Hogs’ Offense on Overcoming Slow Start

Bryce Stephens, KJ Jefferson, Raheim 'Rocket' Sanders after 38-27 win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas' Bryce Stephens had an idea something big could happen with a punt return Saturday.

Special teams coach Scott Fountain had worked on that a lot against Missouri State, probably because the Razorbacks saw something on film.

Penalties wiped out a couple of early returns that were solid.

Michael Morrison / USA TODAY Sports

It was Stephens' 82-yard punt return for a score with 9:16 left in the gme that finally gave the Hogs a lead and it was like a typical long return.

"There were great blocks all around," Stephens said later. "Sam [Mbake] told me to look at his side when I was back there and for me to do what I do."

Like most big punt returns, it can be a huge shot in the arm. They all tend to work in a fairly similar fashion. Go ask Ken Hatfield about his punt return against Texas in 1964 and he'll tell you about all the great blocks.

This one happened the same way.

"Sam Mbake was on their gunner," Sam Pittman said later. "We felt like if we could handle the gunner we’d have not an opportunity to score a touchdown but an opportunity to get a decent return."

After the Hogs had struggled with penalties and some uncommon turnovers throughout the game, this time they needed a shot in the arm.

"We played down to their level," running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders said. "We had a great week of practice ... we just played down to their level. The thing we did as a team we relaxed and everybody came around.

"Even the players on the team not playing today, they came around, and everybody had the same energy,"

Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson looks to throw downfield in a 38-27 win over Missouri State on Saturday night at Razorback Stadium. (Ted McClenning / allHOGS Images)

The result is a 3-0 record for the 10th-ranked team in the country. They probably won't drop out of the Top 10 in the newest rankings.

But they can't count on scoring on every kick.

Stephens will have folks thinking he might, though.

HOGS FEED:

BEING ORIGINAL APOLLO CREED AND AVOIDING ROCKY II

SEC ROUND-UP: NEGATIVES KEEP COMING IN AUBURN, GAMECOCKS FORGET TACKLING IS PART OF FOOTBALL, AND MUCH MORE

A GOOD PUNCH IN THE MOUTH SHOULD MAKE HOGS FEEL BETTER SATURDAY

HOGS' SAM PITTMAN WOULD LIKE TO MAKE WIDE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE A LITTLE LARGER

HOW TO WATCH-LISTEN TO RAZORBACKS AGAINST MISSOURI STATE ON SATURDAY

HAS HOGS COACH SAM PITTMAN'S PLAN FOR DOMINIQUE JOHNSON WORKED LIKE HE WANTED?

TEXAS HAS LOT TO LEARN FROM ALABAMA, ARKANSAS BEFORE ENTERING SEC

BOBBY PETRINO, JASON SHELLEY PERFECT COMBO TO CAUSE HOGS PROBLEMS SATURDAY AND FANS, BUMPER POOL KNOW IT

PITTMAN DISCUSSES WHETHER DOMINIQUE JOHNSON WILL PLAY SATURDAY

SEC ROUNDUP: DAWGS, VOLS CANCEL ON OU, AUBURN HAS TEMP AD, MANNING CALLS OUT TENNESSEE, JAY-Z PROTEGE EARNS SHOE DEAL AT LSU

HOG FANS NEED TO TAKE WAIT AND SEE APPROACH WITH THIS TEAM

WHAT OFFENSIVE LINEMAN BRADY LATHAM, RUNNING BACK AJ GREEN SAID AFTER TUESDAY'S PRACTICE

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