FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — — Jaxson Dart set Ole Miss records for yards passing and touchdown throws in a single game, leapfrogging Matt Corral and Eli Manning, in the 19th-ranked Rebels’ dominating 63-31 win over Arkansas on Saturday.
Dart threw four scores and 321 yards in just the first half. He found Jordan Watkins on three of the TDs, including one for 62 yards and another for 66 on back-to-back drives. They were just three offensive plays apart. Dart ultimately finished 25 of 31 passing for 515 yards with six touchdowns.
“It’s pretty cool and unique to have this opportunity. I thought (offensive coordinator Charlie) coach Weis called a hell of a game today and put us in position,” Dart said.
Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) led 35-10 at halftime after scoring on three straight drives over the first and second quarters. The Rebels opened and closed the first-half scoring when Princely Umanmielen pounced on a Taylen Green fumble in the end zone midway through the first quarter and Dart capped things with a three-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Watkins with five seconds left in the half, his fourth passing score in the game’s first half-hour.
“That’s just a really good job by a lot of people. Just a clean offensive game,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “And then having no turnovers, one sack. Just really, I told them, I’m just excited that I see them play like they can play as a team even without some players.”
Arkansas (5-4, 3-3 SEC) had stuffed the Rebels at the goal line on the Rebels’ first drive for about the only meaningful stop the Razorbacks had all game. Ole Miss racked up 694 yards of total offense. In all, Ole Miss scored on seven of its nine possessions with its starters in the game, only punting once in that span.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman went largely with reserves starting about halfway through the third quarter. Back-up quarterback Malachi Singleton was 11 of 14 passing for 207 yards with a touchdown pass and he ran for another 39 yards with a touchdown. The Razorbacks also scored rushing touchdowns from Rashod Dubinion and Rodney Hill.
“Very disappointed. Felt like we had them ready to play,” Pittman said. “Obviously that wasn’t the case.”
Watkins also set school records with five touchdown catches and 254 yards receiving. Dae’Quan Wright caught the other Dart touchdown pass and added another from Austin Simmons in the fourth quarter.
Arkansas and Ole Miss had alternated wins and losses in the past five games against each other. The Rebels have now won two straight, but neither team has won more than two in a row against the other since Arkansas won four straight from 2004-07. Ole Miss hasn’t won three in a row against the Razorbacks since 1990-93.
Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris missed his second straight game after suffering a leg injury against LSU. Kiffin was especially impressed his team could have such an offensive performance without Harris.
“You’re playing without the best receiver in the country, so to design the plays, a lot of different type of plays and guys wide open, really good rhythm,” Kiffin said.
Ole Miss can not only play spoiler against No. 2 Georgia next week, but should find itself in conversation for the College Football Playoff by doing so.
Arkansas has already eclipsed its win total from last year, though the Razorbacks remain one win short of bowl eligibility, solidly in the middle of the SEC.
Ole Miss hosts No. 2 Georgia on Nov. 9.
Arkansas has a bye next week before returning on Nov. 16 to host No. 6 Texas.
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AL TOPICH SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
(Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Al Topich)
Even though the film festival season in Arkansas is over until next year, there are still plenty of film-related events. Last week, there were two such events, one in Northwest Arkansas at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the other taking place outdoors at a flower farm outside…
After three weeks standing on the verge of bowl eligibility, Arkansas football has its best opportunity to secure a spot in college football’s postseason this weekend against Louisiana Tech.
The Razorbacks (5-5) will host the Bulldogs (4-6) on Saturday (3 p.m., SECN+). Twenty players are projected to take part in Senior Day festivities as Arkansas closes out its home schedule in 2024.
The Hogs are coming off back-to-back losses inside Reynolds Razorback Stadium, most recently falling to Texas 20-10. Arkansas’ offense couldn’t muster enough production across the first two quarters as a comeback bid fell short against the Longhorns.
Louisiana Tech, meanwhile, is coming off its biggest win of the season. The Bulldogs beat conference rival Western Kentucky 12-7, knocking the Hilltoppers out of first place in Conference USA.
Here are four things to watch and a score prediction for Saturday’s contest between Arkansas and Louisiana Tech.
The best way to prevent an upset is to eliminate any hope. Arkansas didn’t do that against UAB in September, and the Razorbacks came out of the gates slow last year in this same spot against FIU. They eventually won both games, but the final scores were closer than desired.
“We’re trying to live up to the Arkansas standard, and that results in executing on the field. And if we don’t live up to that, then we’re going to see a similar slow start,” Arkansas offensive lineman Josh Braun said. “So that’s what we’re focused on this week, just starting fast and playing our brand of football.”
This is arguably the biggest key for Arkansas every weekend. The Razorbacks are 0-5 when they lose the turnover battle this season, and two costly giveaways spoiled any chance at an upset last week against Texas.
Fortunately for Arkansas, Louisiana Tech ranks 111th in the country in turnover margin. The Bulldogs are averaging nearly two turnovers a game, so this might be an opportune matchup for the Hogs’ defense.
The Bulldogs have struggled on the ground all season, and they’ve won both games in which they rushed for more than 150 yards. By contrast, they are 2-6 when held under that mark.
Arkansas’ running defense has been strong throughout the year. Only two opponents have averaged more than 4 yards per carry, and the Razorbacks should be able to keep Louisiana Tech running backs Omiri Wiggins and Amani Givens in check.
On the flip side, Arkansas needs to commit to running the football early and stay vigilant with Ja’Quinden Jackson. Relying on the pass too heavily proved a mistake in the first half against Texas, and look for Bobby Petrino to adjust.
Edwards, a senior wide receiver, is by far Louisiana Tech’s most dangerous weapon. He has four games this season with more than 100 yards receiving and leads the team with six touchdowns.
He’s a big-play threat who will require the full focus of the Arkansas defense. The Razorbacks’ secondary will try to maintain its momentum after holding Quinn Ewers and Isaiah Bond in check last week.
Louisiana Tech is better than its record indicates, but there is still a gulf in talent between the two rosters. If Arkansas handles its own business and avoids sloppy turnovers, it should have no problem securing bowl eligibility Saturday. An upset loss would be unacceptable. Arkansas 38, Louisiana Tech 13.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A lot has been made of the poor a attendance at Arkansas Razorbacks basketball games this season.
However, while it’s been somewhat embarrassing at times, it’s not entirely on Razorbacks fans. It’s not anyone’s fault technically. It’s more of a case of a schedule having to be made hastily before there was an opportunity to get to know the nuances of The Natural State.
One thing that is hard for the people of Arkansas to realize without moving away for some extended period of time is how unique the especially close relationship with the local church and the commitment this state’s citizens have to it actually is.
Scheduling the rest of life around church as a non-negotiable is expected. Playing organized sports on Sundays is still still frowned upon in much of the state, as are hunting and fishing in some cases.
Church comes first, whether it be Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night or revival week. Youth league coaches can find themselves pariahs for scheduling practices on Wednesday nights for this very reason.
That’s why excessively low attendance for Wednesday night games shouldn’t be as shocking to those who live here as opposed to people looking from the outside in.
See, one of the biggest adjustments to living outside of Arkansas is the extreme lack of Wednesday night church services. Same goes for revivals.
They’re just not a thing throughout much of the rest of the country, even in states that claim to really be into God. It’s even hard to find legitimate Sunday night services.
At best, there will be a youth program parents use as an excuse for a quick date night. So, that’s why it’s not surprising a coaching staff that didn’t grow up here might think nothing of lining up games on Wednesday nights expecting to get decent weeknight crowds.
However, what happens instead is much smaller crowds that make Hogs fans look disinterested at best. That’s just not likely the case.
They’re interested. Just not until the devotional has been read, the sermon has been preached and the invitation has been sung.
As soon as they get in the parking lot, the first thing they do is turn on the radio and try to catch up with what they have missed. It might seem strange to those from other states, but the priorities are right.
It may look bad on TV, but God, family and then the Razorbacks is the correct order
It’s a minor mistake in scheduling that is easily forgiven and eventually rectified. After all, the seats are still sold out and there are more important things involved in life.
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