Fish wriggles free after Tigers take bait
Posted on Sunday, October 8, 2006
AUBURN, Ala. — There’s no question Arkansas has been the recipient of some fortunate breaks this season.
The wind kicked up at the right time to push a 48-yard field goal attempt short in a two-point victory at Vanderbilt, and a kicker who was 7 for 9 on field-goal attempts missed three field goals and an extra point in a one-point victory over Alabama.
But luck was not the deciding factor in Arkansas’ dominating 27-10 victory over No. 2 Auburn on Saturday.
The Razorbacks forced the breaks that went their way, which included a perfectly executed trick play and snuffing out Auburn’s lone attempt at a trick play.
“You can say the ball is finally bouncing our way,” said Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson, who made a momentum-changing tackle when Auburn attempted a halfback throwback to the quarterback on the Tigers’ first drive. “We’ve had a lot of luck this year, and now everything’s going right for us.”
Almost everything worked for Arkansas on Saturday, including a trick play that has been in the playbook since twoa-days, but was unveiled for the first time against Auburn.
Arkansas took possession on the Tigers 34 after a shanked punt with 7: 38 left in the third quarter.
The Razorbacks set up in what looked like a traditional formation with quarterback Mitch Mustain lined up under center. But lined up next to Mustain, in a low squat, was little-used receiver Reggie Fish, who is listed at 5-7 but actually is closer to 5-5.
Mustain handed the ball to the hidden Fish with his right hand as he faked a handoff to Felix Jones with his left hand. The offensive line stood tall and pushed right, selling Mustain’s fake to Jones, which caught Auburn off guard.
It worked. Fish gained 28 yards to the Auburn 6, and Felix Jones scored three plays later to put Arkansas up 24-10.
“It came in a good situation,” Fish said. “It was open and I came around the end and there was nobody there. We just had the right plays today.”
Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said he was waiting to run the play, which Fish said is called “W” or “Woody,” until the Razorbacks took over on the opponent’s side of the field after a turnover. The shanked punt turned out to be as good as a turnover, and the Tigers weren’t ready for the trickery.
“That’s something we haven’t seen,” Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said. “We were in regular defense and the kids got a little confused.”
Arkansas used that play, and the subsequent touchdown, to finish off Auburn.
“A play like that at the right time can really give you some momentum, and I feel like it did,” Malzahn said.
Arkansas stole momentum from Auburn by stopping its trick play and never gave it back.
The Tigers gained 11 yards and two first downs on consecutive plays to open the game. But Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville is known for trick plays, and he sent one in on the third play of the game.
Quarterback Brandon Cox pitched to running back Tre Smith, then Cox sprinted left and downfield to catch a pass. Anderson never bit, tackling Smith for an 11-yard loss. Arkansas forced a punt and soon took control of the game.
“We had a few plays where we gained some yards and the crowd had gotten into it,” Cox said. “It’s one of those plays that if it works, it’s a good call, if it didn’t it hurts your momentum. It was a setback and we didn’t recover.”
“We knew a trick play was going to come at any time. That’s Coach Tuberville,” Anderson said. “We had to shut it down, and that helped out a lot.”
The play shifted momentum squarely to the Arkansas sideline, and there was nothing lucky about it.
“The whole game we had a lot of good breaks,” Fish said. “It’s like Coach [Houston ] Nutt has been saying, it’s about time for stuff to start rolling our way. That’s what happened today. It rolled our way.”
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
