Fight breaks out during Arkansas-Missouri rivalry, multiple players ejected
Emotions are running high during rivalry week, and that led to Arkansas and Missouri players getting in a fight during the second quarter of Friday afternoon’s game.
The matchup was already chippy, before Missouri offensive lineman Cam’Ron Johnson threw down Arkansas defensive lineman Zach Williams and was still going after him away from the play.
Arkansas defensive lineman John Morgan then rushed in and shoved Johnson, leading to punches being thrown and helmets being ripped off. You can watch the play unfold below.
The two teams were eventually separated but not before Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou and Arkansas defensive lineman Eric Gregory and Williams were ejected.
Both teams were already heated, even before the fight broke out. Moments earlier, Missouri quarterback Brady Cook scrambled and took a late hit. That led to some pushing and shoving on the sideline. Soon after that play, things really escalated, leading to a fight and ejections.
CBS sideline reporter Amanda Guerra shared a few minutes after the fight broke out that Missouri fans and Arkansas players were getting into it on the sideline.
“Things are only now starting to calm down after that last touchdown,” Guerra said. “As players came over, things started to get chippy between not just [Missouri] players and Arkansas but with also the fans.
It doesn’t help that they’re right in front of the student section. Coaches immediately pulled the players, made them sit down and said, ‘No more. Calm down right now. We’re not doing this anymore.'”
Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz on 1st half fights, ejections vs. Arkansas: ‘We gotta control our emotions’
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz was displeased with his team, despite a 20-0 halftime lead.
While clearly upset with his team losing its collective cool, the coach also seemed frustrated with that carrying over into a lack of offensive execution. Drinkwitz left the impression that Missouri could’ve — should’ve — scored more in the first half, from his point of view.
“We gotta control our emotions and execute better in the red zone. Bottom line is we’re not doing what we need to do offensively to score touchdowns. And that’s going to be my key message to us at halftime,” Drinkwitz said.
It was the Cody Schrader show on offense for much of the first half for the Tigers, as the tailback carried more than 20 times for nearly 200 yards. He also tacked on a touchdown. But with only one other touchdown and a pair of drives that stalled out for field goals, Drinkwitz was left wanting more from the entire operation as the second half plays out.