Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas 24, Auburn 7

OFFENSE – C
HIGHLIGHTS: Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino moved to the coaches’ box and seemed more comfortable calling the game. He mixed the run and pass effectively and utilized more play action to keep Auburn off balance. Arkansas tallied 372 yards of offense, a modest total for them, but the Razorbacks got points on the board. They were 3 of 4 in the red zone and got two touchdowns out of their trips inside the 20s. Tyler Wilson did not turn the football over, something he’d done each of his previous outings. Dennis Johnson averaged 4.5 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns. Johnson also had a critical catch on third down to keep the Razorbacks’ final scoring drive alive. Brandon Mitchell’s throw to Javontee Herndon for a 26-yard touchdown sealed the win for Arkansas. Freshman Jonathan Williams continues to show promise in limited action, getting 34 yards on six carries.

LOWLIGHTS: Arkansas scored enough to win against struggling Auburn, but once again left points on the board. Knile Davis was a non-factor, rushing three times for minus-four yards. Wilson didn’t throw a touchdown pass for just the second time in 18 starts. Putting the ball on the ground — as the Razorbacks have seen repeatedly — can lead to losses. They got lucky on Saturday with a couple non-costly turnovers. Only 20 yards on nine plays in the third quarter is not acceptable for an offense that has this many playmakers.

DEFENSE – B
HIGHLIGHTS: With their performance against the Tigers (who are awful), the Razorbacks more than doubled their sack output for the season. They entered with seven and recorded eight against Auburn. That pressure led to turnovers from the opponent and the Razorbacks forced five. Freshman Otha Peters filled in admirably when Alonzo Highsmith left the game with a leg injury. Peters finished with five tackles. Terrell Williams had an active day, getting 12 tackles with a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Trey Flowers was fantastic, notching 3.5 sacks and a pair of quarterback hurries. Freshman Will Hines had a fumble recover and interception. Ross Rasner and Alan Turner each intercepted passes. Rasner and Alfred Davis forced fumbles.

LOWLIGHTS: Arkansas still gave up 281 yards through the air. And the Razorbacks allowed 22 passes of 10 or more yards, including a 31-yard touchdown by Emory Blake in the third quarter that allowed the Tigers to get within 10-7.

SPECIAL TEAMS — C
HIGHLIGHTS: Dylan Breeding averaged 51.5 yards per punt. Arkansas’ coverage team and kickoff specialist Zach Hocker mostly limited Auburn’s return game.

LOWLIGHTS: What’s gotten into Zach Hocker? The normally reliable kicker was 1 of 3 against Auburn, considering a less than consistent stretch. Granted, one miss was from 50 yards, but there’s no reason for him to miss a 26-yarder on the opening drive. Keante Minor’s role on punt returns is to be a sure-hands guy and protect the football. He misjudged a punt in the second half that could have given Auburn some momentum in a tight game. Defense bailed him out.

OVERALL — C
WHAT WE LEARNED: Auburn is bad. So bad. Let’s get that said from the start here and not read too much into this win. But credit Arkansas for taking advantage of a bad opponent and coming away with a win. At least this week the Razorbacks don’t have the tag of worst team in the SEC West. Postseason options remain slim, but it might be worth checking out details for Shreveport or Memphis, you know, just in case.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME
OFFENSE: Given the opportunity, Dennis Johnson provided the Razorbacks with a much-needed threat in the running game. His 76 yards was enough to keep Auburn guessing on defense and his two touchdowns were critical in the win.

DEFENSE: Snubbed by Auburn during the recruiting process, Huntsville, Ala., native Trey Flowers wanted to use Saturday as a statement game. He did just that working his way into the backfield routinely for 3.5 sacks and a couple quarterback hurries.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Another steady day for punter Dylan Breeding. He averaged 51.5 yards per punt with a long of 70 and three inside the 20. Breeding remains the most consistent Razorback performer.