|
SPONSORS ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Vols go ‘berserk’ to snarl McFadden, Hogs Published: Sunday, November 11, 2007 PRINT E-MAIL KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Heisman Trophy was on the Neyland Stadium grounds Saturday, as part of a display promoting the 75 th anniversary of the SEC. Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo was determined to make sure that display is as close as Darren McFadden gets to the trophy this season. “He’s a great back, but he’s not going to win the Heisman in Neyland Stadium. I promise you that,” Mayo said. McFadden, who thrust himself back into the Heisman race last week after rushing for 321 yards against South Carolina, backpedaled a bit Saturday, finishing with 117 yards on 22 carries and no touchdowns in Arkansas’ 34-13 loss to Tennessee. He didn’t have the help of backfield teammate Felix Jones, who had only three carries after injuring his thigh on a kickoff return in the first quarter.
Arkansas’ rushing total of 127 yards was its second-lowest of the season, and the Razorbacks (6-4, 2-4 ) were never a real threat to win the game. “I have no earthly idea what happened today,” Arkansas fullback Peyton Hillis said. “None at all. Don’t know how it happened, after what we’ve been doing.” Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee said Arkansas came out flat and never recovered, and last week’s game might have been part of the problem. “[Tennessee ] was at a fever pitch ready to go, deep-down berserk inside,” Lee said. “I think we were ready, but we weren’t at that level. I just don’t think we got ourselves deep-down berserk like they did. It was obvious from the start. “ It’s hard to go out and win a big, big game on national TV like we did last week and come back and get as ready as you’ve got to be. Tennessee was at another level that we weren’t at.” Neither McFadden nor Jones were on the field for a couple of key fourth-down plays. In the second quarter on fourth-and-1, neither McFadden nor Jones were in the game and Hillis got stuffed for no gain. In the third quarter, facing thirdand-12 and then fourth-and-12, McFadden again wasn’t on the field. Lee said McFadden was benched because of the downand-distance, and McFadden said he had no problem with the decision. It was all part of a frustrating afternoon, McFadden said. Tennessee had been giving up 167. 7 rushing yards and 28. 6 points per game, but the Volunteers held McFadden in check. The WildHog formation which features McFadden at quarterback, and was used 16 times with effectiveness against South Carolina, was neutralized Saturday. Arkansas ran the formation nine times and got a Michael Smith 9-yard touchdown run out of it late in the game, but no big plays came from the formation. “They did everything we were expecting them to do,” Mc-Fadden said. “For the most part, it was just us not getting going. That was a big part of our offense last year [against Tennessee ], the WildHog. I’m sure they were prepared for it this year.” Arkansas only moved the ball in the second half when it abandoned some of the more wideopen formations that were successful against the Gamecocks. “[Tennessee ] were so geared up and geeked up to stop the things that hurt South Carolina, and it took me a couple quarters to get to it,” Lee said. More Stories From: CHRIS GIVENS · Fortson provides bright spot for Hogs · Pelphrey: Room to overachieve · Warhawks’ late mistakes costly · UA goes for two at War Memorial Yesterday's Most Popular 2. Exceptions rule Fayetteville High alums well represented at FCC match-play championship Today's Most E-mailed 1. LIKE IT IS : Football prognosticators ready to fire up fans 2. FIRECRACKER FAST 5K : Former Hog Forrest too fast for competition |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||





