NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Jerry Franklin saw the ball and a lot of green field ahead of him, Arkansas’ middle linebacker knew what to do.
Franklin has some experience at this game-turning play thing.
The Razorbacks’ last two fumble returns for touchdowns were by Franklin, covered a combined 179 yards and created 14-point swings each time.
Franklin’s 94-yard return in Arkansas’ 31-28 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday was the Razorbacks’ first touchdown off a fumble return since Franklin’s 85-yarder in a 47-19 victory over Texas A&M in 2009.
“I just happened to be in the right spot,” Franklin said of his penchant for big plays. “The guys around me did their jobs and I was able to make a play.”
Vanderbilt was ahead 28-20 and looked to be on the verge of extending the lead to 35-20 when Commodores tailback Zac Stacy got a hand off from Jordan Rodgers on second-and-goal from the Arkansas 3.
Stacy lost the ball without being hit.
“I was really just tracking the running back,” Franklin said. “He tried to bounce and gave a little move, and then I think the ball just came flying out.
“I saw it on the ground and just scooped and scored.”
Franklin, a senior from Marion, made it sound easy.
“I was thinking touchdown,” he said. “No doubt about it.”
Franklin said he felt safe and confident heading to the end zone, getting an escort from several teammates, including linebacker Jerico Nelson and defensive end Chris Smith.
“I had a whole crew around me,” Franklin said. “I knew it was a touchdown after that.”
Stacy, who rushed 19 times for 128 yards and 1 touchdown, said he simply dropped the ball.
“I just made a mistake,” he said.
Franklin’s touchdown pulled the Razorbacks within 28-26 with 13:25 left in the fourth quarter, and quarterback Tyler Wilson’s two-point conversion pass tied it 28-28.
“That was the play of the game, for sure,” Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette said of Franklin’s return. “They are driving to score, maybe go up two scores late in the game.”
Bequette said Stacy ran to his side.
“I just threw my body in there,” Bequette said. “ I’m not even sure what happened. The next thing I know, I look up and I see Jerry running at about the 50-yard line. That was a pretty good feeling.”
“That was huge,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. “We had a lot of opportunities for a lot of turnovers, but that one was the biggest. That’s was the one that swung the game for us.”
Franklin’s touchdown also swung the game Arkansas’ way against Texas A&M two years ago.
Arkansas led 14-10 in the second quarter, but the Aggies had a second-and-7 at the the Razorbacks 9 when defensive end Tenarius Wright forced a fumble by quarterback Jerrod Johnson that Franklin scooped up and scored to help send the Razorbacks to a 47-19 victory.
Franklin was asked if plays like he made against Texas A&M and Vanderbilt make him believe the football gods are smiling on him and the Razorbacks.
“Man, some things you can’t explain,” he said. “I just felt like I was doing my job.”
Sports, Pages 36 on 10/30/2011