Arkansas Jumps into AP and USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 24
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Arkansas Razorbacks took a big step forward in their 2016 season netting a thrilling 41-38 double-overtime road win against then- No. 15 TCU on Saturday. The previously unranked Hogs gained some national respect from respective AP and USA Today voters jumping into both polls at No. 24 in the Week 4 rankings.
For three quarters the Hogs looked like they had the Horned Frogs where they wanted them up 10-0 at half and then 17-7 at the end of the third. The Hogs defense gave up some big plays in the fourth quarter allowing 21 points to the home team. Arkansas was the beneficiary of a Kenny Hill dead ball/celebration penalty after the embattled quarterback ran for a 5-yard score in the fourth giving TCU the lead with 2:05 left to play in the game.
Arkansas drove the short field with quarterback Austin Allen finding senior receiver Keon Hatcher on a 16-yard pass play. The Hogs had to go for the two-point conversion running a reverse-toss back pass play with Allen catching the ball in the left corner of the end zone for the game tying score.
Allen turned in the best game of his young career at Arkansas hitting 17 of 29 passes for 223 yards with three touchdowns against zero picks. He also had a five-yard touchdown run in the second overtime to clinch the game for the Hogs.
Sophomore running back Rawleigh Williams had a career game with 146 yards off 28 carries for the Hogs. Other top offensive performers included senior receiver Drew Morgan who led the Hogs with seven receptions for 93 yards with a score and tight end Jeremy Sprinkle who had three receptions for 58 yards and a score.
The Hogs defense was picked apart by Hill but senior linebacker Brooks Ellis came up big. Ellis was credited with 13 total tackles, eight solo, and three tackles for a loss. His 47-yard interception returned for a touchdown was a difference maker in the game pointing points on the board in the second quarter.
Granted the game went into two extra frames, but the pass defense still has a lot of work to do. Hill threw for 377 yards completing 36 of 56 attempts. The silver lining, only one of the completions went for a score, a 13-yard touchdown to Taj Williams in the first overtime session. Hill also led TCU in rushing with 93 yards off 15 attempts with two touchdowns.
The thorn in Arkansas’ side on defense and on special teams was KaVontae Turnpin. Turnpin set up both of TCU’s fourth quarter touchdowns. Turnpin did not go down on a punt return getting the ball to mid-field and secured passes deep into Arkansas territory setting up scoring opportunities including 57- and 43-yard receptions. For the game Turnpin had 295 all-purpose yards; 126 yards in the passing attack off seven receptions.
The Hogs played a clean game without any turnovers and limited penalties to five giving away 45 yards. TCU was penalized nine times for 95 yards.
The Hogs special teams play was mixed. Punter Toby Baker was outstanding kicking six attempts, with one inside the 20, for an average of 50.7 yards flipping the field for Arkansas as needed. Field goal kicking issues popped up again with Cole Hedlund. Hedlund hit his first two tries from 38- and 27-yards but missed a 22-yard chip shot from the left hash mark banging it off the right upright in the fourth. Jared Cornelius gave Arkansas extra field position returning two punts for 35 yards.
Arkansas tightened up some issues along the offensive line looking like a cohesive unit for Allen and the running backs. Allen was only sacked once but was hurried four times. The Hogs run game picked up 180 yards on the ground, a much better showing than the 106 netted against Louisiana Tech.
Arkansas returns home on Saturday for a breather against Texas State before returning to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for their SEC opener against Texas A&M on Sept. 24.
Photo credit: bleacherreport.com; No. 8 Austin Allen drops back to pass against TCU.