Austin Allen overcomes first-game follies

FAYETTEVILLE -- Austin Allen's debut as Arkansas' starting quarterback got off to a rocky start Saturday, but it had a happy ending for the Razorbacks.

After Allen threw two interceptions in the first half that led to two touchdowns for Louisiana Tech, he directed a 13-play, 77-yard drive capped by his 4-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle. The fourth-quarter touchdown and extra point proved to be the winning margin in the Razorbacks' 21-20 victory.

"I think Austin played pretty good," Arkansas senior receiver Keon Hatcher said. "He made a couple mistakes, but at the end, he came through.

"That's what matters. Each week, he's going to get better."

Sprinkle faked a block on his touchdown play, then ran a drag route across the end zone and hauled in Allen's pass with 6:37 left to erase the Bulldogs' 20-14 lead.

"We've been practicing that play all week," Allen said. "Everyone knew what they were doing. Sprink did it perfectly, and it worked out for us."

Allen, a redshirt junior from Fayetteville, completed 20 of 29 passes for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns.

"I think it was probably a classic first start," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said. "I really liked his preparation."

Allen was part of Bielema's first recruiting class.

"I've known Austin for as long as I've been in town," Bielema said. "I met him, I think, two days after I got the job and loved his demeanor, loved his approach.

"I think he's got a perfect quarterback mentality ... that really allows a guy to feel a little bit of frustration, but still have success."

Allen's interceptions in the first half were by safety Xavier Woods on third and 18 and by cornerback Prince Sam on a second and 17.

"It was just dumb plays by me," Allen said. "I tried to force a ball on both of them. I learned from it and won't do that again."

Arkansas tailback Rawleigh Williams said Allen was upbeat at halftime despite his struggles.

"Austin doesn't let a lot of things get to him," Williams said. "At halftime he said, 'I'm good.'

"He was the first guy pumping up everybody else. He knows he's the leader of this team and regardless of how he's playing, he needs to have a lot of faith in the guys around him."

Allen was sacked four times and hit on numerous plays by the Bulldogs.

"It didn't bother me at all," Allen said. "I was expecting it, and I was ready for it. I thought it was fun."

Allen replaced his brother, Brandon, as Arkansas' starting quarterback.

Brandon Allen, a three-year starter for the Razorbacks, is now a rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"Brandon just texted me saying, 'Take as many wins as you can, believe me,' " Allen said. "We found a way, but we've got to play better."

Williams said the Razorbacks can help Allen grow as a quarterback by making more plays around him.

"I thought he handled the first-game unknowns very well," Williams said. "He led us to a win and did what he had to do.

"I've got a lot of confidence in that guy, and I know that if we can make the job easier for him, he'll play even better."

Sports on 09/04/2016