Razorbacks defense wins with 7, 11

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has forced more turnovers after eight games this season than the Razorbacks finished with in 14 games in 2006.

After taking the ball away seven times in Saturday's 58-10 victory against Florida International, the Razorbacks raised their turnover total to 22 - one more than the 21 they had all of last season.

Including four interceptions at Ole Miss last week, the Razorbacks have come up with 11 turnovers the past two games.

"I said at the start of the year we should lead the nation in turnovers, and I feel like we're starting to prove we can play that way," said Arkansas sophomore cornerback Jerell Norton, who has a team-high five interceptions. "When you get pressure like our defensive line and linebackers did today, you're going to get a lot of turnovers."

The seven turnovers are the most takeaways Arkansas hashad in one game since 2003 when it had eight in a 52-6 victory against Mississippi State.

Sophomore safety Rashaad Johnson, the younger brother of senior wide receiver Robert Johnson, had the first two interceptions of his career to lead the Razorbacks.

"I'm really proud of the way Rashaad is coming through and helping this football team," Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said. "He was a moot point on the depth chart at the beginning of the season, but he's a real positive now."

Johnson said he didn't make the travel squad until the night before Arkansas left for its first road game at Alabama on Sept. 15.

"I've come a long way this season, but I can't get satisfied," said Johnson, a second-teamer behind senior starters Matt Hewitt and Kevin Woods. "I've got to keep improving."

Florida International redshirt freshman quarterback Wayne Younger set a school record by throwing five interceptions.

In addition to Johnson's interceptions, Norton and senior cornerback Michael Grant intercepted Younger passes, and sophomore defensive end Adrian Davis and senior cornerback Matterral Richardson recovered fumbles forced by Hewitt and junior linebacker Elston Forte.

Three of Florida International's first four possessions resulted in takeaways by the Razorbacks.

"We wanted to set the toneearly," Hewitt said. "When one guy makes a play, it gets contagious."

Florida International Coach Mario Cristobal said the Razorbacks' secondary didn't do anything unexpected with its scheme.

"It was the things we had practiced against. It was the things that we had expected," he said. "They just made better plays than we did.

"You have to challenge particular coverages with certain calls, and I thought that we did."

More often than not, the Razorbacks' defensive backs came out ahead when challenged.

"Sometimes it was the receivers, sometimes it was the quarterback and sometimes it was a bad call by us," Cristobal said.

Arkansas combined to score 27 points after the turnovers, with five scoring drives averaging 38 yards.

"It feels good to put the offense in good position to score," Richardson said. "That's our job."