashaad Johnson (safety) and sophomore DeMarcus Love (offensive guard). ... Freshman safety Jerico Nelson left with an injury in the second quarter and didn’t return. ... Arkansas scored a touchdown on its first drive for the first time this season.

Key Performers



• Casey Dick (Taking Stock = Up)

QUARTERBACK: Dick needed only two more yards to eclipse former Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner’s school record for passing yards in a game. The senior from Allen, Texas, still had his shaky moments, overthrowing Jarius Wright and Michael Smith for potential touchdowns. But Dick calmly moved the offense when Tulsa did all it could to stop the Razorback running game.

C-A YDS TD INT

25-38 385 1 1

• D.J. Williams (Taking Stock = Up)

TIGHT END: The bruising 6-foot-2, 250-pound sophomore matched his career-high total in yardage from a week ago. Williams continues to show why he’s considered one of the best tight ends in the Southeastern Conference.

REC YDS TD LONG

6 129 0 44

• Matt Harris (Taking Stock = Up)

SAFETY: An injury to freshman safety Elton Ford opened up more playing time for Harris, and the 6-2, 192-pound junior didn’t disappoint. He recorded the most tackles of any defender on either team and repeatedly disrupted things in the Tulsa backfield.

SOLO AST TOTAL

12 0 12

• UA Receivers (Taking Stock = Up)

Just know, we’re lumping Arkansas’ tight ends into this group for Stock Watch purposes. This unit really grew up on Saturday. Collectively, the Razorback pass catchers made only one glaring mistake — freshman Joe Adams’ unexplainable drop of a potential 50-yard touchdown pass. Williams had another fantastic game, matching his career-high in receiving yards. Junior tight end Andrew Davie hauled in Arkansas’ first touchdown of the game. Freshman Jarius Wright had his most productive day as a Razorback with 112 yards on five catches. Lucas Miller went for 63 yards on four grabs, and Adams snagged three balls for 30 yards.


At A Glance



That Figures — Golden Hurricane vs. Razorbacks

1.6 — Yards per Arkansas carry, its lowest average this season

8 — Tackles for losses recorded by the Arkansas defense

12 — Game-high tackles by Hog safety Matt Harris

23 — Arkansas first-half points, a season-high

30 — Arkansas points, also a season-high

112 — Career-high receiving yards by Razorback receiver Jarius Wright

117 — Team-high receiving yards by Tulsa’s Charles Clay, a Little Rock native

70,021 — Saturday’s crowd at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville


By The Numbers



FIRST QUARTER

TULSA 7 — 7

ARKANSAS 17 — 17

14 Rushing Yards 46

76 Passing Yards 147

90 Total Yards 193

4:51 Time/Poss. 10:09

0 Turnovers 0

HIGHLIGHTS

Casey Dick: Arkansas’ senior quarterback led a 9-play, 80-yard opening scoring drive. He completed four of his five passes and threw a 13-yard score to junior Andrew Davie.

Jerico Nelson, Zach Stadther and Damario Ambrose: Nelson, a freshman safety, and Stadther, a freshman tackle, combined to sack quarterback David Johnson on Tulsa’s first play. Ambrose, a sophomore defensive end, sacked Johnson for a 10-yard loss on Tulsa’s second play.

Alex Tejada: The sophomore kicker put the Razorbacks up 10-0 with a 30-yard field goal.

Michael Smith: The 5-foot-7, 173-pound running back broke three tackles on a 27-yard run to the Tulsa 7. He then ran over cornerback DeAundre Brown as he barreled into the end zone to give Arkansas a 17-0 lead.

Trae Johnson: Tulsa’s sophomore wide receiver outjumped Arkansas’ Isaac Madison for a 23-yard touchdown on third-and-7 from backup quarterback Jacob Bower.

SECOND QUARTER

TULSA 7 13 — 20

ARKANSAS 17 6 — 23

66 Rushing Yards -4

73 Passing Yards 115

139 Total Yards 111

5:18 Time/Poss. 9:42

1 Turnovers 0

HIGHLIGHTS

Ramon Broadway and Jerry Franklin: Tulsa’s Tarrion Adams broke free for a 19-yard catch. But Broadway, a sophomore cornerback, forced a fumble, and Franklin, a freshman linebacker, recovered at the Arkansas 27.

Charles Clay: Smith received a challenge from Clay, a graduate of Little Rock Central, for the most thrilling run before halftime. The 6-3, 225-pound Tulsa running back scored on a 28-yard touchdown run, breaking three tackles to narrow the Arkansas lead to 17-13.

Damaris Johnson: After a Tejada 22-yard field goal, Tulsa’s speedy freshman flanker raced 81 yards on the ensuing kickoff to the Razorback 15. Arkansas senior Shedrick Johnson made a touchdown-saving tackle on the return.

Clay: David Johnson hit Clay for a 2-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal to tie the game at 20.

Tejada: The Razorbacks drove 13 plays but had to settle for a Tejada 22-yarder late in the first half.

THIRD QUARTER

TULSA 7 13 3 — 23

ARKANSAS 17 6 7 — 30

76 Rushing Yards -6

102 Passing Yards 66

178 Total Yards 60

9:56 Time/Poss. 5:04

0 Turnovers 0

HIGHLIGHTS

Franklin: For the second time Saturday, Franklin played a part in getting Arkansas a turnover. Franklin wasn’t fooled when Tulsa’s quarterback threw a lateral to A.J. Whitmore, and he intercepted Whitmore’s deep pass for Clay.

Tramain Thomas: Tulsa fell just short on fourth-and-13 from the Arkansas 42 when the freshman defensive back knocked receiver Clay Sears out of bounds at the 30.

Tanner Antle: Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino gambled by going for a first down on fourth-and-1 from the Tulsa 16. But the Golden Hurricane linebacker stuffed Smith for no gain on a run up the middle.

Jarod Tracy: The Razorback defense bent but didn’t break on a 15-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal by Tracy.

Dennis Johnson: Arkansas’ freshman running back had an immediate answer. The Texarkana native darted 96 yards on the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, being touched only slightly by the Tulsa kicker.

FOURTH QUARTER

TULSA 7 13 3 0 — 23

ARKANSAS 17 6 7 0 — 30

28 Rushing Yards 14

93 Passing Yards 57

121 Total Yards 71

7:17 Time/Poss. 7:43

1 Turnovers 1

HIGHLIGHTS

Isaac Madson: The sophomore cornerback atoned for some earlier mistakes by intercepting a pass at the Arkansas 23 and recording a 42-yard return.

Wade Grayson: Dick completed a 30-yard catch to freshman Greg Childs on first down to the Tulsa 5. The play was called back, though, on a holding penalty by Grayson, a sophomore guard.

Roy Roberts: With just more than three minutes left, Arkansas faced third-and-7 from the Tulsa 16. Petrino called for a pass instead of a run, and Roberts intercepted a Dick pass in the end zone intended for Childs.

Matt Harris: Perhaps the defensive play of the game took place when Arkansas’ junior safety nailed Whitmore in the backfield for a 3-yard loss on third-and-2 from the Razorback 4.

Jamar Love: Still sporting a soft cast on his hand, the senior cornerback had flawless coverage on Tulsa’s Trae Johnson on fourth-and-5 from the Arkansas 7.

GAME TOTALS

Rushing Yards

Tulsa 184

Arkansas 50

Passing Yards

Tulsa 344

Arkansas 385

Total Yards

Tulsa 528

Arkansas 435

Turnovers

Tulsa 3

Arkansas 1

Time Of Possession

Tulsa 27:22

Arkansas 32:38



Reader Comments (No comments posted.)


The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.


*Member ID:
*Password:
  Forgot Your Password?
 

Not already registered?
Register Now