ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS FOOTBALL
Arkansas Game Report
Razorbacks upset #10 Volunteers on strength of defense and running game
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium | Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas - Arkansas picked up its biggest win of the season Saturday night, knocking off #10 Tennessee 24-17 in a physical, pressure-filled battle at Razorback Stadium.
The Razorbacks controlled much of the game despite struggling to generate explosive plays. Arkansas ran 71 plays to Tennessee's 47, held a 22-8 advantage in first downs and converted 6-of-14 third downs while the Volunteers finished just 1-of-11. The Hogs also leaned heavily on the ground game, rushing 43 times for 163 yards behind Braylen Russell's 119-yard performance.
Arkansas finally broke through early in the second quarter when KJ Jackson found Jamari Hawkins for a five-yard touchdown. AJ Hill, once again in for the injured Jackson, followed with a five-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 before Tennessee answered with 10 points in the final 2:34 of the half.
Neither quarterback was given much time to operate. Both defensive fronts generated immense pass-rush pressure throughout the game, repeatedly collapsing the pocket and forcing hurried throws. Tennessee finished with six sacks, led by Arion Carter's 2.5, while Arkansas countered with four. David Oke recorded two sacks for the Razorbacks, with Quincy Rhodes Jr. and Khmori House adding one apiece.
The pressure contributed to four combined interceptions. Jackson was picked off twice before Arkansas turned to Hill, who completed 9-of-14 passes for 87 yards and provided a spark both as a runner and passer. Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre also threw two interceptions while completing 16-of-32 passes for 230 yards.
Tennessee's biggest offensive moment came immediately after Max Gilbert's 40-yard field goal gave Arkansas a 17-10 lead in the third quarter. MacIntyre connected with Mike Matthews for a 74-yard touchdown just 25 seconds later, tying the game at 17. Matthews accounted for 136 of Tennessee's 230 passing yards on only four receptions.
With the game still tied in the fourth, Arkansas' Hill connected with Chris Marshall who brushed off a Tennessee defensive back and sprinted for a 21-yard touchdown with 5:18 remaining, putting the Razorbacks back in front 24-17.
The teams exchanged punts.
Tennessee had one final opportunity to answer, but Arkansas' defense delivered the deciding play. On a fourth and six Rhodes came screaming into the backfield and pressured MacIntyre as he attempted to get the ball away, forcing an errant throw that La'Khi Roland was able to easily undercut and pick off in the endzone. The interception sealed the upset and sent Razorback Stadium into celebration.
It was an especially impressive performance from the Arkansas defense considering Tennessee averaged 6.4 yards per play. The Razorbacks largely eliminated the Volunteers' ability to sustain drives, holding Tennessee to only eight first downs and keeping the Vols off the scoreboard entirely in the fourth quarter.
Arkansas has now taken down a second top-20 opponent this season, and this one came by surviving exactly the type of bruising SEC game that has often gone the other way for the Razorbacks.
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER
No scoring
SECOND QUARTER
ARK — Jamari Hawkins 5-yard pass from KJ Jackson (Max Gilbert kick), 9:49
ARK — AJ Hill 5-yard run (Max Gilbert kick), 4:08
TENN — Braylon Staley 9-yard pass from George MacIntyre (Cooper Ranvier kick), 2:34
TENN — Cooper Ranvier 31-yard FG, 0:00
THIRD QUARTER
ARK — Max Gilbert 40-yard FG, 4:56
TENN — Mike Matthews 74-yard pass from George MacIntyre (Cooper Ranvier kick), 4:31
FOURTH QUARTER
ARK — Chris Marshall 21-yard pass from AJ Hill (Max Gilbert kick), 5:18
Arkansas Stat Leaders
Passing
A. Hill – 9/14 87 Yds 1 TD
K. Jackson – 6/14 43 Yds 1 TD 2 INT
Rushing
B. Russell – 21 Car 119 Yds
S. Smith – 10 Car 31 Yds
K. Jackson – 5 Car 13 Yds
A. Hill – 7 Car 0 Yds 1 TD
Receiving
C. Marshall – 3 Rec 45 Yds 1 TD
J. Hawkins – 4 Rec 37 Yds 1 TD
S. Smith – 4 Rec 28 Yds
B. Russell – 2 Rec 23 Yds
C. Brown – 1 Rec 15 Yds
Defense
L. Roland – 6 Tkl 1 Int
J. Smith – 5 Tkl
D. Oke – 3 Tkl 2.0 Sck
Q. Rhodes Jr – 3 Tkl 1.0 Sck
M. Mitchell – 3 Tkl 1 Int
K. House – 1 Tkl 1.0 Sck
Tennessee Stat Leaders
Passing
G. MacIntyre – 16/32 230 Yds 2 TD 2 INT
Rushing
D. Bishop – 8 Car 88 Yds
G. MacIntyre – 7 Car -15 Yds
Receiving
M. Matthews – 4 Rec 136 Yds 1 TD
B. Staley – 3 Rec 59 Yds 1 TD
E. Davis – 6 Rec 28 Yds
D. Bishop – 2 Rec 5 Yds
R. Jackson – 1 Rec 2 Yds
Defense
T. Metcalf – 16 Tkl 1 TFL 1 INT
E. Farooq – 14 Tkl 3 TFL 0.5 Sck
D. Lane – 8 Tkl
A. Campbell – 8 Tkl 2 TFL 1.0 Sck
A. Carter – 7 Tkl 3 TFL 2.5 Sck
E. Spillman – 6 Tkl
K. Lee – 6 Tkl 1 INT 2 INT Yds
T. Redmond – 5 Tkl
X. Gilliam – 5 Tkl 2 TFL
D. Hobbs – 4 Tkl 1 TFL 1.0 Sck
J. Telander – 3 Tkl 1 TFL 0.5 Sck
| Team Stats | Arkansas | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 24 | 17 |
| First Downs | 22 | 8 |
| Total Offense | 313 | 303 |
| Total Plays | 71 | 47 |
| Yards Per Play | 4.4 | 6.4 |
| Rushes | Yards | TDs | 43 | 163 | 1 | 15 | 73 | 0 |
| Yards Per Rush | 3.8 | 4.9 |
| Comp | Att | TDs | 16 | 28 | 2 | 16 | 32 | 2 |
| Passing Yards | 150 | 230 |
| Yards Per Pass | 5.4 | 7.2 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 6 | 14 (42%) | 1 | 11 (9%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 1 | 2 (50%) | 0 | 2 (0%) |
| 2-Point Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 | 0 (0%) |
| Red Zone TD | FG | % | 2 | 1 | 75% | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| Turnovers | 2 (0) | 2 (0) |
| PR Yards | 57 | 36 |
| KR Yards | 55 | 0 |
| Total Yards | 425 | 339 |
| Punt Average | 49.0 | 48.3 |
| Penalties | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 127.65 Pts | 5th in Nation | 3rd in SEC)
