Hogs seeking to discover their manner down the stretch

I believe each ardent Hog fan felt like a jaunt to Provo, Utah, could be concerning the final prescribed vacation spot to mount a midseason comeback.

This sport was scheduled some time again, underneath a distinct administration, and Sam Pittman definitely didn’t anticipate to take a wounded workforce with a three-game dropping streak out West. The Hogs had their worst efficiency of the Pittman period in Starkville when Mississippi State thumped them 40-17 on Oct. 8, dropping the affable head coach to 15-14 general in his third season.

That sport was so ugly, and the Hogs so dispirited with Ok.J. Jefferson sidelined, that it extra carefully resembled a Chad Morris squad than something we’ve seen underneath Pittman’s heretofore cautious watch. There was quick and ongoing quarterbacking hassle with Cade Fortin beginning over Malik Hornsby, and but once more, I query the therapy the latter backup has obtained so far. I digress, although, as I usually do.

Hornsby gave Arkansas an instantaneous spark when he entered. Bother is, the Hogs had already dived right into a 14-point ditch due to horrible tackling, extra pitiful punting from now-deposed starter Max Fletcher, and offensive stagnancy. They by no means actually obtained again into it, and due to the best way Alabama ran off with the sport per week earlier than, the Hogs went from a High 10 rating to consecutive 23-point losses in breakneck time.

That was discouraging sufficient for me to consider BYU’s model of play — unusually bodily for a Western foe — would create hassle for the Hogs. The Cougars did their half for two-plus quarters, jockeying with the Razorbacks for management earlier than Arkansas discovered main offensive rhythm late within the second quarter.

Jefferson’s five-touchdown efficiency was a factor of brilliance. He accomplished 26 passes, and never one completion appeared to resemble one other. The junior shook off any lingering results of being dinged up towards Bama and threw exact balls everywhere in the discipline, all day.

Matt Landers, dogged by a few ill-timed drops within the first few video games, had his breakout displaying with three TD receptions and eight whole grabs. Rocket Sanders’ 64-yard run to pay-dirt to shut the scoring within the fourth regarded like a classic McFadden spotlight reel play as a red-clad “5” streaked away from defensive backs.

The protection? Nonetheless exhausting to determine, and definitely not a power after one other day marred by shaky tackling and penalty walkoffs. Hudson Clark’s opportunistic day gave him a resurgence of confidence after a latest demotion, however possibly extra importantly, some untested guys (Trent Gordon, Chris Paul Jr. and Cam Ball, as an example) made some impression performs and stable tackles.

Reid Bauer, fortunately and at inexcusably lengthy final, is again at punter for the rest of the season, hopefully. When your protection is compelled to play on its heels on account of personnel shortages, discipline place takes on added weight. Bauer took over and knocked 5 beauties within the Mississippi State sport after Fletcher faltered once more, then nailed a 62-yarder in Provo.

This particular groups stuff, you’ll recall, is sort of necessary. Cam Little’s gotten his mojo again after clipping the highest of the upright in Arlington, and Bryce Stephens stays a possible menace as a returner. I point out all of this as a result of within the remaining 5 video games, there’s going to be at the least one determined by someone’s proper foot.

The bye week arrived completely, no matter how the matchup with the Cougars performed out. Had the Hogs suffered a fourth straight defeat, that pause would’ve given them a wanted reset.

On the power of a cushty win in a difficult setting, Arkansas (4-3, 1-3) now seems to be prefer it may discover its manner once more down the stretch. Going to Auburn subsequent Saturday presents the Hogs one other shot to finish a troubling streak (six losses in a row, asterisk affixed to the 2020 farce), and a method to make one other November cost towards higher bowl standing. The Tigers are a wayward bunch, too, continuously displaying spark however by no means steadily sufficient to matter.

Arkansas may theoretically ship a knockout blow to embattled Bryan Harsin, after which Homecoming will carry Liberty’s Hugh Freeze to Fayetteville. Regardless of Freeze’s quick run of success in Oxford, he went 0-2 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium (2014, 2016); he additionally simply authored his greatest win at Liberty, mockingly a 27-point throttling of BYU.

Auburn and Liberty won’t have gave the impression to be the potential tilt video games of 2022 initially, however alas, right here we’re. The teaching employees earned a couple of demerits early on, however can clear all of it up by ending October strongly. November brings ranked LSU and Ole Miss to Fayetteville together with Freeze’s 7-1 Flames, so it’s a troublesome stretch even when it’s solely throughout the comfy confines of Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

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