Rapid Reaction: Arkansas starts slow, holds on to beat Portland State to open the season
It wasn’t pretty but Arkansas has started the season with a win by beating Portland State 20-13 in Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks were in complete control of this game from the start, surrendering only a pair of field goals to the FCS program until late into the fourth quarter on Saturday. While the score may not be indicative of the outcome of this game, the Razorbacks were never in danger of losing this game.
Based on the first result of the season, despite having two new quarterbacks to work with, it appears Chad Morris’ offense still has a ways to go. Senior Ben Hicks got the start and finished the game completing 13 of 28 passes for 137 yards. He did not have a touchdown but at least he didn’t turn the ball over. Nick Starkel finished the game completing four of five passes but his lone incompletion was a bad one — he threw a red zone interception after failing to read the Portland State defense.
On the bright side for the Razorbacks, John Chavis’ defense held Portland State to only 184 yards of total offense, including 73 rushing yards. The six points surrendered in the game came from a 53-yard kick and a 47-yard kick. The Arkansas unit also racked up six sacks and only allowed 13 first downs in the game.
Without a doubt, the star of the game for the Razorbacks was running back Rakeem Boyd. With only 18 carries, Boyd broke loose for 114 yards and a touchdown with another 22 yards on three catches. With Arkansas moving into SEC play next weekend, the Razorbacks have to find more ways to get Boyd as many touches as possible.
Arkansas is now 1-0 with a trip to Ole Miss looming next weekend. The Rebels lost on Saturday on the road at Memphis.
That offense was scary to watch.
I kept trying convince myself that we weren’t trying to play real offense in order to hide how good it had become… That’s where I’m at. Delusional.
Thank you Razorbacks! It has been a ruff day for the SEC.
At least they won. That’s more than some of our teams can say.
An ugly win is still a win.
Now beat Ole Piss.
You should probably worry about us beating Southern considering we barely beat ULL inbred haha
Lol I bet I didn’t even go to State
Am I the only one who thinks that rakeem Boyd still didn’t get enough carries and was taken out for too big of chunks at a time I mean for real Chase Hayden and devwah Whaley are not in the same classification
You didn’t
Nah, Boyd is the obvious #1 there. You’re probably on the money with that.
I can think of 10 times last year that I would have been thankful for this outcome.
that would have technically allotted you 10 meaningless apologies from Mutt. FYI, I’m selling an original copy of the bible signed by Jesus if you are interested. 10 Million over 4 years, financing available.
Lol that’s a good one
Mutt is the type of guy who will take your 10 million dollars and try to tell you how to pronounce your own name. Mutt Morriss is the type of Aggie that Arkansans have always feared.
One more thing that I noticed that really irritates me. Chad Morris is the worst fourth-quarter game management coach I’ve ever seen. Why in the world is there a bunch of 3rd string defense players in there when you’re only up by 14 points in the fourth quarter and your offense has struggled all day except for Boyd. anybody with common sense would have loved to start a new fence in there cuz guess what they did make it a one-possession game and had a chance to tie or win late. $3000000 a year and you ain’t got enough common sense to manage a football game ( I thought Houston Nutt was terrible in the fourth quarter but this guy).
Meant for it to type leave the starting defense not fence darn autocorrect.
Hard to watch the offense. Defense looks better but it was Portland State. Looks like it’s gonna be another rough year. It’s sad to say but we are getting used to rough years.