Game Blog: Texas A&M vs. Arkansas
October 3rd, 2009
For complete coverage, make sure to scroll down to the comments section for updates from Brandon Marcello. The comments are open, so interact with us in the press box and other fans watching from home and in the stadium.
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3:50 p.m.: Nate Allen and I have made it to the Cowboys Stadium press box. Lots of fans standing outside in the rain waiting to get in. The gates open at 4:30 pm., two hours before kickoff.
A view from the press box three hours before kickoff of the Southwest Classic between Arkansas and Texas A&M. (Brandon Marcello)
FYI, a few moments ago the score in the corners of the stadium was 10-7 in favor of the Razorbacks. A sign of things to come?
Keep it here for updates. Once the game gets underway, all updates will occur in the comments section. Consider this your open thread to chat during the game.
Make sure to check out all of our Game Day content on WholeHogSports.com to get your prepped for the game. I’ll have a column up tomorrow morning on the amazing layout of this state-of-the-art facility.
Plus, a funny story or two.
If you haven’t already, check out the WholeHogSports video tour of the stadium.
— Brandon Marcello
Go Hogs, Iam prud of you, Looking forward to the game.
Arkansas and Texas A&M are on the field for warmups.
Wide receiver London Crawford, who broke a collarbone in the season opener on Sept. 5, is on the field running routes and catching balls. It'll be interesting to see if he gets on the field today, four weeks after surgery.
The Aggies are noticeably different from what fans are used to seeing. They're wearing all white, including white helmets. A&M hasn't worn white helmets since Dec. 20, 1978, when the Aggies beat Iowa State, 28-12, in the Hall of Fame Bowl.
The team was surprised about the switch from the usual maroon helmets, according to A&M officials.
CB Andru Stewart is also working at first-team defense during pre-game warmups.
You can follow our updates as well on Twitter via @wholehogsports and @bmarcello.
Anyone here in Cowboys Stadium? Looks to be slightly more Texas A&M fans than Hog fans.
Texas A&M 3,
Arkansas 0
FIRST QUARTER
Arkansas' offensive line is struggling to pick up blocks and the result has been two three-and-outs to start the game. Ryan Mallett has been sacked twice on third down and has two incomplete passes. The first sack came from, you guessed it, the NCAA sack leader Von Miller.
The Razorbacks have tried to establish the running game and Michael Smith has 5 yards on two carries.
The Aggies struck big with a 31-yard run by Cyrus Gray on their first play on offense, but the Razorbacks' defense managed to hold A&M to an early, 32-yard field goal.
Looks like a very long day...time to sit Mallett down...can't get any worse with Wilson
Texas A&M 10,
Arkansas 7
END OF FIRST QUARTER
Ryan Mallett got a 67-yard pass to Joe Adams on the first play of the Hogs' fourth drive, and Broderick Green completed it with an 8-yard touchdown catch. He broke a tackle at the 6-yard line and banged into another tackler at the goal line to score.
The Hogs' offense had nothing up until that scoring drive, as the A&M defense forced three, three-and-outs to start the game. The 67-yard pass was also Mallett's first completion of the game.
Arkansas has the ball in the Aggies' red zone to open the second quarter.
The Hogs' offensive line is allowing tacklers to bust through. Several "lookout!" blocks tonight.
What are your thoughts?
We have got to stay committed to the run!! If we'll at least keep them honest, we'll win this game.
Arkansas 21,
Texas A&M 10
SECOND QUARTER
Arkansas scored 21 unanswered points, capped by an 85-yard fumble return by linebacker Jerry Franklin. Texas A&M quarterback fumbled the ball after a hit by Tenarius Wright. The play was challenged but it was clearly a fumble and the TD stood.
Interestingly, the coaches and players on the Hogs' sideline went wild and ran down the field with Franklin to the end zone. They were partially on the field and Hogs were flagged for sideline interference, but Alex Tejada hit the XP five yards deeper to make it 21-10 with 6:25 remaining.
Jerell Norton fumbled a punt on his own 12-yard line to set up A&M on the drive, but Johnson fumbled on the first play of the drive. Strange chain of events.
For the first time all season, the Hogs' defensive front is getting pressure and that is the difference so far.
Why is ESPN2 not showing replays? Everything seems to be off. I guess this is typical when you are on the secondary station, instead of ABC or ESPN (the UNO).
Good to see D'Anthony Curtis getting involved in the gameplan.
Defense is finally generating a pass rush...good.
Arkansas 30,
Texas A&M 10
HALFTIME
As mentioned above, the Hogs are getting a good pass rush for the first time all season. A lot of credit should go to defensive end Jake Bequette, who has been very disruptive against true freshman left tackle Stephen Barrera. But it's not just Bequette. Jerrod Johnson, a running quarterback, has been scrambling a lot from pressure.
I made the comment on Twitter that it was as if Texas A&M had forgotten to play offense in the second quarter. After going up 10-0, the Aggies' offense has looked inept at times. In fact, Johnson had seven straight incomplete passes during one stretch. He also fumbled during that time. That fumble was picked up by Jerry Franklin for an 85-yard touchdown return with 6:25 remaining in the first half.
Later, Ryan Mallett stepped up in the pocket for a 31-yard touchdown pass to a streaking Jarius Wright, who caught the ball with his finger tips and dove into the end zone.
Amazingly, Alex Tejada missed the extra point. He hit a 38-yard field goal just minutes earlier. Strange.
Halftime stats to chew on coming up. Most importantly, what are your thoughts?
HALFTIME STATS
The Hogs only have 15 rushing yards, but they are all over the Aggies in the first half thanks to -- hold your breath -- their defense.
The pass rush is the difference so far, but it also helps having a pretty good passing game.
PASSING
Ryan Mallett: 10-of-17 for 193 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception.
Jerrod Johnson: 11-of-27 for 167 yards and 1 touchdown.
RECEIVING
Joe Adams: 2 catches for 91 yards
Jarius Wright: 2 catches for 36 yards, 1 TD
De'Anthony Curtis: 2 catches for 34 yards, 1 TD (first career TD)
The Aggies have more offense with 259 total yards. Arkansas has 208.
Nice to see the OL & DL shake off the shaky start. OL w/ great protection and DL really bringing the heat. Bequette has looked all-world against their left tackle. Still baffled at our inability to run the ball.
How many people are in attendance at the game? Did it sell out?
There's no way it sold out. I see empty seats all over the place. It isn't a bad crowd though. I certainly think there's more hog fans than Aggies.
Brandon....can you tell us what you think the fanbase support breakdown is?
The running game is getting better. Go Michael Smith!
dudes--out of town what's score & what quarter for Arkansas/A&M game
anyone,,anyone---Im dying out here...score/quarter?
Arkansas 37,
Texas A&M 13
THIRD QUARTER
Michael Smith is coming alive. He accounted for 62 yards of the Hogs' 70-yard touchdown drive to put them up 37-13 with 4:28 remaining. Smith had the 29-yard touchdown catch from Ryan Mallett to complete the drive. Smith was wide open.
The Aggies' Randy Bullock added a 47-yard field goal earlier with 8:16 remaining to end a 30-0 scoring streak by the Hogs.
Mallett has 4 touchdown passes, which is one shy of his school-record 5 TDs set in a 52-41 loss to Georgia two weeks ago.
Sam,
Not a sellout. There are 71,872 here, which isn't that bad.
Brandon....in your opinion what % are hog fans vs. Aggie fans?
I'd say 55-45 in favor of Aggies. Maybe a bit more for A&M, but some of their fans have left already.
Fourth quarter about to start with Aggies inside the 10.
Why is M. Shepard not playing much?
Arkansas 40,
Texas A&M 19
FOURTH QUARTER
This will be the final update most likely before I head down for post-game press conferences and write my story.
Arkansas tacked on an 18-yard field goal after driving down to the Texas A&M 1-yard line with 9:35 remaining. The Aggies got a touchdown on a 3-yard pass from Jerrod Johnson to Ryan Tannehill with 14:53 remaining. It could have been Tannehill's second touchdown reception of the game, but he dropped a wide-open pass in the first half.
Until later, it's an open thread. Talk amongst yourselves. Grade the Hogs' performance tonight in the Southwest Classic.
Wow, I can definitely be excited about the future of our running game after a run like that. Hat of you to, mr. Wingo. How about getting him those short-yardage touches since Green has shown considerable inconsistency.
Good call on the yardage in your prediction, Brandon.