Razorbacks struggled to recover from '05 loss to Vandy

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas had about a half-dozen chances to put the game away.<br> <br> All Jay Cutler needed was one.<br> <br> The Razorbacks hosted Vanderbilt last September in the second week of the season, and at that point, both teams were brimming with optimism. Arkansas was coming off a blowout win in its season opener. The Commodores? They were 1-0, also, and not used to such a lengthy undefeated run.<br> <br> Then Vanderbilt shocked the Razorbacks 28-24, and the two teams headed in opposite directions.<br> <br> ``That was tough, awfully tough,&#39;&#39; Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said this week. ``Wasted opportunities game which we really felt we were going to win. ... But then again, you&#39;ve got to give it to Jay Cutler.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Cutler threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes the second was the game-winner with 26 seconds left and the Razorbacks never really recovered. Arkansas lost 70-17 at Southern California the following week and finished a disappointing 4-7.<br> <br> Vanderbilt, on the other hand, went on to a 4-0 start. The Commodores ended up 5-6, but that was a big improvement after four straight two-win seasons.<br> <br> This Saturday, Vanderbilt hosts Arkansas, and Commodores fullback Steven Bright remembers how important last year&#39;s game against the Razorbacks was.<br> <br> ``It helped our season out so much last season to go down there and get a win,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Until the very end, it never seemed like Arkansas would lose. The Razorbacks led 10-0 and 24-13 and that was with Darren McFadden spending much of the game on the sideline. McFadden rushed for 1,113 yards last year, but this was early in the season, and the freshman hadn&#39;t yet had a chance to emerge.<br> <br> McFadden says it was hard to sit and watch.<br> <br> ``But I understood the concept of the coaches not wanting to play freshmen that early in the year, especially in a conference game like that,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> The Razorbacks outgained Vanderbilt 200-10 in the first quarter and led by all of seven points when it was over. The key series came late in the period. Arkansas had first-and-goal from the 3, but the Commodores stopped Peyton Hillis on four straight runs.<br> <br> That sequence foreshadowed the Razorbacks&#39; season-long struggles in short-yardage situations. And in the short term, it let Vanderbilt off the hook, the Commodores rallied to take a 13-10 lead in the third quarter.<br> <br> Arkansas scored two straight touchdowns, but Cutler found Marlon White to make it 24-21. The Razorbacks caught a break when Bryant Hahnfeldt missed a 43-yard field goal that would have tied it, but the reprieve was short-lived.<br> <br> Arkansas used only 24 seconds before punting, and Cutler still had 2:22 remaining when he went back out on the field.<br> <br> Vanderbilt faced fourth-and-10 from its own 34, and Cutler found Erik Davis for 19 yards. A few plays later, the Commodores were in the red zone. Then a pass interference call on Randy Kelly put the ball at the Arkansas 6, and Cutler found White for a touchdown on the next play.<br> <br> Suddenly, Vanderbilt was 2-0 for the first time since 1988.<br> <br> This year, the teams again meet early in the season. Arkansas (1-1) hopes to build momentum with a win to start its Southeastern Conference schedule, and the Razorbacks say they&#39;ve improved since last year. Arkansas has a new quarterback freshman Mitch Mustain and a slew of returning starters on both sides of the ball.<br> <br> Oh, and don&#39;t expect to see McFadden on the bench this time.<br> <br> ``I was hoping to be able to talk Houston into doing that again, but I doubt he&#39;ll do that,&#39;&#39; Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said.<br> <br> The Commodores are trying to prove they&#39;re still dangerous even though Cutler has moved on to the NFL. They lost at No. 11 Michigan in their opener, then 13-10 at Alabama last week.<br> <br> Will the Arkansas game again be a springboard for Vanderbilt?<br> <br> ``If we got a win here at home,&#39;&#39; Bright said. ``It could hopefully be the start of a lot of wins in a row.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)