By Scott Faldon
Times Record • sfaldon@swtimes.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Alabama’s motto for the 2010 season is “Start Fast — Finish Strong.”
The No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide failed on the former, but the offense accomplished the latter by scoring 10 points in the final 6:01 to silence a record crowd at Reynolds Razorback Stadium with 24-20 win against No. 10 Arkansas.
“That’s the great thing; it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish,” Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy said. “This was a great atmosphere today for us to play in. I think we’re all excited and pleased to be able to come out and just finish the game the way we did.”
Trailing by 13 points midway through the third quarter, McElroy orchestrated an eight-play, 74-yard drive that cut the Razorbacks’ lead to 20-14 with a 20-yard touchdown pass.
On Alabama’s next possession, McElroy took the Crimson Tide on a 16-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a field goal which made it a 24-20 Arkansas lead.
His final scoring drive was much easier, thanks to a Ryan Mallett interception. McElroy just turned and handed the ball three times to Mark Ingram — the defending Heisman Trophy winner — to cover the final 12 yards.
It was the type of second-half performance you expect from an offense filled with players who won a national championship last year.
Statistically, McElroy posted almost identical halves. He competed 9-of-13 passes for 97 yards in the first half. And 9-of-13 for 97 in the second half. The only difference was he tossed two interceptions in the first half and avoided any picks in the second half.
Ingram finished with 24 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
“Things didn’t go well for us; (Arkansas) made some plays,” McElroy said of the first half. “But we were able to overcome adversity that we sometimes created.”
After a disappointing first half, McElroy’s confidence grew throughout the second half.
“The fact that we were able to go out there and execute the way we did in the second half and move the sticks as efficiently as we did was really encouraging,” McElroy said. “I think that it’s going to take a lot to beat this team because this team has a lot of heart and wants to give a lot of effort. So I think we’re all really pleased.”
McElroy obviously hadn’t spoken to Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
He was not in a good mood following the game. His focus was more on the first-half mistakes than on keeping Alabama’s 28-game regular-season winning streak alive.
“We told the players when we came here that we have to change the way everybody thought,” Saban said. “We were going to have to go out there and work and earn it and it would take a tremendous amount of intensity and enthusiasm and energy to do that, and we did not have that in the first half.”
Saban doesn’t plan on letting his players forget about Saturday’s first half anytime soon, either.
“That was really not a good first half of football and I really don’t want the players to put it behind them,” Saban said. “I want them to remember what it’s like to not play the way you’re capable of playing, not playing with the intensity you should have and the focus you need to have.”
