By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@akransasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — The first quarter of the season opener didn’t include the offensive fireworks Arkansas fans were expecting to see as they settled into their seats in Razorback Stadium.
There was a turnover on downs on the first possession. An interception off a tipped pass the second. And when the quarter ended, Arkansas’ explosive attack had been held — scoreless.
“I think the only good way to look at that is hitting adversity early,” Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams said. “And we responded.”
Arkansas shook off its early sluggishness, cranked up the offense, and cruised to a 44-3 win against Tennessee Tech in front of 69,596 on Saturday night.
Quarterback Ryan Mallett completed 21 of 24 passes for 301 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in three quarters. Joe Adams caught two of those TDs, including an 85-yarder. And three running backs reached the end zone in the win.
The 41-point victory proved to be Arkansas’ largest margin in 26 games under Bobby Petrino, too.
“We knew we weren’t executing,” Mallett said. “We knew once we turned it on and got focused and started executing that we were going to score some points.”
Mallett was efficient in his debut even if Arkansas was sluggish through 15 minutes Saturday.
His three incompletions: A pass that glanced off Adams’ hands and into TTU safety Dustin Dillehay’s in the first quarter, a dropped pass in the end zone by De’Anthony Curtis in the second, and an overthrown deep ball to wideout Greg Childs in the third.
“It’s going to be typical Mallett, what we’ll see all year,” Williams said. “People will say it’s not Alabama, but he’s a talented player and I think he’s going to do it week-in and week-out.”
Mallett’s 37-yard pass to receiver Cobi Hamilton – in which the sophomore dove to catch the ball – was the big play that ended Arkansas’ struggles. The catch ended the quarter and running back Dennis Johnson scored on a seven-yard run two plays later.
After failing to score on its first two series, Arkansas reached the end zone on six straight possessions before Mallett left the game.
Adams’ touchdown was the highlight. He caught a 20-yard pass, turned upfield and outraced TTU to the end zone for an 85-yard score. It was the longest catch of his career and the longest pass of Mallett’s. The tandem hooked up six times for 138 yards Saturday.
”We’ve got to get him more touches. I say that all the time,” Petrino said of Adams. “When that ball is underneath his arm, he’s special.”
Said Adams: “Whenever I touch the ball I’m trying to score a touchdown.”
But the night wasn’t all about Mallett, Adams and the high-powered offense. If anything, the defense proved to be the most consistent group in the opener.
The Razorbacks allowed 187 yards and, after being challenged by Petrino to turn in a “dominant” performance, accomplished an impressive feat Saturday. They didn’t allow a touchdown for the first time in Petrino’s tenure.
TTU had a great opportunity in the first quarter, too, when the Golden Eagles moved the ball to Arkansas’ 1. The Razorbacks stuffed Tennessee Tech on two straight running plays. Then senior Anthony Leon — who finished with a team-high 8 tackles, 2 sacks and 4 tackles for losses in his debut at linebacker — collected a sack to force fourth down and field goal.
It gave TTU a 3-0 lead. But that was it.
“I think that was one of the biggest things since I’ve been here and I’ve been here about five years,” cornerback Ramon Broadway said. “That goal line stand gave us so much courage and so much confidence.”
The defense gained even more a little later, picking up two points of its own when running back Jocques Crawford was stuffed at the line of scrimmage and couldn’t get out of the end zone. Jerry Franklin was credited with the safety and Arkansas led 9-3.
“The push up front made the play, it made it bounce (outside) and we’re too fast to let that play get out of the end zone,” defensive end Jake Bequette said.
The Razorbacks built a 23-3 lead at the half, then buried Tennessee Tech with three scores in the third quarter. The ground game, which never really got on track in the first half, carried the load after the break behind backs Knile Davis, Dennis Johnson, Ronnie Wingo Jr., and Broderick Green.
The four combined to rush for 197 yards. Davis — who was the only back without a touchdown — had a team-high 67 yards on six rushing attempts. But Davis also accounted for one of Arkansas’ three fumbles.
The Razorbacks lost one fumble and threw two interceptions, leaving Petrino to say Arkansas “got the first game out of the way.”
“We can’t be satisfied on offense having three turnovers and not getting points on the board when we had opportunities,” Petrino said.
But it could’ve been much, much worse.
Just ask Ole Miss, which opened its season with a 49-48 loss to Jacksonville State in three overtimes Saturday. Or Florida, which struggled on offense throughout its 34-12 win against Miami (Ohio).
Arkansas’ offense may not have been at its best in the first quarter Saturday. It didn’t last.
“We came out sluggish,” Mallett said. “But we turned it on.”
