Gamecocks don't bite, wrap up wraparound

ROBERT TURBEVILLE
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Arkansas rolled the dice early by running a play it used the last time it won on the road in the SEC. Only this time, it had the opposite effect.
Facing fourth-and-6 at South Carolina's 33-yard line early in the second quarter, Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt called 80 Wrap Right, a wraparound draw to fullback Rod Stinson.
The Razorbacks hadn't used the play in its previous five games, so the Gamecocks wouldn't have picked up on it by watching film. Plus Eric Branch scored on the same play in a 24-21 victory against Auburn in 1998.
"They probably thought they would catch us off guard, catch us looking for a quick hitch or a slant or something like that," South Carolina safety Jonathan Martin said.
It didn't happen. Instead of the young Razorbacks gaining confidence and possibly the lead, Cecil Caldwell and Willie Offord stuffed the play for no gain. South Carolina scored a touchdown 58 seconds later, and it added another touchdown on its next possession for a 13-0 lead at halftime.
"That was a crucial play," Arkansas center Josh Melton said. "I'd call that the turning moment in the game."
The Razorbacks looked all but out of the game then, and South Carolina finished off Arkansas in the second half in a 27-7 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium.
"What made it tough is they made it look pretty easy once they scored," Nutt said. "But I would run it again. I think if we stay on one block, I think we're going to hit."
Arkansas didn't have much choice but to go for it. The 33 is considered too close to punt, and a 50-yard field goal would have been out of freshman Brennan O'Donohoe's range.
Still, Nutt was asked if he considered field position and punting.
"Probably just a little bit," he said.
Instead, the Razorbacks lined up in the I-formation with two receivers to the right and the tight end lined up left. Quarterback Robby Hampton took the snap and faked a handoff to his right to Stinson. Then as Hampton rolled right, he paused behind Stinson, reached around his waist and handed the ball off.
The left side of the line pass blocked, and the weakside linebacker bit on the pass fake.
Stinson would have had room to run if not for Caldwell, a defensive end who slanted across right tackle Gary Hobbs' face and grabbed Stinson's legs. Before Stinson could break free, Offord, a strong safety who stayed home instead of biting on the pass fake, made contact helmet on helmet, knocking Stinson back and dragging him to the ground.
"They played it well," Stinson said. "[Caldwell] slipped off, and he grabbed my leg and just stopped it."
South Carolina looked in control after that, taking over with 14:46 left in the half. Phil Petty completed three consecutive passes, the last of which was a 23-yard touchdown pass to Brian Scott.
The Razorbacks had chances to score more than their one touchdown in the second half, albeit not many.
"When you make big plays like that and stop the offense, that takes a big breath out of any team," Martin said, "and I think that's what we did."

This article was published on Sunday, October 15, 2000

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