FAYETTEVILLE — Players hustle for big blocks
If a theme tied together the offensive portion of Arkansas’ 38-31, double-overtime victory at Mississippi State last Saturday, it was the power of competent effort blocking.
The Razorbacks scored three touchdowns of 25 yards or longer, and each featured multiple Arkansas players hauling it down field to level Bulldogs defenders and clear paths to the end zone. On Arkansas’ last touchdown, Knile Davis’ 7-yard catch in the left flat in the second overtime, receiver Cobi Hamilton screened off a defender on the left edge.
Receiver Joe Adams sprinted more than 80 yards to get a push on linebacker Chris White to spring the last portion of Jarius Wright’s 89-yard catch-and-run score.
“If you get a big hit, that’s probably like scoring a touchdown,” Adams said.
Earlier in the game, Wright and Davis took out the last couple of defenders on tight end D.J. Williams’ swerving 25-yard screen pass score.
“It was technique blocking all across the board ... even linemen behind me making cut blocks,” Williams said.
“They did a great job, and I just pretty much had to stay on the path they made for me.”
Prior to Williams’ score, Davis ran through a hugeseam over left end on a 62-yard touchdown. Williams turned out a defender in the backfield, tackle Ray Dominguez kicked out cornerback Jonathan Banks and center Travis Swanson pulled around the end and put on a devastating block that put three Bulldogs down.
“Swanson had a pretty cut block as well as Ray and De[Marcus] Love,” Davis said. “I watched the film like nine times and we played with an attitude.”
Coach Bobby Petrino said players compete to lay “touchdown blocks” that get put into videos that are shown to the team on Friday nights.
“It gets contagious and they all want to be on that video on Friday night,” Petrino said.
“On D.J.’s touchdown run, I can think of five blocks we got just on effort alone, and three of them are huge. It’s great to see that our players really buy into it.”Franklin’s 20
Arkansas linebacker Jerry Franklin posted a career-best 20 tackles while playing 103 snaps against Mississippi State, but the junior from Marion acted like it wasn’t a big deal.
“I’m just happy we got the win to be honest with you,” Franklin said. “It was a big win for the team and going to overtime, it was exciting for a minute there and a little bit nerve-wracking also.”
With 90 tackles, Franklin is on the brink of leading the Razorbacks in stops for the third consecutive year.
“Jerry really knows the game,” Arkansas CoachBobby Petrino said. “His experience shows up. He understands formations, he understands what we’re probably going to see before the ball’s snapped. It’s great to watch him over the years really learn the game of football.” Four times 10
LSU’s 43-36 victory over Ole Miss last week gave Coach Les Miles his fourth 10-victory season in six years with the Tigers. Miles joined Mark Richt, Steve Spurrier and Philip Fulmer as the only coaches in SEC history with four 10-victory seasons among their first six.
Common foes
Arkansas and LSU share five common opponents this season: Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. The Tigers went 4-1 against the group, with the lone loss at Auburn (24-17). The Razorbacks were 3-2 with losses to Alabama (24-20) and Auburn (65-43).
A further indication of why Arkansas is one of the nation’s most prolific offenses and LSU is one of its best defenses is their aggregate scoring in those games.
Arkansas outscored those five opponents 188-158 (average score 38-32), while LSU outscored them 140-91 (average score 28-18).
Red zone tussle
Mississippi State’s defense ranked No. 3 in the SEC in defending the red zone and No. 2 in allowing touchdowns in the red zone entering Saturday’s gameagainst Arkansas, but the Razorbacks were 2 for 2 on trips inside the Bulldogs’ 20.
Mississippi State was able to hold the Hogs to a 32-yard Zach Hocker field goal after Arkansas had a first down at the 14 in the second quarter.
But the Razorbacks punched in a touchdown early in the fourth quarter on Knile Davis’ 1-yard run following Joe Adams’ 22-yard catch and run with a quick screen.
Big and fast
Arkansas added to its quick-strike reputation on Saturday on Ryan Mallett’s 89-yard touchdown pass to Jarius Wright on the first play of a series in the third quarter.
It was the 12th time this season the Razorbacks had a touchdown drive of 70-plus yards that took two minutes or less, tying Baylor and Michigan for the national lead in that category.
Worth noting
LSU’s 41 consecutive possessions without a turnover ended in the third quarter last week against Ole Miss on a Jordan Jefferson interception. The streak dated to the Tigers’ 24-17 loss at Auburn on Oct.
23. LSU had 10 touchdowns and nine field goals since the turnover on its first possession at Auburn.
LSU running backs have gone 239 consecutive carries without losing a fumble, dating to an Alfred Blue turnover on the final snap against Mississippi State on Sept. 18. Stevan Ridley has 153 consecutive carries without losing a fumble.
Sports, Pages 28 on 11/25/2010