FAYETTEVILLE — It took a fleet of tugboats to float the Knile through Mississippi.
Nobody appreciates that more than the Knile himself.
Arkansas sophomore running back Knile Davis’ river of offense that flowed 176 yards and three touchdowns through the Mississippi defense couldn’t have happened without the peak performance of the Razorbacks’ offensive line and fullback.
Davis became the first running back for these 5-2 Razorbacks to rush for triple digits as Arkansas defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 38-24 Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
He knows he never would have gotten out of port but for the blocking of fullback Van Stumon in front of him and the line of center Travis Swanson, guards Alvin Bailey and Wade Grayson, tackles DeMarcus Love and Ray Dominguez, and tight end D.J. Williams.
“They did a real good job,” Davis said. “And not only the line, but the receivers and Van Stumon. Van Stumon did real good. Wade Grayson did real good. They all did. I was real proud of them.”
Stumon, the fifth-year seniorfrom North Little Rock, netted his most recognition this season for catching a 7-yard touchdown pass for the game’s first score in Arkansas’ 65-43 loss to Auburn on Oct. 16 in Auburn, Ala.
Though the former North Little Rock tailback is listed now at 266 pounds, Stumon still has delusions of tailback grandeur that may not be all that delusional, Davis said.
“Van thinks he’s all-world,” said Davis, smiling. “He feels like he can do anything. I think he can, though. Van is a good athlete. Period.”
Good enough that Coach Bobby Petrino has employed him as an occasional ball-carrier/receiver.
However, what Petrino most dreamed for Stumon, Davis and his offense he got against Ole Miss. His Passing Porkers finally finished after holding a lead and scored pointsrunning the ball.
It’s the finish Petrino has preached all season but hadn’t achieved. The finish was unfulfilled partly because the running game floundered early, but mainly, Petrino confessed, because he hadn’t been patient enoughto call enough runs for an opportunity to succeed.
Against Ole Miss, Petrino had the patience, the back and the blocking to conclude on the ground what commenced in the air.
“I was proud we finished the game running the ball,” Petrino said. “Knile obviously did a great job running the ball and our offensive line played well. Van Stumon, our lead blocker, blocked well and our receivers competed all game long.”
Reviewing film didn’t change his assessment other than better appreciating the performance of Alvin Bailey. The redshirt freshman from Broken Arrow, Okla., likely will be Arkansas’ bell cow offensive lineman next year like fifth-year senior Outland Trophy candidate DeMarcus Love is now.
“Alvin Bailey had his best game of the year,” Petrino said Monday. “He had some big, big blocks, some physical blocks. Overall, they played well together. The effort and the speed and that we played with toughness - we got after them pretty good.”
Good enough for the Vanderbilt Commodores to fear tough sailing Saturday night in Fayetteville should the Razorbacks start the fourth quarter running ahead.
Sports, Pages 16 on 10/27/2010