ARKANSAS 46, TROY 26 : Off and running

BY TOM MURPHY

Posted on Sunday, September 2, 2007

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/200267/

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas easily stiff-armed Troy’s upset bid on Saturday night, thanks to an object lesson courtesy of the Michigan Wolverines earlier in the day and a lot of romping from the dynamic duo of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

A crowd of 73, 926, the seventhlargest in Reynolds Razorback Stadium history, watched No. 21 Arkansas pull away in the second half, bludgeoning its visitors with 350 rushing yards in a 46-26 victory.

A field goal on the final play of the first half allowed Troy (0-1 ) to pull within 23-17, but McFadden and Jones spurred two quick-strike touchdowns midway through the second half and combined for 280 rushing yards for the Razorbacks.

Appalachian State’s 34-32 upset of No. 5 Michigan earlier in the day served as the perfect red flag for an Arkansas team that was picked as an upset victim by at least one national writer heading into the game.

“We beat a good team, ’’ Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said. “ This is a championship team that went to a bowl game and won it.

“ When that score came up today, that sent a real signal. That put a lot of emphasis on, ‘Hey, let’s take care of business.’ You can’t flop around. ’’

Freshman kicker Alex Tejada posted the first six points of Arkansas’ season, cashing in field goals from 35 and 23 yards in the first quarter.

McFadden powered around a block from pulling guard Mitch Petrus to score from 12 yards out on the first play of the second quarter to make it 13-0. Then, after Troy drove 69 yards for a touchdown with the aid of a pass interference call and a 28-yard strike from Omar Haugabook to Gary Banks, Jones rocked the house.

Jones, a junior from Tulsa, returned the kick 90 yards, helped by a Kevin Woods block and Mc-Fadden’s wipeout block of Trevor Ford, to snatch back the momentum and put the Hogs ahead 20-7.

“ I think Felix’s play probably changed the game, ’’ Nutt said.

McFadden and Jones accounted for four touchdowns. McFadden ran for 151 yards and a score and threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to true freshman Crosby Tuck out of the WildHog package.

“ I feel as though I played a good game tonight, but there are better performances to come, ’’ McFadden said.

Jones ran 12 times for 129 yards and a touchdown and racked up 287 allpurpose yards. McFadden and Jones combined for 487 all-purpose yards and each rushed for more than 100 yards in the same game for the fifth time in their careers.

“ You take those two cats out of the game and we’re in the game, ’’ Troy Coach Larry Blakeney said.

“ They did what they’re supposed to do, ’’ Troy linebacker Marcus Richardson said. “ They showed up.”

Tejada proved to be worth his scholarship in his college debut, nailing all four of his field-goal attempts and scoring 16 points. The Springdale product was not perfect, however, misfiring on his fifth and final extra-point try.

Arkansas had its cleat on Troy’s throat with lightning-bolt touchdowns 76 seconds apart in the third quarter to take a 37-17 lead. The Hogs forced a punt late in the period, but Michael Smith fumbled the punt and momentum away. The Trojans cashed in for a 32-yard field goal by Greg Whibbs, Troy’s only second-half scoring until a touchdown on the last snap of the game.

The Razorbacks’ remodeled offensive line debuted well, paving the way for 507 yards total offense and a statistical crushing for the Hogs.

“ The offensive line was key in our success on the ground tonight, and we found a lot that we can build upon, ’’ Jones said. The Razorbacks’ passing game started off the new season much like it finished 2006, with minimal production and only a handful of throws aimed at its wide receivers. Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick, getting the first season-opening start of his career, was not sharp. The junior hit 11 of 20 for 108 yards and was not sacked, but had throws sail high on occasion. The Trojans, led by quarterback Omar Haugabook, stayed in contact by smoothing out the rough edges of their no-huddle, spread attack midway through the first half. The Trojans went 69 and 83 yards for scores midway in the second quarter to pull within 20-14.

But the Razorbacks came with more defensive pressure in the second half, throwing Haugabook way off his game. The senior misfired on 12 of 13 passes in one stretch of the second half and came out with a hand injury in the fourth quarter after hitting 14 of 43 passes for 209 yards and one score.

Haugabook’s passing and running almost amounted to a one-man show for the Trojans, and once the Razorbacks got him rattled the visitors were done.