Arkansas once again lost the turnover battle and thus fell to Memphis 32-31 on Saturday in Memphis.
Arkansas appeared to be on the verge to escaping with a win when they drove to the Memphis nine-yard line. With a second-and-2 at the Memphis nine, Mike Washington ran to the seven only to be stripped of the ball before hitting the ground. Memphis Chris Bray fell on the ball and the Tigers escaped with the win.
Arkansas still had its three timeouts and if they could force a punt would have a chance to possibly win the game. However, on third and eight, the backup quarterback carried an Arkansas defensive tackle for an 11-yard gain. Sam Pittman saw the same ending in Oxford last weekend.
"Well, congratulations to Memphis," Pittman said. "They played a very physical, a good game. They out-rushed us and obviously outscored us. They had more yards than we did. And I thought coming into the game that we could have an advantage there, but their defense did a nice job on us and their offense, they did about whatever they wanted to in the run game, you know, with two guys over 100 and ... We just didn't tackle well. We weren't fit well. And, you know, second week in a row, we came down a chance to win and had a turnover not to. And so it's disappointing for the guys that we didn't win either one of those games. But I'm going to give Memphis credit. They played a really, really good game and well-coached."
Actually Arkansas had 500 yards to 489 for the Tigers. But Memphis had 290 yards on the ground. Running back Sutton Smith had 12 carries for 147 yards including what proved to be the winning score on a 64-yard touchdown run with 4:51 remaining in the game. Quarterback Brendon Lewis rushed 16 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Lewis was 15 of 30 passing for 199 yards, one touchdown and an interception.
The Razorbacks appeared to be in pretty good shape when they took a 28-10 lead with 1:35 remaining in the first half on a one-yard run by Washington. However, the defense allowed Memphis to go 75 yards on six plays. Lewis threw to Cortez Braham Jr. for a 38-yard touchdown to pull within 28-17 at intermission.
Arkansas had a very questionable pass interference call on Julian Neal. It appeared the receiver pushed him with both hands, but the officials called it on Neal. In the second half, Taylen Green had a 35-yard run wiped out by a holding call on O'Mega Blake. It appeared the Memphis defender was hugging Blake who then gave him a push. But the officials called holding on Blake. Pittman was asked how hard it was to stomach those two calls?
"Well, I mean, I appreciate the comment and all that, but to be honest with you, if we– as bad as we played at times on offense, defense, if we just hang on to the ball there, we win," Pittman said. "As bad as we played at times on offense, defense, if we just hang onto the ball there, we win and it’s not as big a deal. But I appreciate the comment."
Green threw two interceptions and combined with Washington's fumble the Hogs gave it away three times. Neal and Miguel Mitchell each had an interception for the Hogs. A reporter asked Pittman how big was it to lose the turnover battle 3-1?
"I think it was 3 to 2," Pittman said. "I think Miguel had one and Julian had one. They certainly played a factor. Obviously, the last one played a major factor. They all do. Mike feels terrible and, you know, I hate it for him because he's been such a great player for us. He still is. He just happened to; they jarred the ball loose from him. But, yeah, I mean, we lost turnover battle by one last week and lost by six and lost it by one (this week). So, it has some major relevance in the game. Obviously, the last two were the last two fumbles at the– about the same time in the game two weeks in a row."
The Hogs jumped on top of Memphis very quickly. On the third play from scrimmage, Green found Rohan Jones wide open for a 62-yard touchdown with just one minute, 10 seconds gone.
Memphis then scored on a 38-yard field goal by Gianni Spetic and four-yard run by Lewis for a 10-7 lead with 20 seconds remaining in the first period.
Russell answered that with a 16-yard run on Arkansas' next possession for a 14-10 lead. The Hogs scored on their next possession with Jones scoring on a five-yard run.
To start the second half, Spetic hit a 47-yard field goal to pull Memphis to within 28-20 with 7:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Scott Starzyk nailed a 46-yard field goal for the Hogs to go back up 31-20 with 4:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Lewis scored on a 10-yard run wit 1:40 left in the third period, but the try for two failed leaving the Razorbacks up 31-26.
Green finished 18 of 30 for 325 yards, one touchdown and the two interceptions. Green also rushed 12 times for 53 yards. Washington had 15 carries for 70 yards. Braylen Russell rushed four times for 47 yards all in the first half. Jones caught two passes for 102 yards and had a touchdown both receiving and rushing. O'Mega Blake added six receptions for 60 yards. Jaden Platt caught two passes for 44 yards.
Arkansas (2-2) will be at home next Saturday to host Notre Dame at 11 a.m. on ABC.
