FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas senior quarterback Tyler Wilson posted gaudy statistics during Saturday’s Red-White spring scrimmage at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The numbers posted by Arkansas fans might have been more impressive.
Wilson passed for 467 yards, 404 in the first half, and 2 touchdowns to lead the Red team to a 65-0 victory in front of an estimated crowd of 45,250, the largest to attend Arkansas’ annual intrasquad spring scrimmage.
The turnout was interpreted as a massive show of support for the Razorbacks, who were making their first major outing since the April 10 firing of Coach Bobby Petrino.
“It almost choked me up a little bit walking out there, because I’m like, ‘These guys are still in it,’ ” Wilson said of the fans.
“I got chills when they told me that was the count,” Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said as the game wound down.
The Red team was stacked with the starting units on offense and defense, as well as some second-team players, and they asserted their dominance from the outset.
The defensive starters gave up eight first downs and 126 total yards. They allowed no first downs in the first quarter while the Red was building a 20-0 lead.
“You were hoping they would dominate, and that’s what happened,” defensive coordinator Paul Haynes said.
The coaching staff’s newest member, acting head coach Taver Johnson, led the Razorbacks onto the field on a crystal clear spring afternoon with temperatures in the low 60s.
“It was amazing to run out of the A the very first time, period, let alone right next to Knile Davis,” said Johnson, who did some coaching on both sidelines and in the backfield. “It was very exciting. It was one of those things I’ll never forget.”
Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino called the plays for both teams and gave himself a passing grade.
“I had a couple that weren’t maybe as good as they should have been, but I felt comfortable,” Petrino said. “I felt confident. ... You just kind of get into a flow. You get a good feel for what you feel like guys do well.”
Wilson, a senior from Greenwood, completed 26 of 34 passes for 404 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half, leading the first offense to five touchdowns and a field goal on seven possessions.
He led a final touchdown drive in his only series of the third quarter, a 77-yard march that ended on Ronnie Wingo’s 11-yard scoring run.
Wilson finished 31 of 41 for 467 yards. He did not throw an interception in four spring scrimmages.
“If there was one word to describe my spring, I was in control,” Wilson said. “I think we got better over the spring. That’s all you can ask for.”
Three Razorbacks exceeded 100 yards receiving, led by Cobi Hamilton’s 11 catches for 156 yards. Hamilton had a 27-yard catch on fourth-and-11 at the White 47 on the Red’s first possession and six catches for 66 yards during the first two drives.
“I know I’m going to be the guy on third down and come in and make plays. That’s my job,” Hamilton said.
Tight end Chris Gragg had 9 receptions for 130 yards, caught 2 touchdown passes and had another potential scoring pass, thrown hard and slightly behind him by Wilson, glance off his hands in the end zone.
“Just going out there and performing like that and having a good performance in front of your fans, who have been wanting to see us on the field,” Gragg said, “it gives a good feeling to us, and I bet the fans, too.”
Ronnie Wingo had 14 carries for 88 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead all rushers, while Dennis Johnson ran 12 times for 71 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Red team piled up 698 total yards, including 163 on the ground. The starters averaged 6.0 yards per carry.
Reserve quarterbacks Brandon Mitchell and Brandon Allen didn’t move the ball much with the White team against the first defense in the first half. But they moved to the Red team and had success against the reserves in the second half.
Mitchell led the Red offense 63 yards in his first series with it, connecting with Marquel Wade for a 15-yard touchdown. Mitchell also scored on a 4-yard keeper with 5:35 remaining to complete the scoring. His combined passing stats were 11 of 17 for 102 yards and 1 touchdown.
Allen, a redshirt freshman, engineered a 25-yard touchdown drive, following Jerry Mitchell’s 9-yard fumble return, on his first try with the Red. Allen hooked up with Julian Horton for a 13-yard touchdown play on a slant route.
Allen combined to go 9 of 18 for 66 yards and 1 score.
Cornerback Kaelon Kelleybrew set up the final scoring drive with an interception and 44-yard return of a Brian Buehner pass.
Sports, Pages 23 on 04/22/2012