Razorback Defense Carries Hogs against Kent State

Offense navigates choppy waters to pull away late and win home opener

Daniel Shi | Sep 9, 2023

(Ted McClenning / allHOGS Images)

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Hogs came into the game as massive favorites against the Kent State Golden Flashes, who came into Fayetteville having given up the most total yards of any FBS team in the country after the opening week.

The Golden Flashes would start better out of the blocks. After quarterback KJ Jefferson started the season opener 12-for-12 passing, Arkansas would be forced to punt on the first two drives before getting to midfield as Jefferson started the day 2-for-6.

"The score was much closer to 28-6 I felt like," coach Sam Pittman said. "We didn't particularly throw it well today."

After only managing six points against Central Florida last week, Kent State quarterback Michael Alaimo used a combination of the run and pass to move the ball down the field to the edge of the red zone. A third down sack however forced Kent State to settle for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead as their search for their first touchdown of the season continued.

The defense jumpstarted the Razorbacks' day, taking an interception to the house for the second week in a row. This time it was University of South Florida transfer Antonio Grier Jr., making his Razorback debut, who picked off Alaimo on the first play of the drive and returned it 25 yards to give the Hogs a 7-3 lead after the first quarter.

Two Hog penalties on the first Kent State drive to start the second quarter led to another field goal. First-year head coach Kenni Burns used his previous experience as a running backs coach to continue to pound the ball right up the middle with relative success.

A 23-yard running play up the left side from junior running back AJ Green, getting the start in place of the injured Raheim "Rocket" Sanders netted just the second Razorback offensive first down of the first half. A catch over the middle through traffic from senior wide receiver Issac TeSlaa for 36 yards on third and 12 catapulted the Razorbacks into the red zone for the first time. Three plays later, Jefferson found senior wide receiver Andrew Armstrong in the back of the end zone from five yards out despite a fumbled snap. The Hogs took a 14-6 lead into the break and Jefferson finished the half 4-for-9 with 48 passing yards.

The Razorback offense also finished the first half with fewer first downs and total yards despite the Golden Flashes' ranking coming into the game.

"It wasn't good," Pittman said about the halftime locker room mood. "We were talking about adversity all the time. It don't have to get there; you can solve problems ... I thought we were getting out-strained and out-wanted-to and we talked about that."

Not much changed coming out of intermission, Arkansas' decision to go for it on fourth and one at their own 34-yard line did not pay dividends as the Hogs turned it over on downs deep in their own territory, but the Hogs were not punished, as the defense held firm once again.

"They (the defense) bailed me out," Pittman said. "I can tell you the analytics tell you to go for it. The Sam-analytics says don't, and I went for it ... That was kinda dumb."

Finally, with KJ Jefferson using his legs for the first time all season, the Hogs finally put a drive together. With runs of 5, 18 and 4 yards as part of a 12-play, 91-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Rashod Dubinion that stretched the lead to 21-6. The Hogs finished with more offensive yards in the third quarter than the entire first half.

"I would do anything for my team as long as we get the victory," Jefferson said. "Once Coach (Dan) Enos called the play, it was up to me to just execute. I put my trust in those guys Andrew (Armstrong), the lineman, he running back to block."

Jefferson continued the momentum into the fourth quarter, finding Armstrong from 9 yards out for his second touchdown catch of the day as the Hogs slowly pulled away late and ending the game with a 28-6 final score.

The defense remained stellar till the last whistle, led by junior linebacker Jaheim Thomas with 12 tackles. Junior defensive back Jayden Johnson pitched in with eight. The defense also sacked Alaimo four times and had 11 tackles for loss. It was also the first time since 2021 (Arkansas Pine-Bluff) that the Razorbacks held their opponents out of the end zone.

"Being dominant," Thomas said. "Knowing we had to make a play, someone had to step up and make a play. When opportunity came, we capitalized on it."

The Hogs will now turn their attention to BYU next Saturday at Razorback Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN2 and fuboTV.