Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon (4) gets past Arkansas defenders linebackers Martrell Spaight (47), Braylon Mitchell (34) and Brooks Ellis (51) in their game in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014.FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – This time, Alabama found a way to overcome its turnover struggles on the road.
Blake Sims threw two touchdown passes and No. 7 Alabama narrowly avoided its second straight Southeastern Conference loss with a 14-13 victory at Arkansas on Saturday night.
The Crimson Tide (5-1, 2-1), a week after a 23-17 loss at Mississippi, struggled for much of the game — fumbling four times.
However, despite being outgained 335-227, Sims put Alabama up with a 6-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.
Alabama hasn’t lost two straight SEC games since the 2007 season, Nick Saban’s first year as coach.
The loss is the 15th straight in SEC play for the Razorbacks (3-3, 0-3), who have yet to win a conference game under second-year coach Bret Bielema.
Brandon Allen was 21-of-40 for 246 yards for Arkansas. Sims completed 11 of 21 for 161 yards for the Crimson Tide, including a 22-yard pass to T.J. Yeldon in the second quarter.
The Razorbacks lost by identical 52-0 scores to Alabama in each of the past two seasons, but they outplayed the Crimson Tide for much of the game Saturday — outgaining Alabama 300-145 through three quarters.
Despite a pair of lost first-half fumbles, including one by running back Kody Walker inches before he crossed the goal line for a touchdown, Arkansas took a 13-7 lead in the third quarter when Allen connected with tight end A.J. Derby for a 54-yard touchdown.
Sims rallied the Crimson Tide early in the fourth quarter, rolling out to the right before looking back to the middle of the end zone and finding a wide open DeAndrew White for a 6-yard touchdown. Adam Griffith’s extra point put Alabama up 14-13, a lead that the Crimson Tide defense held.
The win is Alabama’s eighth in a row against Arkansas.
The Razorbacks, who entered the game leading the SEC in rushing with an average of 316.6 yards on the ground per game, had 84 yards rushing in the first half — sparked by 78 yards on 16 carries from junior Jonathan Williams.
However, led by linebacker Reggie Ragland’s 12 tackles, the Tide held Arkansas to 5 yards rushing on 13 attempts in the second half.
Landon Collins sealed the win for Alabama when he intercepted Allen near midfield with 1:59 remaining.
Arkansas had a pair of kicking miscues in the first half, a high snap that kept a 43-yard field goal from being attempted and a blocked extra point by Jonathan Allen.