Arkansas Online

Hogs get boost by specialists

By Tom Murphy

The University of Arkansas had one of its best special teams games in several years during Saturday’s 45-3 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

The special teams efforts were highlighted by Nathan Parodi’s 80-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter.

Additionally, kickoff man Vito Calvaruso had eight touchbacks on eight attempts, punter Reid Bauer averaged 47.3 yards on three kicks and Cam Little made his only field goal try, a 31-yarder in the second quarter, and went 6 for 6 on PATs.

Calvaruso improved his touchback percentage to 86.3%.

Multiple Razorbacks had big blocks on the big scoring return, on which Parodi made the catch on the 20, started left near the UAPB sideline, then cut back across the field and got to the Razorback sideline at the UAPB 12 to finish the play.

LaDarrius Bishop had a good block at the start of the return and Jashaud Stewart had the most critical one. Stewart showed good lateral movement by reversing field on the Arkansas 36, sprinting ahead of Parodi and pulling off a pancake block on Torrence Bardell after a lengthy engagement around the Hogs’ 40.

Defensive back Nick Turner did a good job late in the return by screening off a defender and not drawing a block in the back call on the punter Josh Sanchez, whose desperation leap managed to swipe the back of Parodi’s cleat at about the 6 before he scampered into the end zone.

Parodi had 3 returns for 114 yards and even had a 33yard return wiped out by a penalty.

Coach Sam Pittman said special teams coordinator Scott Fountain noticed a differential between hang time and distance on UAPB punts that might give Arkansas a shot at returns for one of the first times this season.

College Football

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2021-10-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://edition.arkansasonline.com/article/282784949679846

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