10-06-18 MFB vs Arkansas
Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4)
Photo by Kent Gidley
The Crimson Tide gained 639 of offense and scored nine touchdowns in the win
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 1 Alabama football team poured on the points in its 65-31 victory over Arkansas Saturday afternoon at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium.
The Crimson Tide (6-0, 3-0 SEC) netted 639 yards of total offense against the Razorbacks (1-5, 0-3 SEC) in the win.
On offense, sophomore Tua Tagovailoa finished the game going 10-for-13 with 334 passing yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore wide out Jerry Jeudy ended the game with four catches for 135 yards and two scores, while junior tight end Irv Smith Jr. had two catches for 123 yards and a touchdown. In the running game, senior Damien Harris used 15 carries to pick up 111 yards, while finding the end zone twice.
On defense, sophomore linebacker Dylan Moses ended the afternoon with 10 tackles, including two tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. Junior defensive back Deionte Thompson had nine tackles and a pass breakup.
Alabama needed just one play to get on the scoreboard. Tagovailoa connected with Smith Jr. who streaked up the sideline for a 76-yard score. Following redshirt freshmen Joseph Bulovas’ extra point, the Tide led 7-0 just 21 seconds into the game. The touchdown marked the sixth-straight game UA has found the end zone on its opening drive.
On the next Crimson Tide offensive drive, Tagovailoa found Smith Jr. once again for a 47-yard reception when Smith Jr. fumbled forward and sophomore wide out Henry Ruggs III picked up the ball and scored from 12 yards out. Bulovas’ point after attempt was good and Alabama took the 14-0 edge with 10:01 left in the first quarter.
Following an Arkansas three-and-out, the Tide put together a methodical, eight-play, 76-yard scoring drive, finished off by junior running back Josh Jacobs punching it in from one-yard out. Bulovas’ extra point made it 21-0 with 5:38 remaining in the first.
Arkansas responded with a long drive of its own, going 75 yards on 11 plays, capped by an eight-yard pitch-and-catch, to make it 21-7 heading into the second quarter.
After Moses forced a fumble at the UA one-yard line, Alabama drove 99 yards for another score. The Tide scored for the fourth time on the afternoon when Tagovailoa found Jeudy for a 42-yard touchdown reception to cap the five-play, 99-yard drive. Bulovas’ extra point pushed the lead to 28-7 with 12:07 left before halftime.
The Razorbacks had an answer on their next drive, going 75 yards in seven plays and finding the end zone to cut the lead to 28-14 with just over six minutes remaining in the half.
Alabama used a heavy dose of Harris on its next possession. He carried the ball five times on the eight-play, 75-yard drive, including a two-yard touchdown scamper. After the missed extra point, the Tide held the 34-14 advantage.
UA added another touchdown before the half when Tagovailoa hooked up with Jeudy again, this time on a quick slant that went 60 yards to the house. The Bulovas’ extra point made it 41-14 going into the halftime break.
In the first half, Alabama put up 463 yards of offense, giving the Tide more than 340 first-half yardage for the fifth time in six games this season. Tagovailoa went 10-for-12 through the air with 334 yards and four touchdowns.
The Crimson Tide defense stopped the Razorbacks on fourth down to open the second half, taking over at the Arkansas 44-yard line. Harris rolled up all 44 yards on the Alabama scoring drive, finishing with the senior stretching the ball out over the goal line for his second touchdown of the game, converting a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. Bulovas’ extra point was true and UA led 48-14 with 8:47 left in the third.
On the next Arkansas possession, the Razorbacks finished their drive with a 41-yard field goal to cut into the Alabama lead, 48-17 with 3:21 remaining in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Alabama answered back with a field goal of its own, after junior quarterback Jalen Hurts led the offense down the field. Bulovas converted the 27-yard attempt to finish off the 10-play, 58-yard drive, giving the Tide a 51-17 lead with 13:37 left in the game.
On the ensuing Razorback drive, junior defensive back Shyheim Carter picked off a deflected pass and took it back for his second pick-six touchdown of the season. Alabama led 58-17 with 12:15 left.
Arkansas then added a touchdown to make it 58-24 with 8:58 remaining in the game.
Sophomore running back Brian Robinson Jr. added a late touchdown for the Tide after charging in from five yards out to finish the 11-play, 72-yard drive. Bulovas’ extra point pushed the lead to 65-24 with 1:59 remaining.
With 14 seconds left in the game, the Razorbacks scored a one-yard touchdown to make it 65-31, the eventual final.
Alabama returns home next Saturday, Oct. 13, for an SEC matchup against Missouri at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff for the Crimson Tide’s homecoming game against the Tigers is set for 6 p.m. CT with the game airing live on ESPN.
