ARKANSAS-ULM GAME NOTES
Green gets the start
Broderick Green got the start at running back Saturday against ULM. It was his first start of the season; Knile Davis started the first game. Four running backs are listed as possible starters. In addition to Green and Davis, Ronnie Wingo and Dennis Johnson are listed as possible starters.
For the second straight week, all four played.
Green got the majority of the carries with 12, but managed only 45 yards. Green, Johnson and Davis all averaged 3.8 yards per carry. Wingo averaged 5.5, but had only two carries. However, he caught a pass out of the backfield for a 35-yard touchdown with 3:23 left in the game.
Who’s calling the game?
Anybody remember that bad call Arkansas got at Florida last season? Now that your memory is jogged, you’ll also recall that the crew admitted the personal foul call against Malcolm Sheppard was incorrect and the Southeastern Conference suspended the crew for a game.
The phantom foul occurred in the fourth quarter of Arkansas’ 23-20 loss at The Swamp.
The referee in that game was Marc Curles. There was a buzz in the press box Saturday prior to Arkansas vs. Louisiana-Monroe. A scan of the flip card showed Curles’ crew was calling the game.
Curles’ crew also called last season’s LSU-Georgia game, which included an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty the league said was erroneous.
There were no big controversial calls in Arkansas’ 31-7 win over ULM.
On the field
Two players suspended for the Tennessee Tech game were dressed out against ULM. Fullback Van Stumon of North Little Rock and Anthony Oden, an offensive lineman from Indianapolis by way of Hargrave Military Academy, weren’t on the field for the season opener as a result of off-the-field activities. Neither was listed on the depth chart Saturday.
Stumon entered the game midway in the first quarter as a blocker on a pass to D.J. Williams. He also was in the backfield for two plays when Arkansas scored from the 1 with 6:12 left in the third quarter. He played sporadically druing the game.
Oden also played, drawing a personal foul penalty in the fourth period.
Zack Stadther, third on the depth chart at nose guard, was not with the team for the second straight week. Linebacker Bret Harris and defensive tackle Pat Jones did not play, either, although Jones was dressed out during the team’s warmups Saturday.
Going on fourth down
Arkansas went for it on fourth down twice in the first quarter with no success. Quarterback Ryan Mallett fumbled on a pass attempt the first time and later in the quarter was sacked on fourth and six.
First opposition TD
The Arkansas Razorbacks gave up their first touchdown of the season with 5:12 left in the game Saturday night. The TD play was a 25-yard pass from Kolton Browning to Luther Ambrose. The scoring strike capped a 77-yard, nine-play scoring drive.
Tennessee Tech scored only a field goal in the season opener.
No hats off for Petrino
Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino roamed the sideline against Tennessee Tech without a a cap on his head. It marked only the second time Petrino has not worn a hat for a game. He sported a red cap on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.
Tejada starts strong
Alex Tejada kicked to the goal line on his first kickoff of the night after putting five of six at least five yards deep into the end zone against Tennessee Tech. His first kickoff was returned to the 23. He managed to kick only to the Warhawks’ 7 on his second attempt. He kicked to the 1 in the third quarter, then hit a low kick that ended up at the 1, then was returned to the 18. It was the only kickoff not returned to at least the 20. A fourth-quarter kick went to the goal line.
A personal foul penalty on ULM after Arkansas’ final touchdown put Tejada’s kickoff spot at his own 45. He booted it high and about three yards deep. The ULM receiver took a knee.
All of his kickoffs but the one after the penalty were returned.
Hocker streak continues
Freshman Zack Hocker of Russellville continued his streak of good PAT kicks Saturday. He kicked six in a row against Tennesse Tech and was true on four PATs and a 26-yard field goal against ULM.
Turnover margin
When Ryan Mallett fumbled to end Arkansas’ first drive, it put Arkansas at minus-4 on turnover margin. The Razorbacks turned it over three times against Tennessee Tech.
But, the Razorbacks got their first turnover of the season on a Jake Bequette fumble recovery with 5:56 left in the third period, then on the first play after that, Mallett passed complete to Greg Childs, who fumbled back to ULM at the Warhawks’ 14.
Three minutes later, Rudell Crim intercepted a Kolton Browning pass and returned it to the ULM 49.
Joe Adams recovered his own fumble early in the fourth quarter.
By game’s end, Arkansas lost the turnover battle, three to two.
— Dennis Byrd • Arkansas News Bureau
