No. 1 Alabama stays undefeated with win against Arkansas

Cody Estremera and James Ogletree

FAYETTEVILLE- No. 1 Alabama continued its first quarter domination. It outscored Arkansas by 14 points en route to a 65-31 win. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 334 yards and four touchdowns in the win.

Play of the game: On Alabama’s second drive of the game, Tua Tagovailoa completed a pass to Irv Smith Jr. near midfield. Smith broke tackles and ran down to the Arkansas 12-yard line, where he was stripped by an Arkansas defender. Henry Ruggs III sprinted to pick up the ball and tumbled over the goal line for the touchdown.

Offensive player of the game

Cody Estremera: Irv Smith Jr.

James Ogletree: Tua Tagovailoa

Defensive player of the game

Cody Estremera: Dylan Moses

James Ogletree: Dylan Moses

Fan player of the game

Offense: Tua Tagovailoa

Defense: Deionte Thompson

Notes:

  • It took Alabama just 21 seconds to take a touchdown lead. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa found Irv Smith Jr., who slipped out of the backfield and sprinted 76 yards for a touchdown.
  • On Alabama’s second play of its second drive, Smith again took a short Tagovailoa pass well downfield. Smith fumbled at the 12-yard line, but Henry Ruggs III hustled, scooped up the ball and reached over the goal line for a touchdown. The play counted as a passing touchdown. Ruggs tied Jerry Jeudy and Josh Jacobs for the team lead with six touchdowns.
  • Minutes later, Jacobs capped a 76-yard scoring drive — which included a handoff from Tagovailoa to Jalen Hurts — with a 1-yard touchdown run, his sixth offensive score of the year and seventh overall.
  • Arkansas responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ate up more than five minutes. Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey threw for 107 yards in the first quarter.
  • The Razorbacks drove down inside the Alabama 5-yard line before Dylan Moses forced a fumble. Alabama then went on a 99-yard scoring drive. Tagovailoa hit Jerry Jeudy in the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown.
  • Alabama jumped offside and committed a facemask penalty on 3rd-and-2 at their own 12-yard line. The Razorbacks scored two plays later to make the score 28-14.
  • Inside the final two minutes of the half, Tagovailoa found Jeudy underneath and the sophomore receiver took the ball 60 yards to the end zone. It’s his eighth touchdown in six games.
  • Shyheim Carter intercepted Ty Storey’s pass early in the fourth quarter, which he returned 44 yards for a touchdown. It was his second interception returned for a touchdown this season.
  • Alabama went over 600 yards for the second-consecutive game.
  • Brian Robinson ran in a touchdown from five-yards out late in the fourth quarter. It was his first touchdown of the year.