Hogs Better in First Half, Got Big Play at End to Start Right

Razorbacks still not consistent but got win over Cincinnati in opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Since we didn't predict a loss by Arkansas in Saturday's opener we're not going to say they should have.

The Razorbacks beat Cincinnati, 31-24, in the season opener, but there's a lot of improvement to make if they want to meet the high expectations.

The only consistent thing was the inconsistency.

"Sometimes last year it was that way, too," Hogs coach Sam Pittman said later. "We're really, really good or we're really, really bad. We go in stretches one way or the other."

Now that's the coach saying all that, not me.

The Hogs won the first half, 14-0, primarily because Bearcats quarterback Ben Bryant couldn't connect with receivers deep downfield.

We warned you in fall camp there were questions in the secondary after Jalen Catalon, who got injured, and the future is not certain.

But a couple of transfers made big plays that made the difference.

First, cornerback Dwight McGlothern, who came from LSU, jumped an out route, picked off a Bryant pass and raced 51 yards on Cincinnati's first offensive possession.

That set up the first points, a KJ Jefferson 15-yard touchdown run.

Arkansas Razorbacks defensive lineman Jordan Domineck sacks Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Ben Bryant in the fourth quarter, knocking the ball loose, then he recovered it to lockdown a 31-24 win. (Michael Morrison / allHOGS Images)

Then it was Georgia Tech transfer Jordan Domineck who made a big play when the defense needed it.

With the Bearcats near midfield and moving the ball when a touchdown would have tied the game with plenty of time left, Domineck stripped Bryant on a sack, then recovered the ball.

"It was a big, big play in the game," Pittman said later. "A lot of big plays in the game."

KJ Jefferson came in, hit Oklahoma transfer Jadon Haselwood for 17 yards, then found Trey Knox in the flat on the right sideline. He got a block from Haselwood and raced down the sideline for a 32-yard score and it was 31-17.

The Bearcats got a late touchdown, then Arkansas's offense got the ball back and literally ran out the last five minutes or so.

The Hogs won the first half, 14-0. They lost the second half battle, but won the war.

They made the plays when needed.

And that's all that matters.

HOGS FEED:

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WATCH: ANDY HODGES TALKS HOW THIS IS DEFINITELY KJ JEFFERSON'S TEAM

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ARKANSAS SHOW INCONSISTENCY IN OPENING WIN OVER CINCINNATI

TREY KNOX PUTS SOME BIG PLAYS ON FILM AS TIGHT END FOR NFL TEAMS

HOGS GET HUGE WIN OVER CINCINNATI, BUT WITH BIG COST IN SECONDARY

PERSONAL JOURNEY BRINGS REASON TO BE EXCITED FOR KICKOFF AGAINST CINCINNATI THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM RAZORBACK FANS

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR HOGS-CINCINNATI OPENER SATURDAY

PLAYOFF EXPANSION CAN REALLY BENEFIT RAZORBACKS

RAZORBACK FANS HAVE BELIEVED FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS THEY ACTUALLY WON A NATIONAL TITLE WITH FOUR VOTES

WHO STARTS AT QB FOR CINCINNATI WILL DETERMINE VERY DIFFERENT GAME PLANS FOR BEARCATS

SEC ROUND-UP: KELLY HAS LSU CALLING TEENAGERS AFTER MIDNIGHT ON SCHOOL NIGHT, AUBURN HAS AD INTEREST, PLUS MORE

FORMER RAZORBACK MAY SOON BE WITH DALLAS COWBOYS

CHANCE FOR RAZORBACK FANS TO WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

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