Razorbacks survive scare from UAB Blazers

The Arkansas Razorbacks made their Fayetteville home opener a bit nerve-racking for the 75,021 fans in attendance Saturday afternoon at Frank Broyles Field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

After trailing for most of the first half and getting the game tied at halftime, the Hogs outscored the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers 17-7 in the second half to survive the scare from the visitors from the American Athletic Conference for a victorious Saturday by winning 37-27.

“I’m happy with the win, but I’m disappointed — especially in the first half,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “We couldn’t throw it. We couldn’t catch it. It was really disappointing. I am very disappointed that we didn’t dominate the game like we certainly hoped that we would coming in.”

With the game tied at 20-all at halftime, the Razorbacks took the second half kickoff and went 84 yards in 11 plays as Ja’Quinden Jackson took it in from 16 yards out. Kyle Ramsey hit the PAT to put Arkansas ahead 27-20 with exactly 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Hogs tried to make it 2-for-2 on second-half drives with scores, but a holding penalty put a damper on the drive. It was an even worse finish as Ramsey missed a 45-yard field goal with 7:43 remaining in the period, keeping Arkansas ahead 27-20 after three quarters.

After stopping UAB on downs and forcing a punt, the Razorbacks returned to the scoring column as the Hogs drove 66 yards in seven plays, with Ramsey’s 40-yard field goal upping the Arkansas advantage to 30-20 with 13:31 left to play in the game.

The Blazers responded. Thanks to two fourth-down conversions on the drive, UAB went 83 yards in 12 plays as Dallas Payne caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Zeno. Jonah Delange’s extra point cut UAB’s deficit to 30-27 with 6:55 remaining to play in regulation.

The Razorbacks all but sealed the seal on the ensuing possession as the Hogs went 75 yards in seven plays as Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green scored his second TD of the game, this one on a 9-yard run with 3:36 left in regulation. Ramsey’s PAT upped the Arkansas lead to 37-27.

The Blazers tried to mount another score, but their ensuing drive ended with a 23-yard interception return to the Arkansas 31 by T.J. Metcalf with 54 seconds remaining in the game. The Hogs then ran out the clock to end the game.

The Blazers took the opening kickoff at their own 25-yard line and got as deep as the Arkansas 10, but the Hogs forced UAB to settle for a 27yard field goal from Delange for a 3-0 lead for the Blazers with 7:33 left in the opening quarter.

On the third play of the ensuing Arkansas drive, Green’s pass was picked off by UAB linebacker Michael Moore at the UAB 45, and the Blazer defender returned the pick 40 yards to the Arkansas 15 with 6:40 remaining in the period.

UAB needed only two plays to cash in the takeaway as Zeno hit receiver Kam Shanks on a shuffle pass, and Shanks went around the right side and hit the pylon at the near corner of the end zone for the touchdown. Delange’s extra point increased UAB’s lead to 10-0 with 6:05 left in the period.

On the ensuing kickoff, Delange tried an onside kick, but Arkansas special teams player Monte Harrison was Johnny on the spot and picked up the ball and returned it 16 yards to the UAB 28. Then, UAB was called for being offside on the kickoff, thus moving the ball to the UAB 23 with 6:01 remaining in the quarter.

The Razorbacks got as deep as the UAB 11, but had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Ramsey with exactly four minutes left in the quarter to cut the UAB advantage to 10-3, which was the score at the end of the first period.

On the ensuing possession for UAB, the Blazers, who took advantage of a face mask penalty and a delay of game penalty on the Hogs, marched 75 yards in eight plays as on the very first play of the second quarter, Zeno connected with Amare Thomas on a 34-yard TD pass. Delange’s PAT upped the UAB lead to 17-3 with 14:51 left before halftime.

The Hogs responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, which included fourth-down conversion, to get back within a TD as Braylen Russell took it in from two yards out. Ramsey’s extra point cut UAB’s lead to 17-10 with 9:17 remaining in the first half.

On UAB’s ensuing drive, a false start penalty stymied the drive, and they were forced to punt.

The Razorbacks took possession at their own 31yard line. They moved 69 yards in six plays as Green took it in on a 14-yard touchdown run. Ramsey’s PAT tied the game at 17-all with 4:48 left in the first half.

The Blazers drove from their own 25-yard line to the Arkansas 6, but they had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Delange with 1:53 left in the first half to regain the lead for UAB at 20-17.

The Hogs responded with a six-play, 42-yard drive, 30 yards of which were on two pass interference penalties on UAB, to re-tie the game at 20-all on Ramsey’s 51-yard field goal with 63 seconds remaining before halftime, which was the score at the break.

“I’m disappointed in the way that we played,” Pittman said. “We need to put our finger on why we struggle at home as a team. I think we need to get healthy for next week and get Nichols and Braxton back. In practice, we weren’t able to get the proper reps needed.”