Hogs pile up yards; points still an issue

BY BOB HOLT

Posted on Sunday, October 5, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/239332/

FAYETTEVILLE — Moving the football against No. 12 Florida wasn’t a problem for Arkansas on Saturday.

But scoring ? That was a major problem again for the struggling Razorbacks.

Arkansas finished with 361 yards in total offense and led the Gators 297 to 268 going into the fourth quarter, but Florida won 38-7.

Afterward, the Razorbacks had to feel like someone running on a treadmill who burned a lot of calories, but didn’t reach a desired destination.

“It’s frustrating, but it’s better than going three and out all the time,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “It’s something we can at least build on, that we did move ball.

“ Now we’ve just got to get it in the end zone.”

Arkansas had to punt after three downs on two of its 10 possessions and had six series in which it gained at least 40 yards.

But the only score came on tailback Michael Smith’s 6-yard touchdown run with 5: 50 left in the third quarter that cut Florida’s lead to 17-7.

“We’ve got to find a way to finish once we get down there towards the end zone,” said Arkansas senior quarterback Casey Dick, who completed 24 of 38 passes for 220 yards with an interception. “We’ve just got to keep competing and keep fighting through it.

“ Whether it’s run the ball, throw the ball, whatever we’ve got to do, we’ve got to be able to come up with some points.”

Arkansas drove to the Florida 32 and 28 on its first two possessions, but was stopped on downs both times.

A 31-yard pass from Casey Dick to Joe Adams helped Arkansas move to the Florida 25 in the final seconds of the second quarter, but Dick then threw a pass over the middle intended for London Crawford that nickel back Joe Haden intercepted, allowing the Gators to hold a 14-0 lead going into halftime.

“It was a play where you want to attack the safety and run a corner route with one guy and a post with the other,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “I think [Dick ] saw the safety and didn’t see the nickel, who had dropped back to the goal line.

“ We had just said we are in position to take a field goal. No sacks. No picks. I think he was trying to make a play for a touchdown.”

Another missed scoring chance for Arkansas occurred in the fourth quarter when a 29-yard field-goal attempt by Shay Haddock was blocked.

“We have to cash in on those points,” Smith said of the Razorbacks’ struggles when they get into scoring position. “Basically, just knowing that we’re going to get it into the end zone.

“ If we start telling ourselves, ‘We’re going to get it into the end zone,’ we will get it in there.”

Of Arkansas’ 63 offensive snaps, 13 went for 13 or more yards, but the breakaway run or deep pass for a touchdown eluded the Razorbacks, forcing them to keep grinding the long way against the Gators.

“The field tightens up a little bit,” Bobby Petrino said. “You’ve got to be able to bang and get yards. The other thing that hurts us a little bit is we haven’t been able to hit the big home runs.”