FAYETTEVILLE — The Razorbacks will be short-handed at defensive end in Saturday’s Arkansas vs La Tech game.
Not only are they without Anton Juncaj for a second straight week, which was expected based on head coach Sam Pittman’s comments earlier in the week, but they’re also without Nico Davillier.
Those two have split the starts at the defensive end spot opposite of Landon Jackson this year. In their absence, sophomore Quincy Rhodes Jr. was expected to make his first career start in the penultimate game of the 2024 regular season, but Arkansas stuck with a three-man front that utilizes Jackson and defensive tackles Eric Gregory and Cam Ball.
While Pittman has expressed optimism that Juncaj may be able to return from his knee injury in time for the finale at Missouri next week, it doesn’t sound as encouraging for Davillier.
The Maumelle native has suffered a torn meniscus and will have surgery next Monday, a source told Best of Arkansas Sports. That will cause him to miss the rest of the year. A spokesperson for the UA declined to confirm the news, but Pittman is expected to address it in his postgame press conference.
Davillier is the only true surprise absence this week, although it’s worth noting that linebacker Anthony Switzer also isn’t dressed out for a second straight week with an undisclosed injury. On Monday, Pittman indicated he’d be back this week.
As for some encouraging news, freshman cornerback Selman Bridges is dressed out and went through pregame warmups. He missed the Texas game because of an illness. However, he hasn’t appeared on defense since the opener against UAPB.
Arkansas vs La Tech Updates
Pregame Tidbits
Prior to the game, 19 Arkansas football players were honored as part of the senior day festivities.
12:31, 1Q – Arkansas 0, Louisiana Tech 0
Rodney Hill appeared to return the game’s opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, but it was wiped out because of a holding penalty on freshman Ahkhari Johnson. Instead, the Hogs started at their own 5. They eventually had to punt after Taylen Green never saw Maddox Lassiter running wide open down the middle of the field.
5:34, 1Q – Arkansas 0, Louisiana Tech 0
The ugliness continued with Taylen Green missing his intended target badly for an interception. That gave Louisiana Tech great field position, but the defense – seemingly – forced a field goal. However, the Bulldogs dialed up a fake and converted flawlessly. They had a third-and-goal at the 3, but a false start and errant snap backed them up to the 25 and Buck Buchanan’s 43-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.
END of 1Q – Arkansas 0, Louisiana Tech 0
5:49, 2Q – Arkansas 7, Louisiana Tech 0
It wasn’t easy, but the Hogs put together a 13-play, 80-yard drive to get on the board. They had a 31-yard run wiped out by a holding, but eventually converted a fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive. Taylen Green capped it with a dart to Isaac TeSlaa for an 11-yard touchdown.
1:53, 2Q – Arkansas 14, Louisiana Tech 0
Arkansas opted to go for it on fourth-and-3 and Taylen Green scrambled for a 41-yard touchdown. It’s only his second rushing touchdown in the past eight games after notching four in the first three weeks of the season.
HALF – Arkansas 14, Louisiana Tech 0
9:54, 3Q – Arkansas 21, Louisiana Tech 0
Louisiana Tech got cute on a fourth-and-1 deep in its own territory and Arkansas snuffed it out for a loss of 3. On the very next play, the Hogs took a shot and it resulted in a 27-yard touchdown to TeSlaa — his second of the game.
3:59, 3Q – Arkansas 21, Louisiana Tech 7
It took a mistake by the Hogs and a questionable call by the officials, but Louisiana Tech is finally on the board. It started with a muffed punt on which Dallas Young ran into Isaiah Sategna. Arkansas appeared to intercept a pass in the end zone on the ensuing drive, but Ian Geffrard was called for roughing the passer with targeting. After a review, the targeting was waved off, but the roughing the passer penalty was still enforced. That set up the Bulldogs in the red zone and they scored a couple plays later, with Evan Bullock finding Eli Finley for a 2-yard touchdown.
END of 3Q – Arkansas 21, Louisiana Tech 7
14:14, 4Q – Arkansas 28, Louisiana Tech 7
Taylen Green dropped back to pass, but the field opened up in front of him, so he took off for an 8-yard touchdown run. It’s his second score on the ground today and he’s up to 61 yards on six carries. That should ice this game, but there’s still nearly an entire quarter left.
5:58, 4Q – Arkansas 28, Louisiana Tech 14
A questionable pass interference call against Kee’yon Stewart gave Louisiana Tech some life and it capitalized. Facing a third-and-16, Bullock found Jimmy Holiday for a 20-yard touchdown.
3:01, 4Q – Arkansas 35, Louisiana Tech 14
Rashod Dubinion ripped off runs of 18, 16, 13, 16, 3 and 7 yards to get the Hogs into the red zone and Ja’Quinden Jackson finished it off with a 13-yard touchdown run.
FINAL — Arkansas 35, Louisiana Tech 14
How to Watch Arkansas vs La Tech
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Location: Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Kickoff time (TV): 3 p.m. CT (SECN+/ESPN+)
Commentators: Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst)
ESPN FPI: Arkansas has a 93.8% chance to win.
Odds/Betting Line: Arkansas, -23.5 | O/U 48.5 (BetSaracen)
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