Bowl-Less Tide Doesn’t Roll Plagued By Recent Suspension, No. 13 Alabama Falls To Arkansas

The team wearing red marched downfield and scored the winning touchdown as time expired. This time, however, it wasn’t the home team.

J.J. Meadors dove on his belly in the end zone and caught a fourth-down pass with 6 seconds remaining to give Arkansas one of its biggest victories in years on Saturday, 20-19 over No. 13 Alabama.

The Crimson Tide (1-1 Southeastern Conference, 2-1), accustomed to pulling off such improbable last-minute comebacks itself, was on the other side of the dramatics on a rainy day at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Alabama, which came back five times in the fourth quarter last season and began this year with two more, was determined to reverse the trend. Just not like this.

“It was our game to win, and we just didn’t do it,” said Alabama coach Gene Stallings, whose team was sentenced to three years’ probation and barred from bowl play this season for violating NCAA rules.

The dramatic finish spoiled a valiant stand by Alabama’s defense, which had stuffed the Razorbacks near the goal line three times in the closing seconds. The defense carried Alabama in the second half, when Stallings’ offense didn’t make a single first down.

Alabama kept getting the ball back, but the fitful Tide offense went three plays and out eight times.

Alabama quarterback Brian Burgdorf, who was sacked three times and absorbed numerous violent hits after getting rid of the ball, seemed displeased with the play-calling.

“It’s really hard on the passing game when you wait until it’s third down to throw the ball,” he said.

Dennis Riddle, Alabama’s leading rusher, had only 57 yards. Burgdorf completed only 6 of 17 for 90 yards and was sacked three times.

Madre Hill rushed for 105 yards for Arkansas (2-0, 2-1), including 87 in the first quarter. Barry Lunney completed 15 of 26 for 181 yards and one of the biggest touchdowns in recent Razorbacks history.

With more than 70,000 fans standing and screaming for one more heroic effort by the Tide defense, Lunney rolled to his left and fired to Meadors, who was several yards deep in the end zone and slid forward to make the catch.