FAYETVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks arrived at the stadium at 9:00 a.m., just two hours before Saturday’s scheduled kickoff.
Traffic was blocked and crowds gathered to watch the home team step into the stadium
All players wore suits that were part of their pre-season contracts with Dillard, most of which were dark blue.
The face of the game was solid and in order. I don’t laugh No smirk. No horse riding.
It’s almost time to go to work, and the 16th-ranked Razorbacks didn’t disdain unranked South Carolina.
The hog chip was in its place, on their shoulder.
Their only real mistake in the first half was a penalty, but they glared 72 yards.
That could have hurt in the second half and cost them the game, but they settled in and the game wasn’t as close as the 44-30 score would suggest.
The Razorbacks scored on three touchdown runs (two by Raheim Sanders) in their first three possessions to lead 21-9. The only time they didn’t score in the first half was when they missed a 50-yard field goal.
It was clear the Gamecocks had to do something in the second half to stop the Arkansas rushing attack, which was taking up 126 of the Hogs’ 241 yards.
They threw everything but their benches at Hoggs and were able to stop them in the first two possessions. But this day it is not sustainable.
Midway through the third quarter, South Carolina drove 88 yards and was highlighted by a 63-yard touchdown pass to cut the score to 21-16.
That made the raucous crowd even louder, but Hogs punted and Gamecock took over at 19… but not for long.
Bumper Poole lost Spencer Rattler 15 yards on third down.
A few minutes later, the pool has its Hog Haven moment.
On a South Carolina punt, Arkansas was called for the hold and took over for 41 instead of Gamecocks’ 48.
Saunders carried three consecutive 12-yard runs, then pulled away with a 46-yard run to the South Carolina 1 flag. Holding, Arkansas.
The Razorbacks didn’t panic, didn’t abandon their game plan, and put together a touchdown drive with two pass completions.
South Carolina tried to mount something, but after Hudson Clark grabbed a fumble and Arkansas ran for the fourth straight time, KJ Jefferson hit Warren Thompson in the back of the end zone for another touchdown and a run. The Gamecocks stalled when they took a 35-16 lead.
Ratler was then picked off in the end zone by Dwight McGlothern and Hoggs hit the ground but had three outs.
On first down, Rattler passed for 64 yards and was 35-24 after 3 plays with 6:25 remaining. The away team, who did not give up, attempts an onside kick.
Linebacker Poole, part of the Good Hands team, took it and sprinted it back to nine.
Jefferson had 162 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-21 passes that day, but the Razorbacks weren’t going to be Air Arkansas against the Gamecocks.
From day one, the plan was run, run, run, and more.
The Razorbacks ran 65 times for 297 yards and 5 touchdowns.
They owned almost 10 minutes of possession time, which was an important part of their game plan.
We definitely improved in every aspect from games 1 to 2, with the exception of penalties.
It wasn’t Alabama, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn, or LSU at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
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