TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas wasn’t the only team that entered Saturday’s game at Bryant-Denny Stadium hearing grumbles about its passing offense.

Alabama and junior quarterback John Parker Wilson had been solid but less than spectacular while opening the season with easy victories over Western Carolina and Vanderbilt. The fact Wilson hadn’t thrown a touchdown pass was particularly upsetting to the Crimson Tide faithful.

For one night, at least, Wilson silenced his critics, completing 24 of 45 passes for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns, including the game-winner with eight seconds to play in a stirring 41-38 victory over Arkansas.

Wilson also threw two interceptions that led to 10 Arkansas points, but his heroics in the final 2: 00 of play prompted a raucous celebration.

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Wilson completed 7 of 9 passes for 51 yards during the 73-yard, game-winning drive.

The last pass was a 4-yarder to senior Matt Caddell in the back corner of the end zone. Caddell didn’t have a catch in Alabama’s first two games, but he made nine for 91 yards against Arkansas. That total included four grabs for 41 yards on the final drive.

“People made plays,” Alabama Coach Nick Saban said. “Caddell made plays, John Parker made good throws, and our offensive line gave us time by picking up the blitz.”

Wilson was able to find soft spots in Arkansas’ coverage early in the drive, then delivered some quick strikes at the end as the Razorbacks began blitzing on each play. That was the case on the scoring pass to Caddell, too.

“We knew on the snap of the ball they were coming, it was man coverage, [Caddell ] got a good release, and I just gave him a ball outside that he could make a play on, and he did,” Wilson said. “He made a great play.”

Caddell leaped into the air and caught the pass over cornerback Jamar Love, who was in position but was unable to turn around and locate the ball as it floated towards Caddell.

“I looked at the pylon, I knew where I had to get, and [Wilson ] had faith in me and threw up a good ball where I could make a play on it,” Caddell said. “It was a great play.”

Alabama also benefited from two pass interference penalties against strong safety Kevin Woods. The second came on a third-and-9 play from the Arkansas 25-yard line and drew protests from several Razorbacks defenders.

The contact between Woods and Alabama wideout Keith Brown appeared to be minimal, but the Tide was happy to have the chance to capitalize.

“When you get a pass interference [call ] like that, you’ve got to take advantage of it,” Wilson said.

Wilson did just that three plays later, capping a two-minute drive during which Alabama was able to move efficiently down the field without a hint of panic.

“Our team has done a really good job in two-minute [offense ],” Saban said. “We practice it a lot.”

Wilson said the practice gave the Alabama offense a sense of confidence when it took the field, despite the fact it was operating without a timeout.

“We practice it every week, we practice it in the summer, we practice it in the spring,” Wilson said. “We did good with it in practice this week, and I think it paid off. Guys have to keep their composure in that situation, and I think they did.”

None kept their composure more than Caddell, who possesses skills Saban said are invaluable in such situations.

“He’s a really good slot receiver,” Saban said. “He’s a good matchup on a slot defender.... He’s quick in and out of breaks, he separated and made a lot of possession-type catches.”

The last one put an end to any grumbling about Alabama’s passing game, at least for now.