Hogs dominate Bears in season debut

Hogs set school record with 447 yards passing in single game

Posted: September 6, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.

Andy Shupe
Arkansas sophomore Dennis Johnson returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown during the Hogs' 48-10 win Saturday over Missouri State at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

• Print item
• E-mail
• Share
• Tweet

LITTLE ROCK — Aside from the season's first game, Arkansas Razorbacks fans saw another first Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium.

A full house 55,572 saw the first double-digit victory of the Bobby Petrino Arkansas era.

After a 5-7 2008 season with with the five won by seven points or less including 28-24 and 28-27 escapes over underdogs Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monore, second-year coach Petrino's Razorbacks finally beat the dog out of an underdog.

They beat the Missouri State Bears, 48-10. And they did so with quarterbacks Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson combining to set a UA single game passing record 447 yards.

"We came down here," Petrino said, "and did what we were supposed to do."

Third-year sophomore starter transfer Ryan Mallett's debut started completing 17 of 22 for 309 yards and a touchdown without an interception.

Second-year freshman backup Tyler Wilson completed 13 of 19 for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns versus an interception.

Sophomore Jarius Wright of Warren led a prolific receiving corps with six catches for 139 yards, including a 58-yard bomb from Mallett plus a spectacular one-handed grab setting up Arkansas' third touchdown drive.

From the opening kickoff that Arkansas' Dennis Johnson returned for a 91-yard touchdown, the Razorbacks dominated Missouri State, leading 31-10 at half with a 28-3 first quarter.

Freed by a block by fellow former Texarkana Razorback Brandon Barnett, Johnson opened what quickly became a 10-0 lead, and quarterback Mallett completing his first nine passes in the debut Arkansas start.

Johnson's TD kickoff return, Petrino remarked, was a stark contrast to the Hogs fumbling the opening kickoff in last year's season opener it won at the last from Western Illinois, an underdog Missouri Valley Conference lodge brother of Missouri State.

"Starting with a kickoff return for a touchdown," Petrino said, "is a good way to start the season. We might have got a way with a hold on the kickoff return but we definitely did a good job of blocking it and Dennis showed his speed. We are a much more mature football team than a year ago. And it showed up in the game."

Arkansas senior middle linebacker Wendel Davis' interception of MSU quarterback Cody Kirby's pass set former University of Michigan quarterback Mallett up at the Bears' 46 for his first Razorbacks possession.

Mallett impressed early, rolling out to escape a Bears rush with a second-and-1, 16-yard pass to senior running back Michael Smith. Smith scored on a 16-yard touchdown run for Arkansas' 14-0 lead at 8:37.

Arkansas' defense yielded its first points only because MSU's Matt Hottelman has a super strong leg. The senior kicked a career long 53-yarder after Arkansas forced a fourth-and-11 at the Razorbacks' 36.

"Defensively we are much better than a year ago," Petrino said. "More physical and running to the ball."

The Bears were down 28-3 when they took it took it to Arkansas' defense with a 10-play, 53-yard drive capped by running back Jonathan Davis' 2-yard touchdown with 2:11 left in the half after a pass interference in the end zone called on Arkansas freshman cornerback David Gordon.

Mallett responded with a 10-play, 77-yard drive capped by Alex Tejada's 20-yard field goal for the 31-10 lead with 14 seconds left in the half.

Broderick Green, the big back transfer from the University of Southern Califiornia, scored Arkansas' third touchdown on a 1-yard run but was squelched on two later first-half goalline series.

Backup quarterback Tyler Wilson, taking the Hogs 83 yards in 16 plays, threw a 2-yard, fourth-down TD pass to fullback Van Stumon after three Green carries starting at the five.

Tejada kicked his 20-yard field goal after a Green no gain and Green minus-one from the 2 preceded Mallett's incomplete pass.

Arkansas cornerback-special teamer Ramon Broadway saved the Hogs when Hogs' return man Joe Adams fumbled the lone punt of the first half.

Also Tejada two times kicked off out of bounds including to start the second half launching a MSU drive from its 40 not stopped until free safety Tramain Thomas intercepted a Kirby pass at the one.

Arkansas took it 99 yards the other way capping the seven-play drive on Mallett's 40-yard TD pass to Adams on a wide receiver screen for a 38-10 lead at 11:13 of the third quarter that Tejada's 24-yard field goal increased to 41-10 at 6:09.

Wilson threw his second TD, a 1-yard toss to freshman receiver Cobi Hamilton, to finish a 10-play, 78-yard drive with 9:55 left in the game.

On only four carries, Michael Smith tallied 43 yards for an Arkansas rushing attack led by freshman tailback Ronnie Wingo's 50 yards on eight totes.

Petrino prefers a more balanced run to pass ratio but said Missouri State crowding nine near compelled him to call 41 passes.

"I made a comment to the guys in the booth," Petrino said, "I feel like I am calling a pass on every first down. The key was the protection. He had time and he had room. I liked Ryan's demeanor, and it was nice to get Tyler Wilson in. I liked our protection and accuracy."

One bad bit of bad news for the Razorbacks as they start a bye week before their Sept. 19 SEC opener with Georgia, senior wide receiver London Crawford perhaps suffered a fractured clavicle.

Crawford will be X-rayed today, Petrino said.

Backup safety Elton Ford did not dress out because of an ankle injury, and Petrino said he withheld second-team offensive guard Alvin Bailey because he might redshirt the true freshman.

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.