Arkansas’ defense helps lead team to 24-14 SEC win over Auburn

By Jason Pattyson

When you enter SEC league play, teams step up their level of intensity and attention to detail, and the Arkansas defense did just that with a wild band of Hogs, forcing five turnovers in the 24-14 win over Auburn on Saturday.

Arkansas and the defense found a way to close out a second game in a row, which speaks volumes after getting kicked in the teeth 48-10 at home in 23′. They were able to apply pressure, it seemed, at will during points of the win on Tiger quarterbacks Hank Brown and Payton Thorne.  

This was Travis Williams’s homecoming, and he had promised Sam Pittman this week that he would shut down the Tigers’ offense at practice after a lackluster performance against UAB. Pittman touched on that postgame. 

“It was unbelievable.  I have never given a game ball.  I gave one to Coach T-Will tonight,” Pittamn said postgame.  “You know he’s an Auburn grad. And as well as they played.  Five turnovers, TJ Metcalf was incredible. Two interceptions and a forced fumble. They played extremely hard and extremely disciplined. Just a great team win on the road at a tough place to play.  I think this is going to give us a ton of confidence as we move on.”

What made the difference in the game 

Four interceptions and a fumble recovery by the Razorback defense were a coming-of-age for Pittman and company on this side of the ball. The credit goes to Co-Defensive Coordinators Williams and Marcus Woodson. The last two weeks were touch and go as they kept the offense in the game, but this has led the team to two victories. 

Metcalf had himself a career day. The Birmingham, Ala.., by way of Pinson Valley HS product picked a great day to show out, as the kids say. He recorded four tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble that senior Steven Dix recovered in the end zone. He now has three interceptions this season, and it looks like the defense is starting to return to the level of play this top-40 unit was from a year ago. 

“Well, he practices hard, him and his brother. They come from very strong parent athletic backgrounds, as you well know,” Pittman said postgame of Metcalf and his stat-packed day. “He’s just a great kid, and he wants to be good. I’m just so happy that things are going his way. I guess that’s three picks in two games now. He works hard, he’s a very good tackler. Physical guy, and he’s earned the respect more and more from his teammates. I know we damn sure believe in him.”

The pass defense and the youngins are growing up.

Senior safety Hudson Clark, sophomore cornerback Jaylen Braxton, and junior safety Miguel Mitchell were out for Saturday. Sophomores Metcalf and Jaheim Singletary stepped up, were all over the field, and blanketed all 57,600 square feet at Jourdan-Hare Stadium. This was personal for Metcalf, and he shined in his trip back to his home state—this was a school that didn’t offer him out of high school. 

“Oh man, it was an amazing feeling. Coach T-Will let us talk in front of the defense on Friday night,” Metcalf said postgame. “Just telling them what we thought about the game, about dominating the game. He let some of the starters talk in front of the defense. My thing was just coming back home. Auburn didn’t offer me out of high school, so it was kind of personal for me to come in here and get the win.”

With the injuries, the old guys got a chance to make a mark and get some valuable time on the field. Senior transfer Deniko Slaughter led the team in tackles with seven solo tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception. DB seniors Anthony Switzer and Jayden Johnson, along with Slaughter, went stat crazy. They combined for 12 tackles, three TFLs, one sack, and two INTs. 

A turning point that decided the game 

Johnson and Metcalf combined for two of the team’s four interceptions in four plays. Razorback quarterback Taylen Green gave it back to the Tigers the next play deep in Auburn territory, setting up Metcalf’s first of two picks. It was a razor-thin scoop that kept the ball off the ground and secured it. 

That led to Auburn Head Coach Hugh Freeze making a quarterback change at halftime, replacing Brown, who was 7-13 passing for 72 yards and three interceptions. Payton Thorne had some success in the second half, which threw Williams and crew some wrenches, but they were able to finish the game. Finishing a game was a problem that seems to be fixed for now.

“What it does, it gives you a shot in the arm. It makes you feel good. It makes practicing a little bit easier. But just because I believe that we’ve got a really good team and can win on the road, you have to go do it,” Pittamn said postgame about the win.” We’re 3-1 and lost in double overtime to Oklahoma State, and we all know we had our chances there. And then we’ll go. I think what it does, it lets our recruits know we can go on the road and win in the SEC. We’re 1-0, and we’re tied for the top, and that’s a big deal.”

Up next: a final trip to Cowboy Stadium vs Texas A&M

This will be the final installment of this series in Dallas, and Pittman and company are happy about this from a recruiting standpoint. The biggest question is, whoever wins this year, will they keep the trophy for good, or will it travel with the campus visits after this year? 

The Aggies will have their hands full because the position that touches the ball on offense has problems, and that has been well-documented since the Notre Dame game at the start of the season. For the problems A&M has, Arkansas has some of the same, and fans feel like this should be another game that doesn’t scare fans but should be another close game and another opportunity to close out a close game.