FAYETTEVILLE — There were laughs all around after the game.

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino cracked a smile when asked about the numerous freshmen who played in the Razorbacks ’ 28-24 victory against Western Illinois on Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The Razorbacks started five true freshmen and 13 saw action in the game.

It didn’t start well for the youngsters. Elton Ford, who started at free safety, fumbled the opening kickoff.

Fortunately, things got better for the Razorbacks.

“There were downs and ups, downs first starting with the opening kickoff,” Petrino said. “There were a lot of young guys out there.” One of Ford’s fellow freshmen helped bail out Ford. Jelani Smith, who started at weakside linebacker, forced a fumble on Western Illinois’ first possession that the Leathernecks recovered.

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When the Leathernecks bungled their field-goal attempt, Smith chased down holder Mike McEachern and forced an incompletion.

The defense struggled, though, stopping Western Illinois running back Herb Donaldson, who rushed for 157 yards on 35 carries. Ford finished with four tackles, while Smith had three and linebacker Jerico Nelson had the team’s only sack.

The Razorbacks’ leading tacklers, linebacker Jerry Franklin and safety Matt Harris, made a combined 18 tackles. Both are redshirt freshmen.

Running back Dennis Johnson and receiver Jarius Wright earned starting nods as true freshmen on offense. Johnson started in place of Michael Smith, who was suspended.

Johnson carried six times for 18 yards. Another true freshman, De’Anthony Curtis, carried six times for 36 yards as the Razorbacks struggled to run the ball against the Leathernecks.

The lack of a running game presented numerous opportunities for the Razorbacks’ freshman wide receivers. Wright started but Greg Childs and Joe Adams saw plenty of playing time and each caught touchdown passes.

Childs’ 26-yard touchdown reception came shortly after he dropped a pass that would have given Arkansas a first down. He finished with six receptions for 88 yards, both game highs.

Adams caught three passes for 32 yards, and Curtis had three receptions for 32 yards. Wright didn’t catch a pass.

Childs said he didn’t feel butterflies before his debut, even with a crowd of more than 70, 000.

“I wasn’t really nervous,” Childs said. “I don’t know why. I saw the crowd, and it felt like home.” Adams said something similar.

“It’s a lot of people vs. what we had in high school,” Adams said. “We didn’t have this many people in the crowd. When we came in, we just all stepped up. It’s the start to a good season.” On Arkansas’ first-half 81-yard scoring drive, freshmen contributed to 51 yards. Quarterback Casey Dick finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Adams.

The pass was intended for Childs deep in the end zone, but Adams cut in front and snagged the pass out of the air. Petrino said all the coaches had been watching Childs break open in the end zone and joked that Adams stole the touchdown.

“Casey threw it and I didn’t know who he threw it to,” Adams said. “Coach told me to attack the ball, so I went and got it. I didn’t know Greg was behind me.” Childs had what could have been a costly drop in the third quarter when he let a pass from Dick go through his hands. Dick went right back to Childs for a first down and then a second time for the touchdown.

“Those guys are going to be able to make big plays for us,” Dick said. “You have to go back to them.”