Cut off by the pass
QB’s near-pick 6 puts Hogs in hole again
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ 0-3 SEC start has a familiar theme.
The Razorbacks have been leading or in position to win, then quarterback Brandon Allen throws an interception that leads to a touchdown for the other team and adversity Arkansas can’t overcome.
It happened again Saturday, when No. 14 South Carolina beat Arkansas 52-7 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Allen was looking to connect with D’Arthur Cowan on a first-and-10 play from the Arkansas 28 when South Carolina cornerback Victor Hampton jumped in front, intercepted the pass and returned it 21 yards to the Razorbacks 6. Tailback Mike Davis rushed up the middle for a touchdown on the next play to give the Gamecocks a 10-7 lead with 5:12 left in the first quarter.
When Florida beat the Razorbacks’ 30-10 last week, cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy returned an interception 42 yards to give the Gators a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.
In Texas A&M’s 45-33 victory at Arkansas two weeks ago, safety Deshazor Everett had a 24-yard return for a touchdown on the first play of the third quarter to put the Aggies ahead 31-20.
“That’s on me,” Allen said Saturday of the interceptions. “That’s my fault completely. That’s something I’m working on, something I can’t accept.”
Allen completed 4 of 12 passes for 30 yards, with 20 of those coming on a completion to Javontee Herndon when the Razorbacks scored a touchdown on their first possession. After the interception, Allen was 3 of 9 for 10 yards the rest of the game.
Allen, a redshirt sophomore, has eight touchdown passes and five interceptions this season.
“He has thrown some interceptions this season, and we talked about that,” South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said. “That plays in your mind. Ask Eli Manning. That was big to get that interception.”
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Hampton played the route perfectly on his interception.
“He was either in our huddle or knew we were going to run that play, there’s no doubt,” Bielema said. “He was sitting there. We’ve got to do a good job as a receiver to try and get it, but obviously, do a good job as coaches not to become predictable to throw into that pressed look right there.”
Allen missed the fourth game this season at Rutgers after spraining his right shoulder against Southern Mississippi when he dove into the end zone on a touchdown run. Bielema said he expected Allen to be sidelined three or four weeks, but he came back in two weeks to start at Florida.
Allen said Saturday that his should is fine, but Bielema said the quarterback continues to be limited in practice.
“The kid deserves a medal of some type,” Bielema said. “He basically does minimal practice on Tuesday, does the entire practice on Wednesday, doesn’t really do much on Thursday, Friday. It’s hard, obviously, to get the rhythm going, but I think he provides the best answer for us right now for sure at quarterback.”
Allen said he hasn’t lost confidence in himself or the offense.
“I have all the confidence in the world,” he said. “There are certain things we’ve just got to do better. It’s a bunch of little things, and once we get those things clicking, it will be a whole new offense.”