FAYETTEVILLE — Gragg makes it count
Sophomore tight end Chris Gragg hasn’t made a lot of catches in his Arkansas career, but they’ve all been big gainers and gone for first downs.
Gragg had two receptions for 54 yards against Vanderbilt on Saturday, giving him four catches for 136 yards as a Razorback.
That’s a 34.0-yard average.
Gragg’s only catch as a true freshman in 2008 was for 25 yards and set up the game-winning touchdown in the Razorbacks’ 28-27 victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
After redshirting last year because of an ankle injury, Gragg’s first catch this season was a 57-yard gain for a touchdown at Georgia.
Against Vanderbilt, Gragg had a 34-yard catch to the Commodores’ 1, setting up Arkansas’ first touchdown.
He also had a 20-yard catch.
Childs injured
Arkansas receiver Greg Childs injured his right leg with 14:50 left in the fourth quarter and had to be helped off the field.
Childs was injured after catching a pass for a 17-yard gain that gave Ryan Mallett a school-record 409 passing yards for the game.
Sweet 16
Saturday night marked the 16th time Arkansas has passed for 300 or more yards in 33 games under Coach Bobby Petrino.
Prior to Petrino’s arrival, the Razorbacks had 16 games of 300 or more passing yards. For starters
Junior defensive tackle Lavunce Askew made his first start of the season for the Razorbacks and the third of his career. He started in place of D.D. Jones, who was suspended by Coach Bobby Petrino after being arrested and charged with marijuana possession Wednesday.
Askew started against LSU in 2008 and Troy in 2009.
Junior cornerback Isaac Madison was back in the starting lineup for the Razorbacks. He started the first four games, then sophomore Darius Winston started in his place the previous four games.
Sophomore receiver Cobi Hamilton made his second career start with Joe Adams sidelined by an ankle injury.
Hamilton started at Florida last season.
Finding the zone
Arkansas senior end tight D.J. Williams and junior wide receiver Jarius Wright each caught his first touchdown pass of the season.
Williams had a 2-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter from Ryan Mallett and Wright had two touchdown catches, both covering 15 yards, in the second quarter.
They became the eighth and ninth Razorbacks with touchdown receptions this season.
Another safety
Arkansas scored its second safety this season when Jerry Franklin sacked Larry Smith, causing a fumble that was recovered by offensive tackle Wesley Johnson in the end zone when he dived on the ball.
The Razorbacks also recorded a safety in the season-opening 44-3 victory over Tennessee Tech when Franklin and Ramon Broadway tackled running back Jacqu Crawford in the end zone.
Nelson as returner
Linebacker Jerico Nelson became Arkansas’ third punt returner this season when he replaced receiver Jarius Wright in the second half after Wright temporarily left the game.
Wright - who returned later in the game - became the returner in place of Joe Adams, who was sidelined Saturday night because of an ankle injury.
Hamlin, Hillis back
Two former Razorbacks now in the NFL, safety Ken Hamlin (Baltimore Ravens) and running back Peyton Hillis (Cleveland Browns), were on the Arkansas sideline.
Baltimore and Cleveland have open dates this weekend.
Hamilton served as the Razorbacks’ honorary captain for the pregame coin toss. When Hillis was shown on the giant video screen during the break between the first and second quarters, he was cheered loudly and then led the crowd in a Hog call.
Chop, chop
Arkansas center Travis Swanson and offensive tackle Ray Dominguez were called for chop blocks, resulting in 15-yard penalties.
Fast start
It took Vanderbilt 1:48 to equal its scoring total for its previous two games.
The Commodores went 85 yards in three plays, covering 1:48, on their first possession to take a 7-0 lead.
Vanderbilt was outscored 64-7 by Georgia and South Carolina the previous two games, losing 43-0 to the Bulldogs and 21-7 to the Gamecocks.
Big return
Redshirt freshman Lance Ray had a 66-yard kickoff return, Arkansas’ longest this season, in the second quarter after the Razorbacks scored on a safety.
Ray fielded the kickoff at the Arkansas 9 and returned it to the Vanderbilt 25, setting up a touchdown that gave the Razorbacks a 29-14 lead.
Funky change
After quarterback Larry Smith directed Vanderbilt to touchdowns on its first two possessions, he was replaced by Jared Funk.
On Funk’s third snap, he was intercepted by Rudell Crim on a deflected pass and Arkansas took possession at the Commodores’ 20. The Razorbacks scored three plays later to take a 20-14 lead.
Smith returned the next series.
Sports, Pages 36 on 10/31/2010