Arkansas defeats Southern Miss, 24-3
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A
stifling defensive effort and record-setting ground performance were
the recipe for success, as the University of Arkansas football team
(3-0) earned a 24-3 victory over Southern Miss inside Donald W.
Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday.
With 115 yards and one
touchdown on the day, Alex Collins became the first freshman in
Southeastern Conference history to record three straight 100-yard
rushing games to begin his career. Collins also marked the first true
freshman in the NCAA with more than two straight 100-yard rushing games
since Oklahoma’s Adrian Peterson in 2004.
“To get out of there
with a ‘W’ and to play the fourth quarter the way we did was great,”
head coach Bret Bielema said. “This group, they just keep moving
forward. It’s a group that learns every day. If we just keep making
baby steps, keep playing a fourth-quarter game and keep getting wins in
the right column, we’ll be alright.”
Through the first three
games of the season, Arkansas has outscored its opponents 21-0 in the
fourth quarter. The Razorbacks have outgained the opposition 292-76 in
the fourth quarter of games this season.
Collins and Jonathan
Williams combined to rush for 231 yards and a pair of second-half
touchdowns, as the Razorbacks made it three straight games with
100-plus yards rushing on the season. The feat marked the first time
since 2007 that Arkansas had multiple 100-yard rushers in three
straight games.
While the running game stole the show in the
second half, it was the turnover-hawking Razorback defense that kept
the game tight throughout the first half. Arkansas was opportunistic,
with Trey Flowers and Will Hines each grabbing interceptions. Flowers’
interception was the first of his career, while Hines recorded his
first of the season.
Team captain Chris Smith added a
career-high 3.0 sacks on the day, while senior Jarrett Lake added a
career-high 13 tackles. In the first half alone, the Arkansas defense
recorded two interceptions, two sacks, 3.0 tackles for loss and one
forced fumble.
The Arkansas defense held Southern Miss to 254
yards of total offense, marking the first time since 2007 that the
Razorbacks held the opposition to less than 300 yards of total offense
in three consecutive games.
The Razorbacks started the scoring
in the first quarter, as quarterback Brandon Allen scrambled in and
scored from five yards out to give Arkansas a 7-0 lead early in the
first quarter. Arkansas has scored a touchdown in the first quarter of
each of its three games this season.
The teams traded field
goals before Williams sparked an offensive resurgence in the third
quarter with a 45-yard touchdown run that pushed Arkansas’ lead to
17-3. Collins followed up with a score of his own in the fourth
quarter, reaching the end zone on a 7-yard touchdown run and posting
the 24-3 final score.
Arkansas prepares to take its first road
trip of the season next weekend, heading to Piscataway, N.J., to face
Rutgers on Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
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