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The SEC’s most experienced starting quarterback looked like one of the conference’s best on Saturday.
Brandon Allen, Arkansas’ senior quarterback with two years of starting experience to his name, looked as sharp as he has at any point in his career during the Hogs’ annual Red-White spring football game on Saturday. Allen only played the first half, but completed 17 of 21 passes (two of those incompletions were drops) for 230 yards and three touchdowns upon leading the Red team (the starters) to 34 first-half points against the White team (everyone else).
The Red team won the game by a final score of 62-18, although 15 of the Red team’s points and all 18 of the White team’s points came from Field Goal Shootouts following the first and third quarters.
Allen’s turnover-free spring game performance in the Red-White game closed what Arkansas is reporting as an interception-free spring season for the rising senior signal caller. That’s certainly a great sign for the fall.
Tailbacks Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins, both returning to school after rushing for 1,000 yards apiece last season, sat out Saturday’s action, leaving open an opportunity for third-string tailback and rising senior Kody Walker to shine for coaches and fans on hand. He didn’t miss his shot, carrying the ball 26 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns on the day in an effort to earn a greater role this fall. Walker carried the ball 31 times for 149 yards and one touchdown a year ago.
Much to the delight of head coach Bret Bielema, the Red team defense was just as dominant as the offense, especially in the first half. The starting defense held the backup offense to only 12 yards and zero first downs on 16 total plays in the first half, and it never allowed a point during live action on Saturday.
Sophomore quarterback and returning backup Austin Allen (Brandon’s younger brother) shared quarterback duties on the White team with freshman Rafe Peavey during the first half. Once Brandon Allen was removed from the game, Austin Allen took over the Red team and Peavey led the White team. The two backups switched teams in the fourth quarter, giving Peavey some run with the starters.
Austin Allen was 9 of 13 passing for 57 yards; Peavey was 1 of 5 for only 2 yards. Fellow freshman Ty Storey saw some late action, completing 2 of 5 passes for 14 yards.
Tight ends Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle (yes, that’s his name) were the two most involved members of the starting offense other than Walker. Henry returns as the team’s starting tight end and Sprinkle appears likely to see the field often as A.J. Derby’s replacement. Hunter caught 4 passes for 26 yards, while Sprinkle hauled in 4 catches for 44 yards and a first-half touchdown.
There were no turnovers for either team on the day, nor were there kickoff or punt returns.
The Razorbacks announced an official attendance of 41,220 fans for the Red-White game. Per Whole Hog Sports, there were 50 prospects, commitments and signees in attendance for the spring game.
The Field Goal Shootouts that occurred after the first and third quarters were a unique twist to the spring game. Kickers Adam McFain (Red team and returning starter) made six of his eight total field goals between the two shootouts, while backup Lane Saling made seven of his eight tries for the White team. The two kickers alternated field goal tries four times in each shootout, kicking from a further distance each time.
In another wonderful wrinkle in the spring game, Dallas Walker, a local eight grader with the neurological disorder Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, otherwise known as CMT, was given the chance to call a play for Bielema and the Red team after a second-quarter touchdown.
He called for a trick-play two-point conversion that resembled offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola’s touchdown pass from a season ago. Once again, Tretola was the quarterback on the play, and ESPN sideline reporter Laura Rutlege was the receiver, but she dropped both passes thrown her way to cost the Red team a point.
Walker still reported on the SEC Network broadcast that the experience was “amazing.”
Official Red-White game stats (per Hawgs247):
PASSING
Brandon Allen: 17-21, 230 yards, 3 touchdowns
Austin Allen: 9-13, 57 yards
Rafe Peavey: 1-5, 2 yards
Ty Storey: 2-5, 14 yards
RUSHING
Kody Walker: 26 carries, 174 yards, 3 touchdowns
Tyler Colquitt: 4 rushes, 28 yards
Connor McPherson: 5 carries, 13 yards
Denzell Evans: 3 carries, 6 yards
Rafe Peavey: 3 rushes, -4 yards
Austin Allen: 4 rushes, -14 yards
Brandon Allen: 1 rush, 7 yards
RECEIVING
Jeremy Sprinkle: 4 receptions, 44 yards, one touchdown
Hunter Henry: 4 receptions, 26 yards
Keon Hatcher: 3 receptions, 91 yards, two touchdowns
Drew Morgan: 2 receptions, 43 yards
Cody Hollister: 2 receptions, 23 yards
Kody Walker: 2 receptions, 9 yards
Jared Cornelius: 2 reception, 24 yards
Alex Voelzke: 3 reception, 19 yards
Tyler Colquitt: 1 reception, 0 yards
Connor McPherson: 1 reception, 3 yards
Chris Jones: 2 reception, 7 yards
John Tyson: 1 reception, 9 yards
Anthony Antwine: 1 reception, 5 yards
KICKING
Adam McFain: 5-8, makes from 27, 30, 31, 42, 43 yards, misses from 32, 38, 52 yards
Lane Saling: 6-8, makes from 27, 32, 32, 38, 42, 43 yards, misses from 27, 37 yards
PUNTING
Toby Baker: 5 punts, 49.4 yard average
Austin McGehee: 3 punts, 41.3 yard average
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
