Alabama Errors Spring Hogs' Hope in Second Half, Lose Heartbreaker

Razorbacks lose fifth straight, giving Alabama's Nick Saban major milestone

Author:
Daniel Shi
Publish date:
Oct 14, 2023 5:39 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the first 30 minutes, the game went about how all the experts thought, Arkansas looked dead on offense and although Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe played far from perfect, the deep ball hurt the Hogs to take a 21-6 lead into the break.

The Razorbacks started the second half with two more three-and-outs, giving them six in their first 10 possessions, inspiring little belief the Hogs could make a comeback and beat the Tide for the first time since 2006. The Alabama offense took advantage of a tired Hogs' front with 108 rushing yards in the third quarter, adding a 30-yard Will Reichard field goal to make it 24-6.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson and the offense clicked into gear too little too late, who had not gotten a first down since the 6:00 mark of the first quarter, a facemask penalty on third down sprung the Hogs' offense after what would have been another failed drive. Another pass interference penalty against true freshman Caleb Downs in the red zone on third down finally got the Razorbacks into the end zone. Wide receiver Isaiah Sategna caught his first touchdown pass of the year from 5 yards out to cut the lead to 24-13.

"We wanted to be in the game come the fourth quarter," Jefferson said. "That was our biggest thing. We just had to rally around and just pump each other up. Just encourage each other. Just like, we’re close. We’re just one play away, one drive away, one touchdown away."

On the ensuing drive, Jefferson's confidence was sky-high. On second-and-10, Alabama looked to have Jefferson for a surefire sack, but he escaped to find Var'Keyes Gumms down the right sideline for a 25-yard gain. The Razorbacks' season-long red zone problems suddenly seemed a thing of the past as Jefferson found running back Rashod Dubinion out of the backfield for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Jefferson added a successful two-point conversion to Andrew Armstrong to suddenly cut the deficit to just a field goal, 24-21.

Milroe's rhythm suddenly was nowhere to be found, Jefferson got the ball right back. A big day for defensive end Landon Jackson finished with 11 tackles and 3.5 sacks, the first player in a Razorback uniform with over three sacks since Chris Smith in 2013. However, a critical third down sack at around midfield from talented linebacker Dallas Turner forced a punt with just over 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Alabama's masterful clock control and two key third-down conversions one passing and one rushing brought Arkansas their fifth straight loss.

"Coach T-Will (defensive coordinator Travis Williams) was telling us last night in the hotel and then right before the game 'make them remember your name,'" Jackson said. "That’s what just kept running through my head was ‘I’ve got to make them remember my name.’ So every time I had a pass rush I was like, ‘I’ve got to win this rep.’ And then I was just trying to fly around and make plays really."

For the second week in a row, the big supplier of offense in the first half was kicker Cam Little, nailing 55 and 49-yarders to break the Hogs out to a 6-0 lead. Little is now 11-for-12 on the season and 4-for-4 on kicks over 50 yards. The Razorbacks' struggles to punch the ball in the end zone continued in the opening two quarters. In the previous two games of football, the Razorbacks' offense only had three touchdowns, one of which came in garbage time against Texas A&M.

Sam Pittman knew it was coming, but there was nothing he could do as he watched wide receiver Kobe Prentice catch a 79-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter after a Razorback busted coverage. Milroe had completions of 79, 42, 29 and 25 yards, who is renowned for the deep ball. Milroe also added 1-yard touchdown as part of a spectacular first half.

For all the talk about the NFL prospects of Jefferson and running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders, neither helped their case in the opening 30 minutes against 11th-ranked Alabama. It was announced on College GameDay minutes before kickoff that Sanders would be unavailable for the game. Jefferson finished the first half with 6-10 for just 80 yards passing.

After some early life because of Little's powerful leg, the same offensive problems reared their ugly head again. The Razorbacks only had 98 total yards of offense (10 in the second quarter) and three straight three-and-outs in the second quarter. Already down by 15, Pittman was faced with quite the decision on fourth and inches at their own 34-yard line and opted to punt after initially leaving the offense on the field with 02:47 left in the half.

The intermission must have done something to both units. The Razorbacks' offense had back-to-back touchdown drives and the defense forced three straight three straight three-and-outs to set up the dramatic finish but the Pittman and the Hogs lost their fourth one-possession game of the year, sending Pittman's record to 5-13 and sealing coach Nick Saban's 200th win at Alabama.

"I wouldn't have dreamt or nobody else that we would be sitting here 2-5 didn't want to be," Pittman said. "They're all learning experiences from it. Hopefully, we'll be a better team when we get back home and get out of there."

Arkansas will finally comes home to Donald W. Reynolds Stadium for the first time in over a month against Mississippi State Saturday Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and FuboTV .