2015 Game 7 Arkansas

Normally we would be in Fayetteville today.  Maybe two years from now again.  Both teams are 4 and 2 and 1 and 2 in the conference.  Why is Arkansas a 6.5 point favorite?  The home field advantage is all I can figure.  Can we stop their running game?  Can we pass effectively on their defense given that their passing defense gives up a lot of yards?  How will the Tigers play on the road?  We won back in 2013 and I remember winning in 1993.  Have we won up there other than those years?  It's supposed to rain, the result of Hurricane Patricia slamming into Mexico.   Will the weather have an effect on the game?  We don't like their coach "Bert."  I have never had any animosity toward Arkansas, but I do have animosity toward Bert.

FIRST QUARTER

Arkansas receives and promptly drives 75 yards for the touchdown.  There are two key pass completions to their good tight end.  The score comes on an 11 yard sweep around right end.  Carlton Davis was blatantly held but there is not call.  (So far no rain)  Their offense makes it look easy against our defense.

Auburn 0  Arkansas 7

The Tigers drive to midfield but have to punt from there.  Ricardo Louis drops a pass and Melvin Ray drops another one.  Otherwise, we would have continued the move the football.  If we continue to get passes dropped we surely don't have a chance.  We're throwing the ball downfield but our receivers can't catch the ball.

The Razorbacks drive inside Auburn territory, but we push them back to their 41 on a big sack by Gimel President.  Their punt goes to the Auburn 19.  Here comes our second offensive possession.
On third and four Tony Stevens drops another pass that would have been a first down.  That's FOUR drops by our receivers.  More drops than we've all year up to this point.  Our receivers are killing us so far.  White has been accurate.

Arkansas gets good field possession after the punt at their 40.  Here come the Hogs again.  We've probably lost this game already in the first quarter with our offense not keeping pace.  The first quarter ends with Arkansas facing 3rd and 1.

SECOND QUARTER

Arkansas gets the touchdown on a 23 yard pass on a wheel route where the receiver was wide open. Our defense makes it look easy for them.  At this point I see no way we are going to rally and win this football game.

Auburn 0  Arkansas 14

The Tigers look helpless.  Arkansas looks well-coached; Auburn looks bad everywhere.
The Tigers start on their 44.
On a third and 8 Ricardo Louis drops another one he should have caught.
Three and out.
The punt only goes to the Razorback 24.

Arkansas's offense is clearly wearing down our defense already.
11:53 to go in the half.
We stop them at their 45.  The punt goes to the Tiger 13 but we are three and out and Phillips, having a bad day, punts only to the Auburn 38.  This team is disjointed.  I do not understand what is going on out there.  When even our punter, who has been having a great kicking the football, is struggling it makes me wonder.  Our offense has run only 14 plays.  Only one first down.   We've had 6 drops so far.  This is a lack of concentration and coaching.  Our QB is not getting any help.

Likely from our 38 they will score again and that will be it.
First down at our 27.
We finally get a break as Kris White intercepts at the four!
For the first time in the game our offense moves the football.
The tone of the game changes dramatically as the Tigers drive 96 yards officially in 16 yards for the touchdown.
The offense suddenly comes alive.  We convert a 4th and 2 along the way and Barber gangs in from the one for the score with 30 seconds to go.

Auburn 7  Arkansas 14

The clock expires.  We have a ballgame.  Auburn gets the ball to start the second half.

THIRD QUARTER

The Tigers drive for the touchdown in their opening possession.  That's a 75 yard 13 play drive running almost 6 minutes off the clock.   Jason Smith sweeps right end from the 9 for the score!
Stan White exclaims, "What's going on now?"  Our offense has come alive.  That's two straight long drives for touchdowns.  Yes, we have a ballgame.  What a momentum swing so far from the first quarter.

Auburn 14  Arkansas 14

There's the first Arkansas three and out.
Their punt goes to the Auburn 18.
The Tigers go three and out as Chandler Cox drops (that's 7 drops in this game) a first down pass.
That hurts.  If we lose this game these dropped passes will be the reason.
Phillips finally gets off a good 44 yd. punt to their 31.

The Razorbacks drive 69 yards in 8 plays for the TD.  Their running back sweeps left end for 7 yards for the score.  From a dropped pass to a punt to an Arkansas touchdown drive and they have the momentum back.

Auburn 14  Arkansas 21

From our 31 the Tigers go three and out and Arkansas extends their momentum grab. Louis is open for the first down but has to go the ground to make the catch and it's ruled correctly incomplete.  This game could be slipping away.

Arkansas begins from their 38.  There is a fumble but their QB recovers on the 35 as the third quarter ends.  Will there be a remarkable Auburn comeback in the 4th quarter?

FOURTH QUARTER

My guess is that Arkansas will score again and put the game out of reach.  We had the momentum, lost it, and that will be the game.
NO!  We hold but the punt goes to our 7.
Whereupon the Tigers drive 93 yards in 12 plays for the tying score!  Sean White is 4 for 4 on that drive.  A key play is a long pass to Jason Smith.
The Tigers have the momentum back about halfway thru the final quarter.
Jeremy Johnson of all people plows over from the half yard line for the score.
We have a ballgame.

Auburn 21  Arkansas 21

What will happen now?
Arkansas will have the ball after our kickoff.
The Hogs drive for a 25 yard FG with 1:07 left.  It looks dire.

Auburn 21  Arkansas 24

Unbelievably the Tigers drive for a tying 41 yard field goal!
Sean White is magnificent in completing two long passes to Ricardo Louis.
We are going to overtime!  Win or lose that was a great last drive to tie this game.

Auburn 24  Arkansas 24

OVERTIME

The Tigers get the ball and on three quick running players with Barber carrying each time we core the touchdown.  Auburn has the momentum.

Auburn 31  Arkansas 24

We come within an eyelash of winning in the first OT but on 4th and 3 from the 6 they get the TD pass into the end zone as our defender cannot quite get his right hand around to bat down the pass.

Auburn 31  Arkansas 31

SECOND OVERTIME

Arkansas gets the ball first and goes to a first and goal at the three.
There's the TD quickly.  Arkansas has the momentum back.  Our defense gets whipped on this one.

Auburn 31  Arkansas 38

OH, MY!
Not to worry yet.  The Tigers punch it in, Barber lowering his head from the three.
We are going to overtime number 3 in which you have to go for two.
What a game!

Auburn 38  Arkansas 38

THIRD OVERTIME

The Tigers find the end zone again.
Barber, Barber, Barber punches it in from the one.
And THEN on the point after White rolls right and throws back left to a wide open Melvin Ray.
The two point conversion is good!

Auburn 46  Arkansas 38

4th and 2 from the 4.
Sweep left and Arkansas scores.
Now they have to go for two.
Yikes!
Their QB rolls right and finds the receiver for the two point conversion.
Good play by their QB to find the receiver.
I can't believe this.  I can't believe this.  I can't believe this.

Auburn 46  Arkansas 46

FOURTH OVERTIME

First play there's a 25-yd. TD pass by Arkansas.  Poor tackling.
Need to hold them on the conversion.
The two point conversion is good.
This might be it.
I don't see who we can do it again.  We will likely lose in the 4th overtime.

Auburn 46  Arkansas 54

2nd and 8 after Barber runs for two.
Louis drops the ball in the end zone.  Another dropped pass.  Drop number for 8 today.
Should have been a touchdown.  Good throw by Sean White.  If we had caught at least half of those 8 drops we wouldn't be in this position.
Auburn has to use a TO as the play clock winds down.
Incomplete to Stevens in the end zone.
4th and 9 from the 24.
The pass to Louis is incomplete over the middle.  He seemed to have the ball but couldn't hang on as a defender came in at the last second.  Either the 9th drop or give credit to the defender.  It doesn't matter because Louis couldn't bring it in.
Eight drops and maybe nine cost us at least 100 yards of yardage.
This was a very winnable game on the road but is now a tough, tough loss.
Our announcers point to the continued dropped passes mostly from Ricardo Louis.
Arkansas wins in 4 overtimes 54 to 46.
This equals the longest game in AU history.