Legendary - The Career of Porter Davis

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Week 14 SEC Preview

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2018 Arkansas Football Game Preview
Game 12

2-9(1-6) | #10 9-2(5-2)
LSU @ Arkansas
November 24th, 2018 3:30PM
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium - Fayetteville, Arkansas

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ARKANSAS HITS DOUBLE DIGIT WINS WITH VICTORY OVER LSU
2018 Arkansas Football Game Report
Game Twelve
Arkansas @ LSU
November 24th, 2018 3:30PM
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium - Fayetteville, Arkansas




LONG HOLDS OFF AN LSU DEFENDER WHILE FIGHTING FOR A FIRST DOWN

Arkansas spent most of the afternoon doing exactly what Porter Davis has preached since the moment he arrived in Fayetteville: run the football, control the clock, play physical defense, and make winning plays when it counts.

That formula delivered again Saturday afternoon as the Razorbacks closed the regular season with a 24–13 rivalry win over LSU, securing a remarkable 10-win season in Davis’ first year leading the program.

And fittingly, it was playmakers D’Eriq Robinette and Brian Browne who helped finish it.

Browne delivered the game’s defining moment late in the third quarter when he fielded an LSU punt, slipped through the first wave of coverage, and exploded down the sideline for a 71-yard punt return touchdown that ignited the Razorback crowd and effectively swung control of the game permanently toward Arkansas.

At the time, the Razorbacks had only just taken the lead moments earlier on a four-yard touchdown run by Marques Long. Browne’s return suddenly turned a tense one-score game into a two-possession Arkansas advantage.

“Big-time players making big-time plays,” Davis said afterward. “Brian’s done that for us all year in different ways. Today it happened to be special teams.”

Browne, who has been a do-it-all weapon for the Razorbacks all season, helped cement the win late in the fourth quarter when he picked off LSU QB Lowe with less than two minutes to play, allowing Arkansas to run out the clock. Browne also 15 receiving yards and five tackles.

Arkansas needed every bit of it against an LSU team that played far better than its 2-9 record suggested.

The Tigers struck first midway through the opening quarter when quarterback Will Lowe connected with Warren Jones on a 66-yard touchdown pass after the Arkansas secondary briefly lost leverage deep downfield. LSU carried that early momentum into halftime, taking a 13-10 lead behind a pair of late field goals from Seth White.

But as they have throughout much of this season, the Razorbacks responded behind their quarterback and their running game.

Robinette was far from flashy, but the senior quarterback once again embodied the physical identity Arkansas has developed under Davis. Robinette completed 11 of 19 passes for 138 yards while rushing for tough yardage throughout the afternoon, repeatedly lowering his shoulder to move the chains and extend drives. Robinette absorbed four sacks on the afternoon as well, repeatedly bouncing up quickly and not allowing the LSU defense to think thy had gotten to him mentally.

His 11-yard touchdown run in the second quarter tied the game at seven and gave Arkansas its first offensive spark after a sluggish start.

Long added another grinding performance with a rushing touchdown as Arkansas pounded out 164 yards on 40 carries despite LSU loading the box for much of the game.

The Razorbacks controlled possession for over 16 minutes and consistently wore down the Tigers’ defense in the second half.

Defensively, Arkansas bent at times but repeatedly stiffened in key situations.

LSU finished with 303 yards of offense, including 215 through the air, but Arkansas forced two interceptions and limited the Tigers to just six second-half points after the explosive opening quarter.

The Razorbacks also won the hidden yardage battle in convincing fashion thanks largely to Browne’s contributions in the return game. Arkansas finished with 99 punt return yards compared to just 10 for LSU.

By the final whistle, the significance of the moment was impossible to ignore.

Just one season ago Arkansas limped through another disappointing campaign searching for direction and identity. Now, under Davis, who also came into the season seeking redemption, the Razorbacks sit at 10-2 heading into bowl season after one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the SEC.

The first-year head coach inherited a program lacking confidence and transformed it into one of the league’s toughest, most disciplined teams almost overnight.

Arkansas may not have possessed the firepower of some conference powers, but Davis built a team capable of winning ugly, controlling tempo, and surviving physical games deep into the fourth quarter.

That identity showed itself again against LSU.

Robinette battled through hits all afternoon. Long continued grinding between the tackles. The defense forced mistakes. Browne flipped the game with one electrifying return.

And when it was over, Arkansas walked off the field with double-digit wins and one of the best first seasons any Razorback coach has produced in years.

For a fanbase desperate for relevance again, the Porter Davis era suddenly looks very real.

Now the Razorbacks' faithful, along with the team itself, turn their attention to the Iron Bowl later tonight in hopes that the outcome will propel them into the SEC Championship game.

Scoring

LSU|07|06|00|00|13
ARK|03|07|14|00|24

1Q 2:43 TD LSU W. Jones 66 Yd pass from W. Lowe (S. White kick)
1Q 0:20 FG ARK Christodoulou 31 Yd FG

2Q 5:43 TD ARK Robinette 11 Yd run (Christodoulou kick)
2Q 0:37 FG LSU S. White 49 Yd FG
2Q 0:00 FG LSU S. White 39 Yd FG

3Q 1:52 TD ARK Long 4 Yd run (Christodoulou kick)
3Q 0:57 TD ARK Browne 71 Yd punt return (Christodoulou kick)

Key Player Stats

Passing: Robinette 10/17 127 Yds, Rivas III 1/2 11 Yds 1 Int
Rushing: Long 17/91 1 TD, Robinette 13/36 1 TD, Powell 8/24
Receiving: Garcia 3/75, Harris 2/28, Long 3/23
Tackles: Smith 8, Browne 5, Davies 5
Sacks: N/A
Takeaways: Browne 1 Int, Parker 1 Int,
Special Teams: Christodoulou 1/2 FG 3/3 XP, Payne 2 Pt 96 Yds, Browne 1 KR 32 Yds, 4 PR 99 Yds 1 TD


Passing: Lowe 16/30 215 Yds 1 TD 2 Int
Rushing: Jones 18/68, Lowe 9/21
Receiving: Jones 2/72 1 TD, Hall 4/49, Hunter 5/46, Singletary 4/36
Tackles: Roberts 8, Green 6
Sacks: Beck 1.0, Cunningham 1.0, Harrell 1.0, Wheeler 1.0
Takeaways: Beck 1 Int
Special Teams: White 2/2 FG 1/1 XP, McBride 4 PT 185 Yds, Hall 1 KR 13 Yds, Jones 1 PR 10 Yds

ROBINETTE DIVES FOR A SECOND QUARTER TOUCHDOWN


BROWNE PICKS OFF AN LSU PASS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER TO SECURE THE WIN

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[Captain Canada]

Dysfunctional LSU offense? Say it ain't so

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Dysfunctional LSU offense? Say it ain't so

Jones gave us some trouble but overall they didn't do much with the ball.

[redsox907]

it seems like your QB sucks at QBing

tbh, screens don't look as LQ as I thought they'd be

[djp73]

it seems like your QB sucks at QBing

tbh, screens don't look as LQ as I thought they'd be

i am on some pretty serious sliders and we are suffering from a bit of a QB arm talent issue and a bit more of a WR talent issue. Run the ball and play defense has been the mantra for sure.

I'm rocking the El Gato for screens

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ARKANSAS HEADED TO SEC CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER AUBURN UPSETS ALABAMA

Arkansas players and coaches gathered inside the team facility after their win over LSU Saturday afternoon to do a bit of scoreboard watching.

By the end of the Iron Bowl, they were SEC West champions.

Auburn’s stunning 56–30 demolition of Alabama created a three-way tie atop the SEC West standings between Arkansas, Auburn, and Alabama. It was the Razorbacks who emerged from the chaos thanks to their head-to-head victory over Auburn earlier this season.

The result officially punched Arkansas’ ticket to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, capping one of the most improbable one-year turnarounds in recent SEC memory under first-year head coach Porter Davis.

Twelve months ago, Arkansas was coming off a disastrous 2–10 campaign. The year before that, the Razorbacks limped to 3–9. Combined, the program won just five games over two seasons while cycling through instability, injuries, and dwindling confidence.

Now they are headed to Atlanta with a chance to win the conference.

No team in the SEC improved more dramatically in 2018 than Arkansas, and the transformation has carried Davis from intriguing hire to one of the hottest names in college football almost overnight.

When Arkansas athletic officials hired Davis, the vision centered around culture change as much as scheme. The former defensive coordinator arrived preaching toughness, accountability, and physical football, and the Razorbacks embraced it quickly.

Players repeatedly credited the coaching staff for restoring belief inside the locker room after years of frustration.

“It started day one,” one Arkansas player said recently. “Coach Davis made everybody earn everything. Nobody cared what happened before.”

That mentality showed itself throughout the season.

Arkansas became one of the SEC’s most physical rushing teams, leaning on a relentless ground attack, improved offensive line play, and complementary defense. The Razorbacks consistently controlled time of possession, limited mistakes, and found ways to win close games, a complete reversal from the undisciplined teams that struggled through the previous two seasons.

"Before we always seemed to find a way to lose," safety and defensive leader Pernell Young explained. “This coaching staff changed all of that. We believe we have the ability to win against anyone.”

The defense also took major strides under Davis’ staff. Arkansas developed into a fundamentally sound, opportunistic unit capable of generating pressure and timely takeaways, while the special teams quietly became one of the league’s most reliable groups.

Perhaps most importantly, the Razorbacks developed an identity.

Instead of trying to out-talent the SEC’s elite programs, Arkansas embraced a bruising, resilient style built around ball control, situational football, and depth. The result was a team that steadily gained confidence as the season progressed.

Now the challenge becomes much larger.

Waiting in Atlanta is Georgia.

The Bulldogs will enter the SEC Championship Game as heavy favorites and will essentially be playing in a home environment inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, just over an hour from Athens. Georgia’s roster is loaded with NFL talent, and the Bulldogs spent most of the season viewed as one of the SEC’s premier championship contenders despite a few stumbles.

For Arkansas, the matchup represents both an opportunity and a measuring stick.

The Razorbacks have already exceeded nearly every preseason expectation simply by reaching Atlanta. But internally, nobody around the program appears interested in treating the SEC Championship Game like a reward for progress.

Davis has consistently preached that Arkansas is building toward competing with programs like Georgia every year, not merely hoping to stay close and get lucky.

And after watching this team rise from a combined five wins in two years to the SEC title game in just one season, doubting what Porter Davis has built suddenly feels a little dangerous.

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SEC Week in Review

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NCAA Week in Review