RAZORBACK REWIND

Hogs gain traction on slick grass

Rain comes down before the start of an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

FAYETTEVILLE -- The easternmost rain bands from Hurricane Joaquin pelted Knoxville, Tenn., on Friday and into Saturday evening, but the rain slacked off to a light sprinkle in the early going of Arkansas' 24-20 victory at Tennessee on Saturday.

But soggy conditions did impact the game.

Slick grass played a part in Tennessee's opening kickoff return for a touchdown and led to several other slips and falls for the Razorbacks and Volunteers.

"We actually tried to run a little pick play on the [kickoff] and unfortunately our guy lost his footing," Coach Bret Bielema said. "Two guys right at the point of attack fell down. We knew the turf was going to come into play and the first quarter we didn't respond well."

Bielema said receivers slipped on a couple of play-action passes that fell incomplete and tailback Alex Collins slipped and fell without contact at least twice on the soaked natural grass.

Tennessee kept its footing slightly better, but quarterback Josh Dobbs fell at one of the game's biggest moments. The Volunteers trailed 24-20 but were on the move and facing second and 5 from the Arkansas 49, Dobbs slipped on a play-action pass call. His knee didn't touch the ground but Arkansas defensive end Tevin Beanum crunched him as he tried to recover for an 8-yard sack.

Dobbs threw incomplete on the next two plays and Tennessee never got the ball back.

Close out

Arkansas won a road game for the first time since its 49-28 victory at Texas Tech last Sept. 13. The Razorbacks rushed over to celebrate with their fans in the northeast corner of Neyland Stadium after running out the clock.

"It feels good seeing my teammates happy and seeing everybody excited and celebrating," tailback Alex Collins said.

"It feels great," said senior safety Rohan Gaines, who wore Jonathan Williams' No. 32 jersey and served in the one-game captain's role. "I saw a team with will out there today. I saw a team having fun. We believe in this team, and we believe in each other."

Two for 100

Arkansas tailbacks Alex Collins (154 yards) and Rawleigh Williams (100 yards) posted the team's first tandem 100-yard rushing game of the season. The last time two Arkansas backs hit the 100-yard mark in the same game was in a 49-28 victory at Texas Tech last season with Collins going for 212 and Jonathan Williams putting up 145.

"Rawleigh's been working really hard and just to see him performing and getting a 100-yard game, it shows all the hard work he's put in," Collins said.

Fake foiled

Instead of attempting a field goal on fourth-and-4 from the Tennessee 10 in the fourth quarter, Coach Bret Bielema called for a fake field goal.

Holder Matt Emrich took the snap, then tossed to trailing kicker Adam McFain, who was on the field for his field-goal try of the year. The Volunteers strung out the play and Kenny Bynum tackled McFain a yard short of converting the first down.

"I thought we've been running that fake and it looked good," Bielema said. "They normally had rushed that wide side corner almost every snap. They pulled him out on that play for whatever reason and they made a good play."

Bielema said calling the fake was due in part to Tennessee blocking Cole Hedlund's low 22-yard kick a few minutes earlier.

"Matt told me he had it, it was a perfect snap and he said he lost it on his fingertips," Bielema said. "It seemed like he was a little bit rattled. That's why, on that left hash, I went with [the fake]."

Chunk plays

Arkansas recorded 16 plays of 10 or more yards against the Volunteers, 7 in the first half and 9 in the second half.

The Razorbacks had six plays of 25 or more yards: a 52-yard catch and run by Drew Morgan, a 44-yard Rawleigh Williams run, Dominique Reed's 33-yard catch and run, Alex Collins runs of 25 and 29 yards, and Hunter Henry's 51-yard catch and run on an odd-looking lofted pass from Brandon Allen down the left sideline.

Force it out

The Arkansas defense forced and recovered a fumble for the first time this season. Jared Collins' tackle of receiver Preston Williams caused a fumble that end Tevin Beanum pounced on at the Arkansas 9. Later, Deatrich Wise Jr. was given credit for forcing a fumble as quarterback Josh Dobbs was winding up to throw from his own 7. The Volunteers recovered the fumble.

Freshman force

Arkansas' top two tacklers were freshmen. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw had 10 tackles, including a stop for a 2-yard loss.

Safety Santos Ramirez had seven unassisted tackles, including a touchdown-saving stop of Jaylen Hurd in the fist quarter.

Tracking Allen

Quarterback Brandon Allen, who leads active SEC quarterbacks with 30 career starts, posted his first SEC road victory while tying Ryan Mallett's school record with his 26th consecutive start.

Coach Bret Bielema said he selected Allen to speak to the team on Saturday.

"Just so proud of that kid," Bielelma said. "He's been through so much."

Bielema said he told the team "Let's get one for this guy. Let's win one for our quarterback, and I think they did."

Cap day

Jen Bielema, the wife of Coach Bret Bielema, told reporters before her husband's postgame remarks that it was the first time he'd worn a cap at a game.

Bielema confirmed it later.

"Never worn a cap, so I guess I'll be wearing one," Bielema said. "Jen doesn't like my look with it."

The weather forecast called for an 80 percent chance of rain during the game and frequent showers before kickoff, but it only sprinkled briefly for a short time at the start.

Series look

Arkansas improved to 5-13 against Tennessee and 2-6 in games played at Neyland Stadium. The Razorbacks won 25-24 in their first trip as an SEC team to Knoxville, Tenn., in 1992. Arkansas came into that game with a 1-4 record. Tennessee (5-0) was ranked No. 5.

Worth noting

Drew Morgan had 110 receiving yards to become the first Arkansas pass catcher with back-to-back 100-yard games since Cobi Hamilton did it in 2012.

Jared Collins' forced fumble in the second quarter was the third of his career.

Hunter Henry extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 15. His 51-yard catch in the third quarter was the second-longest in his career.

Rawleigh Williams' 44-yard run in the second quarter was his longest as a Razorback and the second-longest for Arkansas this season.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

OFFENSE

TB Alex Collins

• Collins ran 27 times for 154 yards, marking his third consecutive 150-yard game. Collins scored 2 touchdowns, from 4 and 1 yard out. His 19-yard run around left end late in the game clinched the victory.

DEFENSE

DE Tevin Beanum and CB Jared Collins

• Beanum recovered a fumble and had 2 tackles for 11 lost yards, including an 8-yard sack, among his 5 tackles. Collins played strong in coverage, forced a fumble and had a pass breakup.

Sports on 10/05/2015