The Ole Miss 41-35 win over Arkansas on Saturday night in Oxford spoiled a record-breaking night by quarterback Taylen Green.
Green became the first quarterback in program history to pass for 300+ yards and rush for a 100+ yards in the same game. Green completed 22 of 35 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 111 yards and another touchdown on 13 carries. But Green obviously wasn't celebrating any record after the first loss of the season.
"It definitely hurts," Green said. "And just with all the work that we've did since Monday. But at the same time it's a team effort, and it's a team loss and we're going to go back to the drawing board and see what we did well and continue to do that and see what we didn't do well and improve on that."
It was Green's last pass that went to Jalen Brown who while fighting more yardage at the Ole Miss 24 fumbled with 1:52 remaining in the game. The Hogs were driving for a potential game winning touchdown and point after touchdown. When the defense gave the ball back to Arkansas with one its rare stops on the night and the Hogs trailing by six what was going through Green's mind?
"Go score," Green said. "Defense gave us an opportunity to do that. My job is to, put it and just to go score really."
Linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr. who had seven tackles on the night, was asked how the defense was able to get the three and out late?
"We was just together," Sorey said. "Good execution, and those previous plays that they did drive down the field, just bad execution and things like that as a defense. Things we’ve got to work on."
Sorey was asked how as a captain he could keep the team together after the tough loss?
"I would start by just saying, we on the road, on the road, night game," Sorey said. "It's hard to win on the road at night. It's a versus a good team, too. We early in the season, man. We real early in the season. We still got a long season ahead of us, and it's not the end of the world. And as long as we get better, and keep getting better and better every day, I think it'll be good. I think it'll be good."
Green was asked if he talked to wide receiver Jalen Brown after the fumble?
"He took it pretty hard, but at the same time, that just shows how much he cares," Green said. "And if you see Jalen and how hard he works, day in and day out, and never complains, it means something to him. I had a couple words to him. But, you know, at the same time, it's a team effort. It's not just on him. I have to do better with my reads and getting people lined up quicker and just to execute, too. But like I said, I'm proud of this team and proud of the defense and just giving us an opportunity. And, you know, especially in SEC, it's a four quarter conference, and all the games are won in the fourth quarter, so we have to lock in and execute in the fourth quarter."
Green credited offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino for the Hogs putting up 522 yards of offense including 305 through the air.
"Just trusting the game plan, trusting Coach Petrino and that O-line doing a great job, a wonderful job of communicating on the road in a hostile environment and just giving me time in the pocket," Green said. "And of course, you know, they're run blocking too, making holes. That's where it all starts, really, in the trenches. And you know, receivers, running backs, tight ends, doing a great job with the ball in their hands. So, I would say those things."
The Razorbacks will try to bounce back Saturday when they go to Memphis for an 11 a.m. kickoff.
