Third downs are often considered money downs.
In that case, Tennessee football is in the market for more funds. The Vols logged another undesirable outing on the defensive side of the ball on third downs, allowing Arkansas to convert seven of its 13 attempts.
Tennessee, entering the game, ranked 110th in the nation in third-down conversions allowed per game at 6.5. It ranked 70th in conversion percentage at 40% per game. The Razorbacks cleared both of those numbers, converting 53.8% of the time with seven.
“Well, first of all, the quarterback gets out of pocket, makes some big plays in long-yardage,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “We’re there at times to make the play, and he makes the play. Then a couple of them, we give them some things in our coverage, in particular in zone principles. We’re not recognizing patterns and/or bodies changing, who’s two, who’s three, and we can clean some of that up.”
Here’s a look at each of the seven conversions from the Hogs on Saturday:
4:05 first quarter: Third-and-six from Arkansas 46-yard line
The Razorbacks’ first conversion came on an eight-yard throw from Taylen Green to Raylen Sharpe, moving the chains into Tennessee territory.
Arkansas faced a later third down on the drive, where Tennessee got a stop on third-and-four. The Hogs settled for a 28-yard field goal to take a 10-7 lead in the opening frame.
7:23 second quarter: Third-and-nine from Tennessee 37-yard line
Near midfield, Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks dialed up an all-out blitz. Green escaped the pressure and found a gap for a 22-yard gain to move the ball to the Vols’ 15-yard line.
5:24 second quarter: Third-and-six from Tennessee 11-yard line
On the same drive that Green kept alive with his legs, Arkansas faced another third down. This time, it was Green finding Sharpe for a 10-yard gain to the 1-yard line.
Arkansas punched the ball in a play later for a one-yard touchdown, taking a 17-10 lead.
10:26 third quarter: Third-and-eight from Arkansas 37-yard line
The Hogs’ first drive of the second half faced a quick third down. Green, unfazed by the pressure, delivered a 24-yard dart to Kam Shanks to keep the drive alive.
Arkansas used the drive to march deep into Tennessee territory. The drive, however, stalled when Edrees Farooq put his helmet on the ball and forced a turnover at the Tennessee 14-yard line.
7:49 third quarter: Third-and-10 from Arkansas 40-yard line
The most lucrative gain of yardage on a third down came on this play, aided by laundry on the field. Green took a shotgun snap and scampered 18 yards for a first down after failing to find a receiver. A Joshua Josephs holding penalty tacked on 10 more yards, and the Razorbacks left with a net-28-yard gain on third-and-long.
Arkansas got frisky at the Tennessee 25-yard line and did not convert on fourth down later in the drive, ending with a turnover on downs.
11:47 fourth quarter: Third-and-nine from Arkansas 20-yard line
Arkansas continued to succeed in the fourth quarter. Green found O’Mega Blake for an 18-yard gain, keeping the drive alive after a first-down sack moved the Hogs behind the sticks.
They eventually cashed in, concluding a 10-play, 81-yard drive with a Green touchdown pass to Rohan Jones from nine yards out.
3:01 fourth quarter: Third-and-10 from Tennessee 12-yard line
The Hogs’ final drive of the night resulted in the most effective third-down conversion. Green threw a pair of incomplete passes on first and second down in the red zone, but located a Shanks for a 12-yard score to cut the Tennessee lead to three points with three minutes to play.
It was the only third-down conversion that directly resulted in a score, but the Razorbacks mangled 17 of their 31 points on drives where they converted a third down.
Overall, the Hogs tallied 122 yards on third-down conversions. That breaks down to an average of 17.4 yards gained per play. On average, Arkansas faced third-and-eight — meaning it gained more than enough to move the chains each time.
