By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Arkansas spent most of the week promising its offense wouldn’t slow down with leading receiver Greg Childs out for the season.
The 17th-ranked Razorbacks spent Saturday night in Williams-Brice Stadium proving they weren’t kidding.
Arkansas turned in its most impressive offensive effort — to go along with what coach Bobby Petrino called its most complete performance of the season — en route to a 41-20 win against No. 18 South Carolina in front of a stunned crowd of 75,136.
Quarterback Ryan Mallett threw for 303 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another. Running back Knile Davis ran for 140 yards and three scores. And sophomore Cobi Hamilton led the receiving corps with seven catches for 111 yards and a touchdown in Childs’ absence.
The balance, along with a defense that shut down South Carolina’s run game and forced three second half turnovers, helped Arkansas finish 3-0 against SEC East foes for the first time since 2006.
More importantly, it kept the Razorbacks (7-2, 4-2 in SEC) in the running for a premiere SEC bowl.
“That’s a good win right there,” Petrino said. “That’s a team victory. We did a nice job in all three phases. We were really well prepared. We had to leave Greg at home. He was on the phone in the locker room, which was nice. But we wanted to make sure we took care of business for Greg. Our players did an excellent job of it.”
Arkansas did so by establishing balance on its opening drive, using nine plays (five runs and four passes) to get into the end zone for an early 7-0 lead.
It was a sign of things to come. Arkansas spent the rest of the night gaining chunks of yards on the ground, while mixing in big plays through the air against South Carolina’s baffled group, which led the SEC in sacks and rushing defense.
Petrino credited Mallett for his execution and toughness, standing in the pocket and taking a few licks. Davis and the offensive line deserved credit, too, controlling a talented defensive front most of the night.
“We were very balanced,” Davis said. “They didn’t know what to expect. We had whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted it. … That’s the way we wanted it.”
Arkansas scored points on four of its five possessions in the first half to take a 24-7 lead. Mallett threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Hamilton on the first possession. Davis had two- and 21-yard touchdown runs.
His second score came after one of the game’s biggest moments. Or biggest blunders for South Carolina.
Coach Steve Spurrier called for a fake punt from the Gamecocks’ 38 with roughly three minutes remaining in the first half. The Razorbacks weren’t fooled on the play, stuffing the fake for no gain. Davis tip-toed the sideline three plays later to make it 24-7.
“That gave us great momentum,” said Petrino, whose team also stuffed a fake punt against Ole Miss two weeks ago. “I never did see what the fake was, but huge stop. And then the momentum we got offensively taking it in.”
The fake wasn’t the only mistake that hurt the Gamecocks, whose run game was became non-existent when Lattimore suffered a knee injury. With South Carolina trailing 10-7 in the second quarter, place kicker Spencer Lanning banged a 29-yard attempt off an upright to end a promising drive with no points.
Receiver Alshon Jeffery caught a short touchdown pass in the final minute of the half, but was flagged for pass interference. The Gamecocks eventually had to settle for a field goal and a 24-10 deficit.
It got worse for South Carolina. Arkansas — which played most of the game with cornerback Ramon Broadway sidelined by a leg injury — intercepted two Stephen Garcia passes in the third quarter. Both led to scores.
Arkansas led 34-10 after the third quarter and opened its lead to as much as 41-10. South Carolina fans filed out of the stadium after the score.
“I felt like we knew we were going to win and they knew who was going to win,” Davis said. “It was kind of like we were playing to get the game over with. …
“That’s the best feeling in the world. That’s the point you want to get to in every game, where they just quit, give up and know they’re going to lose.”
South Carolina tacked on 10 points late, including a Byron McKnight’s one-yard touchdown after recovering a Tyler Wilson fumble. But the game had been decided.
“We had a bad night, had a terrible night,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said. “I apologize to the fans. We weren’t even competitive much tonight. The way we played, you’d wonder how we won six games this year.”
South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore finished with 30 yards on 11 carries, slowed by a bruised knee he suffered in the first half. Garcia completed 14 of 29 passes for 161 yards with a touchdown and two picks.
Arkansas outgained South Carolina 443 to 295 in handing the Gamecocks’ their worst home loss since 2005.
It also proved to be Arkansas’ most lopsided road win since a 44-8 victory at Ole Miss in 2007. And it happened with its best receiver watching from home.
Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said Arkansas held a meeting Thursday night with Childs in attendance. The junior spoke to the group a day before undergoing surgery on his knee, telling them to fight hard for him.
“It feels good,” Hamilton said in the interview room after Arkansas did just that. “He’s one of our guys and one of our top guys. For us, stepping up and getting this win for him, it means a lot. We did it for him.”
