FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden ran for 151 yards and a touchdown, threw a 42-yard touchdown pass, caught 2 passes and returned a kickoff.

His favorite contribution to the Razorbacks’ 46-26 victory over Troy ?

A block.

McFadden leveled Troy defensive back Trevor Ford in the middle of the field in the second quarter Saturday, springing Felix Jones on a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and McFadden couldn’t stop smiling when he thought of the play after the game.

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“It was real fun seeing that guy’s legs go up in the air and seeing Felix run right by him,” McFadden said. “That was the best play, by far. The kickoff return, by far.”

Ford and his teammates were watching Razorbacks run past them much of the night.

Arkansas rushed for 350 yards, with Jones going for 129 on 12 carries and Michael Smith gaining 59 yards on 8 carries as the Razorbacks pounded through their season-opener.

Entering this season, there was some concern among Arkansas fans that the Razorbacks’ weak non-conference schedule might hurt McFadden’s Heisman Trophy chances. The theory held that with Arkansas up big in the second half of such games, McFadden’s playing time would be restricted and his numbers would suffer.

There was no need to worry about taking McFadden out too soon Saturday — he was needed throughout most of the game, and he put up plenty of numbers.

But it was Jones who provided the highlights Saturday night, scoring on the kickoff return and a 44-yard dash down the right sideline.

McFadden’s longest run was 25 yards.

“I try to let the game come to me,” McFadden said. “I don’t want to go out there and force things and make a lot of different mistakes. There wasn’t a long run tonight, but they’ll be sure to come throughout the year.”

There wasn’t much evidence of the vaunted WildHog formation, either. Arkansas put McFadden at quarterback eight times, and while McFadden’s touchdown pass to Crosby Tuck came out of the formation, the other seven plays accounted for only 20 yards.

New Arkansas running backs coach Tim Horton said to be patient, that the WildHog will be worked in depending on how teams defend it week to week.

“With the [WildHog ] package, sometimes, the expectation level is so high for those kids that if they don’t get 60-yard runs every time they touch it, some people are disappointed,” Horton said. “The expectation level isn’t a reality level.”

The Razorbacks’ reality appears to be that McFadden and Jones will need to put up numbers for Arkansas’ offense to work.

The passing game provided no threat, with Casey Dick completing 11 safe passes for 108 yards. The Razorbacks, as they did last season, relied on their ground game.

“I feel our passing game will get better,” Jones said. “Me and Darren can’t win games by ourselves. We’re going to get better at the passing game. It’s just going to take time.”

McFadden’s pass found a wideopen Tuck in the middle of the field. McFadden threw the ball back across his body and completed the longest attempt of his career.

It appeared McFadden had a chance to throw another touchdown pass in the third quarter when he pump-faked to a wideopen London Crawford in the end zone.

But much like the entire game, McFadden was content to do what was necessary to beat Troy, not make highlight reels. He kept the ball and ran 10 yards for a first down.

“It was fourth-and-1, and I had the first down,” McFadden said. “I was just trying to keep the drive going and keep the clock moving by staying in bounds. We don’t need more than that.”

The Razorbacks players and coaches said they know they have the running game to win ballgames.

“Those other things will come,” McFadden said.