Sam Pittman lauds heart shown in team's first-ever win in Gainesville
Arkansas put together a remarkable effort just two weeks after firing its offensive coordinator, circling the wagons in time behind head coach Sam Pittman to secure a thrilling 39-36 overtime win over Florida.
A late turn in the game saw the Razorbacks able to close out the win after giving up an early lead.
“Well we needed to run the football there, that’s the one thing we didn’t do earlier in the game,” Pittman said after the win. “We hadn’t been running the football well inside the red zone. But we did there and KJ (Jefferson) made a great, great run on first-and-long.”
Jefferson might have saved the Hogs’ bacon when he helped the team overcome a holding penalty on the first snap of the team’s lone overtime possession.
On first-and-16, Jefferson ran for a first down to put the ball into the low red zone for his offense. He finished off the game a few moments later when he fired into the end zone for Tyrone Broden on a 4-yard score after Florida had kicked a field goal on its overtime possession.
Arkansas had raced out to a 14-0 lead in the contest, only to watch it slowly slip away. But the Razorbacks never gave up.
“I think the kids played their butt off,” Sam Pittman said. “Kenny Guiton called a great game. The defense played well. But we just kept fighting. I mean it’s the first time in school history that we’ve beaten Gainesville, the University of Florida in Florida. Big deal. That wasn’t a 2-6 team. We were 0-0 and we’re trying to make a run. But I’m so proud of our football team.”
Florida had a shot to win the game at the end of regulation after taking over with 44 seconds remaining in regulation and the score tied at 33 apiece.
The Gators quickly drove the field deep into Razorbacks territory. But a massive communication gaffe would cost the Gators.
After quarterback Graham Mertz found tight end Arlis Boardingham for a 20-yard completion down the middle of the field, Florida quickly moved to set up a field goal. But while the offense went to spike the football, the special teams unit ran on to kick a field goal.
By the time the field goal unit realized the offense would spike it, the referees had deemed it as a substitution, which meant Arkansas was afforded the right to substitute as well. Florida snapped it too quickly, incurring a five-yard penalty.
After the penalty, Florida kicker Trey Smack missed a 44-yard attempt wide right, allowing the game to go to overtime, where Arkansas won it.
In the team’s first game without offensive coordinator Dan Enos, Arkansas managed to pile up an impressive 481 yards of total offense, going 8-of-18 on third down. Sam Pittman will certainly be pleased with that level of production.