Arkansas Football began their game at BYU on a sour note.
The Razorbacks, who were looking to snap a three-game losing skid, turned the football over on their first possession when [autotag]Raheim Sanders[/autotag] fumbled the ball on 2nd down and 10 from the Arkansas 45-yard line. The fumble luckily failed to result in BYU points. It also sparked what would turn into a career day for the sophomore back.
Following the fumble, Sanders would go on to rush for a season-high 175 yards in Arkansas’ 52-35 win over the Cougars in Provo. He did so, ironically, on a season-low 15 carries.
The turnover was Arkansas’ only blemish on the day, as the Arkansas defense would go on to win the battle by recovering two of their own. Head coach [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] said that he was pleased with his team’s victory in the turnover battle.
“What was the turnover ratio today? 2 to 1? (Hudson Clark) and who? I was really pleased,” Pittman said after the game. “BYU had only turned the ball over three times all year. I thought Rocket really rebounded after that and had a really good game.”
Following the turnover, Pittman made the decision to sit Sanders for a few plays. He says that he usually does that for the player’s mental state. The theory proved to be correct on Saturday.
“I didn’t feel like he was hitting the holes like he should have and he put the ball on the ground. We’ve got to let guys think about it for a minute. We’ve got other guys who can go in there,” Pittman said. “He’s a great kid and he rebounded. … I think it’s pretty motivating for anybody who cares. I know he does. Any time you’re thinking you should be in the game and you’re not, I think it’s motivating.”
Arkansas posted 644 yards of total offense on Saturday. Quarterback [autotag]K.J. Jefferson[/autotag] passed for 367 yards and five touchdowns to go along with Sanders’ two rushing scores.