Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Defense short 3 starters
Arkansas’ defense played without three starters in the Razorbacks’ 31-21 victory over Samford on Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium.
Defensive end Trey Flowers and strong safety Rohan Gaines were sidelined by knee injuries, and Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said linebacker Jarrett Lake didn’t play because of a disciplinary reason.
Bielema said all three should be ready to play in the next game against Southern Mississippi.
Gaines suffered a knee injury last week against Louisiana-Lafayette and coaches had said it would be a game-time decision whether he played.
It hadn’t been known Flowers — the SEC’s defensive player of the week after having three tackles for 20 lost yards against Louisiana-Lafayette — was injured. Flowers dressed out. “Trey just didn’t feel after pregame warmups that he could go,” Bielema said. “He hurt his knee a week ago, but he’ll be back. He was right on the cusp. In another couple of days he should be with us.”
Outside linebackers Braylon Mitchell and Martrell Spaight and defensive end Brandon Lewis each made their first starts.
Mitchell didn’t start last week against LouisianaLafayette when the Razorbacks opened with five defensive backs, and Spaight started in place of Lake. Lewis made his first start in place of Flowers.
Alan Turner started at strong safety for Gaines, who started at nickel back last week.
Bielema said Turner played in the game despite the death of his father from cancer Friday night.
Small crowd
The announced crowd of 47,358 was the smallest for an Arkansas game in Little Rock since 2002, when the crowd was announced at 42,814 for a game against Troy. There were 6,596 unsold tickets, according to an Arkansas official.
Big foot
Arkansas senior Zach Hocker hit a career-long 53-yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Razorbacks a 17-7 lead. His previous long was 51 yards against South Carolina in 2010.
Hawaii 6-0
Mitchell Loewen, Arkansas’ sophomore tight end from Maui, Hawaii, made his first career reception on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Allen.
Loewen’s catch gave the Razorbacks a 6-0 lead before Zach Hocker added the extra point.
Arkansas ties
Andrew Westmoreland had been to plenty of Arkansas games in War Memorial Stadium prior to Saturday night, but for a change he wasn’t rooting for the Razorbacks.
Westmoreland, who grew up in Batesville and earned degrees from Ouachita Baptist, Arkansas and UALR, returned to War Memorial Stadium as Samford’s president.
“No mixed loyalties,” Westmoreland said. “I became a Bulldog seven years ago. Once you give your heart to a place like Samford, you’re all in.”
Westmoreland, who became Samford’s president in 2006 after being president at OBU, said he was excited to attend Saturday night’s game.
“What a great opportunity for our young men to be able come here and play in this setting and play against a great Arkansas team,” he said. “This is something they’ll always remember.”
Westmoreland was in the visiting athletic director’s booth for the game.
“I’m used to sitting out in the stands crammed in with everything else,” he said. “I did not decline the opportunity to sit in the box.”
Westmoreland said one thing was the same about attending a game in Little Rock.
“The traffic has not improved,” he said.
More Heisman guys
Samford Coach Pat Sullivan, the 1971 Heisman Trophy winner as Auburn’s quarterback, wasn’t able to be at Saturday night’s game as he continues to recover from back surgery, but the Razorbacks have two more Heisman winners on their home schedule.
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, last season’s Heisman winner, and the Aggies will play Arkansas at Fayetteville on Sept. 28.
South Carolina and Coach Steve Spurrier, who won the Heisman in 1966 as Florida’s quarterback, play the Razorbacks in Fayetteville on Oct. 12.
QB catch
Samford quarterback Andy Summerlin’s first pass of the game was a completion to himself.
Summerlin caught the ball for a 2-yard loss after it was batted in the air by Arkansas defensive tackle Robert Thomas.
Liberty in the house
Harold Graeter, associate executive director of the Liberty Bowl, attended the game.
“We’re never early to get out and look at teams,” Graeter said. “The Razorbacks are always high on our list.”
Arkansas last played in the Liberty Bowl in 2009 when the Razorbacks beat East Carolina 20-17 in overtime.
In The Rock
Arkansas improved to 167-67-4 all time in Little Rock, including 149-54-2 in War Memorial Stadium.
The Razorbacks went 0-2 in Little Rock last season when they lost to LouisianaMonroe and Ole Miss.
Samford vs. SEC
Samford fell to 2-74-2 all time against SEC teams.
The Bulldogs’ last victory over an SEC team came in 1934, when Samford beat Ole Miss 7-6.