RAZORBACKS
No.1 Crimson Tide overruns Arkansas, 65-31
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas beat Alabama on time of possession, 32:56 to 27:04. Alabama did not care.
The Crimson Tide (6-0 3-0 Southeastern Conference) won, 65-31, Saturday against Arkansas (1-5, 0-3) at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, scoring nine touchdowns, including two one-play drives, one two-play drive and a pick-six.
First-year Arkansas head coach Chad Morris’ Razorbacks scored 31 points and gained 405 yards of total offense. Both marks are the most surrendered by the vaunted Alabama defense this season.
Sophomore junior college transfer running back Rakeem Boyd ran for 102 yards on 15 carries. He was the first Arkansas running back with at least 100 yards rushing against Alabama since two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden ran for 195 yards on
33 carries in 2007.
Junior quarterback Ty Storey completed 25 of 39 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. He also had an interception that deflected off of receiver Chase Harrell’s hands before defensive back Shyheim Carter returned it for a
44-yard touchdown.
Tight end Cheyenne “C.J.” O’Grady had 77 receiving yards and caught two touchdowns, one from Storey and one from goal line specialist Cole Kelley. The 6-7, 258-pound now-backup Kelley also plunged into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown.
It appeared Arkansas’ defense, while ravaged for 639 yards of total offense, showed grit in stopping Alabama on two fourth-and-goal situations. Officials overturned one for a touchdown on review. The unit was also handicapped by two fumbles by Storey.
“I thought, offensively, this was our best performance,” Morris said. “This is the best we’ve played against the best team we’ve played.”
The defense was also not as poor as
65 points might indicate.
“We gave up three turnovers and
21 points,” Morris said. “That’s hard. Against a team like Alabama, they don’t need any help.”
While grumbling about Arkansas scoring 31 on his defense, Saban did give the Hogs their due.
“We’re going to play a lot better offensive teams,” Saban said. “We’re going to play a lot better offensive team next week, one of the best offensive teams in the country in Missouri,.”
“Give Arkansas a lot of credit for the way they kept fighting,” Saban added. “They showed a lot of grit and made some plays.”
Announced attendance was 49,723.
A total of 64,974 tickets were sold for the 11 a.m. game. Much of the crowd remained through the game and applauded the Hogs as they left the field.
“It was a great crowd, great atmosphere, and they were with us all the way to the end cheering at the end,” Morris said. “The support that our fans continue to give these young men is impressive and inspiring.”
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa connected with Irv Smith on a simple crossing route for a 76-yard touchdown on the team’s first play from scrimmage. The sophomore was 10-for-13 for 334 yards with four touchdowns.
Tagovailoa now has 18 touchdowns this season with no interceptions. He has yet to play in the fourth quarter of a game this season.
Former starter Jalen Hurts was 4-for-5 for 59 yards Saturday. Jerry Jeudy made four catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Smith caught two passes for 123 yards.
Tide running back Damien Harris rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
“Alabama is the best team in the country for a reason, and I think they showed it,” Morris said. “I think that they had speed all over the field. That’s as impressive an offensive performance as I’ve seen.”
Alabama jumped up, 21-0. Smith caught a 47-yard pass from Tagovailoa, then fumbled, but receiver Henry Ruggs not only recovered it but took it the final 12 yards for a touchdown to cap a two-play 55-yard drive at 10:01 of the first quarter.
That possession started after Storey, corralling a bouncing snap, and hit and fumbling to the Tide.
It took eight plays for Alabama to make it 21-0 with Josh Jacobs scoring his 1-run TD at
5:38.
Boyd’s 21-yard run and Storey 16-yard passes to Deon Stewart and O’Grady preceded Storey’s eight-yard TD to O’Grady with 24 seconds left in the first quarter.
Led by Scoota Harris and Sosa Agim, Arkansas made its fourth down stop at the Alabama 43 and drove to the Alabama 5 before Dylan Moses’ hit on a straining Storey forced the fumble that Alabama’s Deiointe Thompson recovered at the 1-yard line.
“A great play,” Morris said of Moses’ hi, lamenting it prevented Arkansas from closing to down to 21-14.
On another review, Arkansas lost what was initially ruled a Santos Ramirez fumble recovery before Alabama made it
28-7 on Tagovailoa’s 42-yard TD to Jeudy.
“Ty Storey keeps showing his grit and his fight and keeps getting better,” Morris said. “That’s what I shared with him I proud I am of him.”