Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Since NCAA Division II football has been the bright spot on the local college scene — Henderson State is No. 9, still undefeated and gunning for a Great American Conference Championship — let’s start the rundown of this week’s Pro-Arkansans with the Tennessee Titans and safety Jordan Babineaux.

Babineaux (of GAC member Southern Arkansas) led the Titans with 12 tackles, eight solo, a pass breakup and a quarterback hit in the 35-34 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Receiver Damien Williams (Springdale) caught three passes for 38 yards, including a 19-yard reception on the scoring drive that made it 21-14 Tennessee in the second quarter.

In what was the expatriate Arkansans game of the week, Buffalo defensive end Alex Carrington (Arkansas State) came off the bench and made a tackle for loss and Bills safety George Wilson (Arkansas) was second on the team with eight tackles, six unassisted, and broke up a pass.

Big Tex may have said his last “Howdy Folks” after he was immolated last week, but the Dallas Cowboys cheered up a few folks by catching fire in a good way.

Felix Jones (Arkansas) was Dallas’ leading rusher as the Cowboys edged the Carolina Panthers 19-14. Jones carried 15 times for 44 yards and Jeremy Parnell (Gosnell) got playing time at offensive tackle for Dallas. Despite his peformance, Jones may not be available this week because of a neck strain and bruised knee.

DeAngelo Williams (Wynne) had just two carries for 4 yards as Carolina ceded the bulk of the rushing yards to quarterback Cam Newton (six attempts for a team-high 64 yards and an average 10.7 a carry). But afterward, in his best Big Tex impression, Newton, and the career of General Manager Marty Hurney, went up in flames.

Minnesota starting defensive tackle Kevin Williams (Fordyce) gave the Vikings a boost with two tackles, a sack for a 9-yard loss, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery as the Vikes beat the Arizona Cardinals 21-14.

Darren McFadden (Oak Grove, Arkansas) continued to grind out the hard yards for Oakland as the Raiders rallied for a 26-23, overtime victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. McFadden did have a 13-yard run as part of his team-high 53, but he averaged 2.8 yards a carry while also catching four passes for 28 yards.

Seattle defensive lineman Clinton McDonald (Jacksonville) got in the game and had two tackles, but the San Francisco 49ers won their defensive struggle with the Seahawks 13-6.

M.D. Jennings (Arkansas State) started at safety for the Green Bay Packers and had two solo tackles and an assist in their 30-20 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Long snapper Brett Goode (Fort Smith Northside, Arkansas) and D.J. Williams (Central Arkansas Christian, Arkansas) also saw action with the Pack.

Guard Mitch Petrus (Carlisle, Arkansas) and defensive back Michael Coe (Arkansas by way of Alabama State) got in the game to help the New York Giants overtake the Washington Redskins 27-23. The Giants only rushed for 64 yards but with Petrus helping out with the protection Eli Manning passed for 337.

Despite a stellar day by Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, there is no truth to the rumor the Redskins, now referred to as “The Pigskins” in two D.C. area papers, are going to chuck it all and call themselves the RG3skins.