TAT: Tide Rolls Over Razorbacks

This article originally appeared on October 20, 2013 on The Arkansas Traveler website, uatrav.com.

The Arkansas football team experienced déjà vu Saturday, as No. 1 Alabama dominated every facet of the game and beat the Razorbacks 52-0 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

It was Arkansas’ worst defeat since losing to the Crimson Tide by the same score last season.

Alabama gained more than twice as many yards as the Razorbacks, outgaining them 532 yards to 256.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Crimson Tide drove 68 yards on 12 plays and capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass from A.J. McCarron to Jalston Fowler.

McCarron added another touchdown pass late in the first half with a 30-yard completion to Amari Cooper.

Sandwiched between McCarron’s touchdowns, Kenyan Drake scored on runs of 1 and 46 yards.

The Razorbacks received the ball to start the second half, but sophomore Keon Hatcher fumbled the kickoff and the Crimson Tide recovered.

A minute and a half later, McCarron threw his third and final touchdown pass of the game. This time, it was a 17-yard pass to O.J. Howard.

The Crimson Tide also had a 24-yard touchdown run by T.J. Yeldon and a 48-yard field goal by Cade Foster in the third quarter.

With just over two minutes left in the game, Arkansas had its best opportunity to score. However, facing a fourth-and-five at the Alabama 15-yard line, sophomore quarterback Brandon Allen’s pass fell incomplete.

Two plays later, Derrick Henry ran 80 yards for the final touchdown for the Crimson Tide with 59 seconds left.

For the fourth consecutive game, Allen completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes and threw at least one interception. He was 7-for-25 for 91 yards and two interceptions.

Despite facing a stout Alabama defense, freshman running back Alex Collins ran hard and gained 77 yards on 18 carries, while sophomore Jonathan Williams finished with 48 yards on 13 carries.

Freshman Hunter Henry and senior Javontee Herndon had 42 receiving yards each.

McCarron was taken out of the game midway through the fourth quarter, but managed to complete 71.4 percent of his passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns.

On the ground, the Crimson Tide had a pair of 100-yard rushers. Henry gained 111 yards on six carries and Drake gained 104 yards on eight carries.

Along with not allowing any points, Alabama also didn’t commit any turnovers, penalties or allow a sack.

The Razorbacks have not beaten Alabama since 2006, when they won 24-23 in double overtime at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Since then, they have lost seven straight by an average score of 41.6 to 13.3.

Arkansas will have their first bye week of the season next week, and then will face Auburn in Fayetteville Nov. 2.