Arkansas Business

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Arkansas 49, Kentucky 7

OFFENSE – A-minus
HIGHLIGHTS: Arkansas scored on six consecutive possessions and converted seven of its first drives into touchdowns. In less than three full quarters the offense put up 49 points. Freshman Jonathan Williams got the team off to a fast start with his 74-yard touchdown catch on a wheel route. It was the first of two, 70-plus yard scores for Williams. Tyler Wilson completed 23 of 31 passes for 372 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. Wilson completed touchdown throws to four different receivers. Dennis Johnson ran for 82 yards on 12 carries as Arkansas established the threat of a running game to keep the UK defense honest. Johnson also caught a pass for a 5-yard touchdown. Cobi Hamilton had another solid night with eight catches for 77 yards. Arkansas was eight of 11 on third down, the team’s best showing of the season.

LOWLIGHTS: There were those two times the Razorbacks had to punt. Otherwise … it’s hard to find a lot of fault here.

DEFENSE – A-minus
HIGHLIGHTS: Kentucky punted on eight of 10 possessions against Arkansas. It took until the third quarter for the Wildcats to break 100 yards on the Razorbacks. Arkansas didn’t allow Kentucky a possession of more than 36 yards in the first half. Freshman A.J. Turner had five tackles. Walk-on defensive tackle Jared Green finished with four tackles and a sack, as did safety Ross Rasner. Kentucky finished five of 13 on third downs.

LOWLIGHTS: On track for the first shutout since 2006, the Razorbacks couldn’t get it done. Even in an abbreviated game against a bad offense they gave up a touchdown. Arkansas surrendered the score with 6:46 left in the third quarter. A week after getting eight sacks and forcing five turnovers they had two and zero.

SPECIAL TEAMS — B-minus
HIGHLIGHTS: Keante Minor provided an honest to goodness punt return in the first quarter, going 25 yards. Minor has primarily been there to fair catch punts and not returned them. Dylan Breeding placed both of his punts inside the 20 and Zach Hocker booted six of his eight kickoffs into or out of the end zone.

LOWLIGHTS: Minor could have had a 70-yard return for a touchdown if not for a block in the back penalty. Beyond that, why nitpick this week?  

OVERALL — A-minus
WHAT WE LEARNED: Arkansas seems to have leveled out a bit. Now the Razorbacks are beating inferior teams the way they’re supposed to beat them. Keep watching those holiday season travel prices for Birmingham, Shreveport or Memphis. No guarantees, but Arkansas seems to be making a strong push.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME
OFFENSE: Wilson seemed to have his best control of the offense his season. He threw for five touchdowns and wasn’t once intercepted. Wilson finished with 372 yards and his touchdowns tied a school record. Honorable mention goes to freshman tailback Jonathan Williams for his three catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns.

DEFENSE: Senior linebacker Terrell Williams is doing well in his new role. Williams is filling in for middle linebacker Alonzo Highsmith and has been active so far. He had five tackles in the weather-shortened game, broke up a pass and recorded a quarterback hurry.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Zach Hocker was a busy guy against Kentucky. He was asked to kick on seven touchdowns, plus he kicked off eight times for an average of 64.9 yards with six landing inside the end zone. He even kicked one about five yards deep into the stands.