Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — There were two timeouts among the first five plays. The new starting quarterback was planted on his back after a missed block by an offensive lineman. And then, to add to the trouble, a false start penalty.
Clearly, the opening moments of Arkansas’ 2011 season didn’t exactly go as scripted during Arkansas’ 51-7 win against Missouri State in Razorback Stadium on Saturday night. But it didn’t really matter a few plays later, when quarterback Tyler Wilson threaded a perfect pass down the middle of the field and into Jarius Wright’s hands for a 33-yard touchdown.
No matter how it began, Arkansas enjoyed a feel-good opening performance in front of an announced crowd of 70,607 in Razorback Stadium.
Wilson (18 of 24 for 260 yards and two touchdowns) and sophomore Brandon Mitchell (10 of 11 for 104 yards and a touchdown) combined to lead the Razorbacks to 466 yards. The veteran defense did what was expected, limiting the Bears to 163 yards (18 in the first half). And receiver Joe Adams baffled Missouri State on special teams with two highlight-reel punt return touchdowns of 61 and 69 yards.
“It’s a good start,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “It’s the way we were supposed to start. … Mission accomplished.”
Wilson’s performance was the big curiosity with the junior stepping under center as the Arkansas starter, replacing departed record-setter Ryan Mallett. The first few plays aside, the offense was crisp under his command as he led the Razorbacks to touchdowns on two possessions.
The first came on the perfect strike to Wright to cap an 80-yard drive. The second was a 70-yard drive capped by freshman Kody Walker’s 1-yard touchdown run on a fourth-and-goal play.
Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
“Tyler was as under control as I’ve seen him in a long time,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “I will say this: we were in pregame warmup and they announced him as the starting quarterback and the crowd started cheering for him and I saw him start smiling.”
Said Wilson: “It was a moment where I just kind of took it in and went back to work.”
Sandwiched between those two drives was the first spectacular punt return from Adams, who made his first touch of the season a memorable one. The senior — who had a school-record 97-yard return last season — made a couple of moves at midfield to shed defenders, worked his way outside and took advantage of some solid blocking to sprint to the end zone.
The 61-yard score was the biggest highlight in an opening quarter in which Arkansas led 20-0.
“He doesn’t surprise me,” McGee said. “I know what he’s capable of. He’s really explosive.”
It wasn’t even Adams’ biggest highlight.
The senior added a jaw-dropping 69-yard return for a touchdown in the third quarter in which he initially muffed the 40-yard punt. But, after a Missouri State player couldn’t fall on it, Adams picked it up, darted right, cut left and back to his right, found some blocking and outran a player who had lost his helmet.
“I was like, ‘Ah, I can’t let them tackle me,’” Adams said. “There was a guy chasing me with his helmet off. I knew I couldn’t lose that one.”
Adams’ second score also tied a Southeastern Conference record for punt return touchdowns in a game.
It was the third of his career.
“He made a way out of no way,” Wright said.
Mark Buffalo • Arkansas News Bureau
With Adams’ help, Arkansas turned in its highest point total in an opener since the 63-13 win against New Mexico State in 2004.
It was more than enough for Arkansas’ veteran defense, too.
Missouri State, with starting quarterback Trevor Wooden serving a one-game suspension for violating team rules, struggled in Fayetteville.
True freshman Kierra Harris, a Texarkana native, had trouble moving Missouri State’s offense in a rough collegiate debut. The Bears went three-and-out on four consecutive possessions and managed 18 yards on 18 plays in the half.
Their first first down came courtesy of a 15-yard facemask penalty by Tramain Thomas.
“I was proud of our defense,” Petrino said. “I think we had six three-and-outs. …
“It was a good job of coming out of the locker room and playing good defense.”
Arkansas’ only defensive blemish came late in the third quarter when Harris tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jermain Saffold. It ended Arkansas’ hopes for the first shutout of the Petrino era. But it didn’t ruin the night.
“It was good,” said Arkansas linebacker Jerico Nelson, who recorded a second-half interception. “But you can obviously do better. We gave up a touchdown and that was something we weren’t planning on doing. We gave up some cheap yards.
“So that’s what we need to work on this week. You can always find something to work on.”
Petrino agreed, saying Arkansas’ offense will have plenty to finetune as well.
He pointed at substitution problems early, which led to the timeouts. The run game needs more work, too, after gaining 102 yards on 33 carries (Ronnie Wingo led the way with 43 yards on 11 attempts). And there were some blemishes along the offensive front, which started a true freshman (tackle) Mitch Smothers in an opener for the first time in school history.
But, as Petrino said after it was over, Arkansas accomplished its ultimate goal.
“Offense started fast,” said Wright, who caught six passes for 108 yards and two scores. “Defense came out and started fast. We showed enthusiasm. Everybody played with great effort and, 51-7, the score speaks for itself.”
