Arkansas Finishes 2015 Season with Convincing 28-3 Win over Missouri
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Arkansas Razorbacks (7-5, 5-3) got their first winning SEC record since the 2011 season knocking off the Missouri Tigers (5-7, 1-7) 28-3 in Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Friday.
The win was a dominating one for the Hogs with junior running back Alex Collins leading the charge rushing 30 times for 130 yards with three touchdowns. On the flip side, the loss was tough for Missouri knowing this was Gary Pinkel’s last game on the Tigers sideline as the team’s head coach.
The game started off a little slow with each team trading three-and-out possessions but then the Arkansas offense started to pick up the momentum on a cold rainy day with temperatures in the high 30’s. Collins got the scoring going at the end of the first quarter knocking in a 4-yard touchdown run. Early in the second quarter, Collins again found the end zone, this time from seven yards out pushing the Hogs lead to 14-0.
Missouri responded with their best drive of the game with the Arkansas defense quickly bending but not breaking holding the Tigers to a 35-yard Andrew Baggett field goal. Arkansas answered the call again with a little over a minute left until halftime with Collins slicing his way through the Missouri defense on a 25-yard touchdown run.
Arkansas senior quarterback Brandon Allen was not called upon for heroics but had a decent game completing 11 of 17 passes for 102 yards with one interception on an ill-advised rollout pass to the right.
Missouri’s offense was stagnant throughout the game only coming up with 171 yards of total offense. Freshman quarterback Drew Lock ended the game 9 of 27 for 83 yards with one pick. Ish Witter led the Tigers in rushing with 33 yards on six attempts with Tyler Hunt adding 24 yards and Russell Hansbrough posting just 14 on five carries. Lock had 17 yards on seven carries.
Kody Walker closed out the scoring nearing the end of the third quarter on a nine yard rumble into the end zone. Walker ran hard netting 77 yards on 14 carries.
The Hogs leading receiver was Dominique Reed with 37 yards on four receptions but the junior college transfer left the game in the third quarter with an ankle or knee injury. How severe the injury is at this time is not known. All-SEC tight end Hunter Henry had two receptions for 28 yards and Drew Morgan had three for 28 yards as well.
Both teams had a turnover each but the game was played cleanly with just two Missouri called penalties for 18 yards and one Arkansas flag for five yards.
Collins moved further up Arkansas’ all-time rushing list now just 53 yards from taking over No. 2 career rushing leader Daren McFadden with 3,571 yards.
Sans a bowl invite that might go out to teams under the six-win total, Pinkel ends his collegiate coaching career with an overall record of 191-110-3 and 117-70 in 15 campaigns with the Tigers.
Photo credit: Samantha Baker; Alex Collins rushes to the left side against Missouri in first half action.