Arkansas picked up a big win against Tulsa on Saturday night. Surprisingly, it was the defense and special teams that led the way in the second half. Arkansas didn’t allow a touchdown in the second half and scored the game-winning touchdown on Dennis Johnson’s 96-yard kickoff return.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here’s how the five keys went:

1. Pick Up the Blitz: Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick nearly set the school record for passing yards. A good chunk of that has to be given to the offensive line, which did give him some time. However, Dick was sacked three times to add to Arkansas’ growing total. But I’ll say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

2. Take Away the Run: Tulsa rushed for 184 yards against the Razorbacks, leaning on their misdirection to slip through holes. At one point, the Golden Hurricane ran the ball play after play and seemed to be wearing down the Hogs. But Tulsa couldn’t run the ball when it mattered most at the end of the game. Arkansas stuffed the Golden Hurricane inside their 10 to win the game so MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

3. Get Long, Successful Drives: The Razorbacks opened the game with an 80-yard drive. They added a 65-yarder a little later and were dominating time of possession in the first half. The offense had a 13-play drive in the third quarter, too, which led to a field goal. But there is a problem. Arkansas got into Tulsa’s red zone seven times. It scored five times. Only two were field goals. So MISSION SOMEWHAT ACCOMPLISHED

4. Put Pressure on Johnson: Arkansas attacked right out of the gates to set the tone. Tulsa’s quarterback was sacked on the first two plays from scrimmage. The Razorbacks didn’t get to him much after the first series and finished with three sacks, but it was an important start. So MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

5. Make Plays on Special Team: Finally, Arkansas had something positive happen on special teams. Dennis Johnson’s 96-yard kick return was the play of the game. Alex Tejada took advantage of his second chance, hitting three field goals and three extra points. The only blemish was Tulsa’s 81-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. But it’s not enough to ruin their score. So MISSION ACCOMPLISHED