MEMPHIS — The University of Arkansas turned to old reliable quarterback Taylen Green and a couple of little-used skill players to unleash a big-play bonanza on former Southwest Conference rival Texas Tech on Friday.
The Razorbacks secured a winning season and stayed unbeaten in bowl games under fifth-year Coach Sam Pittman with a 39-26 win over Texas Tech before an announced crowd of 37,764 to win the Liberty Bowl at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Arkansas (7-6) improved to 3-0 in bowl games under Pittman, who coached from the sideline while using a cane less than four weeks after hip replacement surgery. The Hogs were down seven offensive starters and four defensive starters but did not show it.
“The bottom line is that we’ve got a good football team with the ones that we had tonight, and I’m really proud of the kids,” Pittman said. “A lot of times people will ask you, ‘Are you ready to play in a bowl game?’ Hell, yeah. We’re going into a bowl game. It’s exciting.
“We had an opportunity and we’ve got good players. Just because you guys don’t know about them doesn’t mean that they’re not good players. But now you know about them a little bit.”
Texas Tech (8-5) lost a chance at its first nine-win season since 2009 under third-year Coach Joey McGuire and had its shot at winning a bowl game for a fourth consecutive season denied.
Texas Tech did not capitalize after recovering a Rodney Hill fumble in the first half but the Razorbacks, who got interceptions from Marquise Robinson and Miguel Mitchell, earned a field goal after Mitchell’s 47-yard return.
“I thought Arkansas, at the end of the day, it comes down to they out-executed what they had game plan wise versus us,” McGuire said. “They took advantage of some turnovers where we didn’t.”
Arkansas won its fourth Liberty Bowl in a row dating to the 2009 season in current offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s second season as head coach. The Hogs also improved their all-time record to 30-8 in the series with the Red Raiders.
The Razorbacks cranked out 559 total yards, their fourth-highest number of the season, and notched two interceptions off Texas Tech true freshman quarterback Will Hammond in his first career start.
Green was named the game’s most valuable player after passing for 341 yards, an Arkansas bowl record, and 2 touchdowns while accounting for 422 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 6-yard keeper sealed the win with about a minute remaining and tied him with Rodney Hill for the team high with 81 rushing yards.
Arkansas receiver Dazmin James and running back Tyrell Reed Jr. both turned their first career receptions for the Razorbacks into touchdowns, including a record-breaker. James’ first catch on a slant pass broke for a 94-yard touchdown — the longest pass play in Liberty Bowl history and the longest touchdown pass in Arkansas history — to give the Hogs a 21-3 lead during a blitzkrieg of a first quarter.
“I would say that just speaks volumes to making the most of their opportunities,” Green said of the big offensive contributors. “It’s crazy, we were talking about that slant in the hotel the whole week and it came to fruition.”
Arkansas wound up with 11 plays of 15-plus yards, including eight in the passing game.
“If you go back on the season, I think we were worst in the country on giving up explosive plays,” McGuire said. “So that’s something that’s got to be a big deal during winter football school, it’s got to be a big deal in the spring and we’ve got to get better at that.”
The Razorbacks got off to the hot start Pittman said was critical for their success with offensive gains of 70, 56 and 94 yards on their first three possessions, all that went for touchdowns. Each of the drives featured three plays as Arkansas ripped for 260 total yards in the quarter.
Both teams notched a safety. The Red Raiders got theirs in the second quarter when Isaac Smith sacked Green in the end zone to pull Texas Tech within 21-5.
Arkansas defensive end Anton Juncaj, who finished with 2.5 sacks, returned the favor by sacking Hammond in the end zone in the third quarter to put the Hogs ahead 36-19.
Hammond completed 20 of 34 passes for 280 yards and 1 touchdown and freshman tailback J’Koby Williams ran for 123 yards and a 54-yard score.
The Razorbacks built on a 24-19 halftime lead with the second of Matthew Shipley’s three field goals. After CJ Brown’s 31-yard catch to convert a third-and-11 snap, Reed released over the right side unguarded and caught a short pass that turned into a 47-yard touchdown and a 34-19 Hogs’ lead.
Arkansas kept Texas Tech off the board in the second half until a late touchdown with 3:06 remaining.
The interceptions by Robinson and Mitchell blunted momentum from the Red Raiders in the second half. The first of the picks came after the Red Raiders drove 53 yards to the Arkansas 22 and Robinson returned the interception 26 yards.
The second was set up when defensive tackle Cam Ball sniffed out a Texas Tech flea flicker and hit Hammond just as he was trying to throw deep, re-directing the pass.
“It was just like an effort play for me,” Ball said. “I knew the quarterback was just standing back there. I knew he was up to no good, and then I saw the receiver toss it back to him, and then I was like, ‘Lunch time. So, barbecue chicken.’ Miguel came down with the pick, so shout out to him as well.”
On Arkansas’ second offensive snap, Rodney Hill took a trap play behind center Brooks Edmonson and Keyshawn Blackstock, sidestepped safety Chapman Lewis on the second level and raced 70 yards before Brendan Jordan made a touchdown-saving tackle at the Red Raiders’ 12. Green took a run-pass option play around the right edge, skirted the sideline and scored his eighth rushing touchdown of the season.
The Red Raiders drove 56 yards and got on the board on Gino Garcia’s 37-yard field goal.
Green went to his top target, Isaac TeSlaa, to get the Hogs’ next series rolling. TeSlaa turned a slant into an 18-yard reception. On the next snap, TeSlaa was wide open for a catch and raced down the right sideline 56 yards before diving at the pylon as he was knocked out of bounds by CJ Baskerville at the 1.
Braylen Russell powered in over the right side behind tight end Kyle Thompson for a 1-yard score on the next snap.
Arkansas was backed up inside its 10 with its third series but that didn’t matter. Green found James on the third-and-8 slant pass and he skirted out of a tackle try by corner Macho Stevenson, turned on his track speed and got a downfield block from Krosse Johnson to go 94 yards.
“I mean, you’ll definitely see more,” James said of his three catches for 137 yards. “It’s just the beginning. First game. I just had an opportunity. I got my opportunity and I ran with it.”
TeSlaa wound up with 3 catches for 107 yards and Brown had 4 grabs for 50 yards.
