By Harry King
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson’s 19 straight completions are headline-worthy, but his rapid metamorphosis from spectator to fully committed participant was his play of the game.
Auburn needed help to beat the Razorbacks and there was a gift-wrapped score lying on the ground at the Arkansas 20, courtesy of Dennis Johnson, with defensive back Nieko Thorpe closing fast. Wilson dove, beat Thorpe to the football, and the Razorbacks punted.
Trailing 21-14 at the time, Auburn might have had a chance if Wilson had hesitated or been a step slower.
Wilson’s heads up play was one of many positives recorded as the Razorbacks ended Auburn’s winning streak against Southeastern Conference opponents at 11. At the top of the list is Arkansas’ 5-1 record with an open week dead ahead.
Other pluses in the 38-14 victory include:
—A running game — baby steps, mind you, but a running game nevertheless that was a factor in Wilson’s 80 percent completion rate in the first half. The number of rushing yards is inflated because of Joe Adams’ 92-yard run on a simple pitch sweep on Arkansas’ first play of the second half, but the positive yardage from both Johnson and Broderick Green was bread-and-butter stuff that can sustain an offense.
—Some one-on-one tackles to the ground by Alonzo Highsmith, in particular, plus Jerry Franklin, Tevin Mitchel, Elton Ford, and others.
Highsmith had 10 unassisted tackles, including two for losses. Michael Dyer is at least the equal of Texas A&M’s Christine Michael, who shredded Arkansas for 230 yards last week, but Dyer only broke one long run and 12 of his 16 carries during the first three quarters netted three yards or less. Three times, he lost yards. Most of the time, he had nowhere to run.
—An effective pass defense, aided by the fact that Auburn was missing two of its top three receivers and isn’t very good throwing the ball even when all of their receivers are available.
It was the Tigers’ preference for the pass that got them in trouble in the second quarter and led to a touchdown that put Arkansas ahead to stay. The Tigers had to resort to a trick play for 44 of their 89 meaningful passing yards. Eric Bennett recorded an interception off Kiehl Frazier late in the third quarter when Auburn threatened to cut into the 14-point deficit and Tramain Thomas intercepted two in the fourth period.
—Dylan Breeding’s punting and his teammates’ coverage.
Breeding had punts of 59, 47, and 43 yards with no return, a 44-yarder that came back 7 yards, and a 41-yarder that was fair caught at the Auburn 11.
Those kuods are for one-game only. They do not guarantee similar success against South Carolina or LSU in November.
And, each of the positives comes with a knock or two. For instance, both Johnson and Green had lost-yardage plays, Dyer did break a 55-yard scoring run when Jake Bequette stayed outside and nobody filled the hole, Auburn’s 44-yard gain would have been 82 if the pass had been far enough, and Zach Hocker’s 34-yard field goal attempt bounced off the left upright.
Like a good team should, Arkansas responded to deficits of 0-7 and 7-14. Wilson was 4-of-5 for 60 yards on the Razorbacks’ first touchdown drive, 7-of-7 for 49 yards on the second, and 5-of-5 for 52 yards on the third.
A decent running game sure helps.
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Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media’s Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
