EDITOR'S NOTE: The Sentinel-Record will follow up with a head football coach of a local high school after each regular season game this season for the Arkansas Razorbacks. This week's installment features Tommy Gilleran, head coach of the Lake Hamilton Wolves.
No. 1 Alabama almost covered the 35-point spread against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville on Saturday, but many are taking the Razorbacks' performance as a point of momentum into the second half of the season.
Arkansas dropped to 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the Southeastern Conference, but the Razorbacks appeared to be closer to a finished product than they did a month ago. Alabama (6-0, 3-0) tied the third-most points ever allowed by Arkansas in the 65-31 victory, but the Crimson Tide is averaging 56 points and 568 yards per game this season. They lead the nation in both categories.
"I think Alabama is that good and, when that happens, it causes more things to happen," said Lake Hamilton head coach Tommy Gilleran.
Sophomore Heisman front-runner Tua Tagovailoa found Irv Smith on a simple crossing pattern for a 76-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The two connected for a 47-yard pass later in the quarter before Smith fumbled the ball forward. Alabama's Henry Ruggs took advantage of the play, recovering the fumble and taking it the final 12 yards into the end zone.
Tagovailoa leads the nation with a 258.4 passer rating and has yet to play in the fourth quarter this season. He finished 10-for-13 passing Saturday for four touchdowns, also connecting with Jerry Jeudy for a 42-yard touchdown and a 60-yard score just before halftime to take a 41-14 lead.
"Their kids are that fast and we are not there yet," Gilleran said. "I know Arkansas, like every college in the nation, recruits speed. You need people that are fast. Football is a game of speed.
"If you are not fast, especially on defense, you are going to get beat. You have to have speed everywhere on defense with the way these spread offenses are. If you are not fast, you are going to be out in space and people will take advantage of it."
Alabama raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, but Arkansas answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive to end the quarter. Quarterback Ty Storey threw an eight-yard touchdown to Cheyenne O'Grady.
Arkansas stopped Alabama on a fourth-and-one on the next drive and drove to the goal line before Storey fumbled with a chance to make the score 21-14. The Crimson Tide went 99 yards on five plays to extend the lead.
"They did some things well, but you just can't give Alabama anything," Gilleran said. "Alabama is good at running the ball and throwing it now. That puts a lot of pressure on the opposing defense.
"You used to try to take away the run. Now, you can't just go with the run. They are going to throw it on you, because they have four good receivers, plus that good tight end. He had a good game. That puts a lot of pressure on defenses when you can't take something away."
Arkansas marched 75 yards on seven plays on the following drive as running back Chase Hayden and receiver Deon Stewart made plays to put the team in scoring position. Former starting quarterback Cole Kelley faked a run on the goal line to find O'Grady again for a two-yard touchdown. O'Grady finished with seven catches for 48 yards.
"The tight end play with O'Grady has really opened it up," Gilleran said. "The running back (Rakeem Boyd) played well. I thought they got into space and did well. The receivers are doing better. They made some good catches today. Stewart made some good catches. He is playing better, and that helps them in that area."
Boyd was the first Arkansas running back since Darren McFadden in 2007 to run for 100 yards against Alabama. Arkansas' 31 points and 405 yards of offense were the most allowed by Alabama this season. Kelley scored the final touchdown of the game on a one-yard run with 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
"I think last week showed, defensively, they are getting better," Gilleran said. "Offensively, today, scoring that many points and not giving up is a positive for Arkansas going forward."
The defensive standouts continued to lead Arkansas against Alabama. Senior linebacker Dre Greenlaw, senior safety Santos Ramirez and junior linebacker Scoota Harris made 13, 12 and 11 tackles, respectively.
The Razorbacks followed up a competitive performance against Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1) with an even more dynamic showing against the Tide. Storey was 25-for-39 passing for 230 yards and two touchdowns with one interception returned for a score. Gilleran attributed part of the offense's success to improvements along the offensive line.
"Storey actually had a little bit more time," Gilleran said. "When you think about Alabama and how fast they are and how good they are up front, the offensive line had a pretty good day."
The Alabama game marked the first of five straight home games for Arkansas. The Razorbacks will go 56 days in between true road games.
They last played a true road game on Sept. 22 at Auburn (4-2, 1-2) and their next road game is scheduled for Nov. 17 at Mississippi State (4-2, 1-2). The annual Southwest Classic against Texas A&M was held at the neutral site of the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
"The tough part of the schedule was right here in the middle with Auburn, A&M and Alabama," Gilleran said. "With those guys there, they are just tough.
"I think Arkansas can compete with the rest of the schools. Not everybody else is going to be so much better than us that we cannot compete. I feel like Arkansas can compete with them, athlete to athlete."
Arkansas will host Ole Miss (4-2, 0-2) on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock before returning to Fayetteville for three consecutive home games against Tulsa (1-4, 0-2 American Athletic Conference), Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-2) and LSU (5-1, 2-1). The Razorbacks also get an off week after Vanderbilt when LSU hosts Alabama on Nov. 3. The Tigers will travel to Fayetteville the following week.
"It is positive for me to watch that they are competing better," Gilleran said. "Instead of getting beat, 65-7, they scored all the way to the end. If they can do that against a team that is not as quality of an opponent as Alabama, they will have a chance to win."
Sports on 10/09/2018