It started out slow, but once No. 17 Arkansas got rolling, the Hogs poured it on.
The Razorbacks overcame a second-quarter deficit by scoring 44 unanswered points in a 44-3 season-opening victory over FCS opponent Tennessee Tech in front 69,596 fans at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The Hogs racked up 519 yards of offense and Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett broke two more school records, while the Razorbacks’ defense held the Golden Eagles to 108 yards. Arkansas trailed 3-0 after the first quarter, though, and Razorback coach Bobby Petrino said the game would provide plenty of teaching points for the Arkansas coaching staff.
“We got the first one out of the way, it was certainly a game we need,” Petrino said. “I did like what our defense did; they were flying to the football. Offensively, I felt like we struggled at times…but we did throw and catch the ball pretty well. We can’t be satisfied on offense with having three turnovers and not getting points on the board when we have opportunities.
“It’s going to be real important for us to do our evaluation.”
Mallett completed 21-of-24 passes for 301 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. His three touchdowns and 87.5 completion percentage were UA records for season-openers, while the completion percentage ranked second in SEC history. The junior has now set or tied 18 school records.
“He did some really good things,” Petrino said. “He made good decisions. Our completion percentage is what we wanted. He had a couple plays early that he got out of that hurt us and had the tipped-ball interception, but I think it was really good for him to get back out there in the intensity and game situation.”
Mallett completed passes to eight different receivers and junior Joe Adams led the Razorbacks with 138 yards and two scores on six catches. Senior tight end D.J. Williams had five catches for 68 yards, junior receiver Greg Childs had four grabs for 26 yards and sophomore Cobi Hamilton hauled in two passes for 40 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown.
Adams’ 85-yard score in the second quarter was a career-long for both him and Mallett and was the fourth-longest passing play in UA history.
“Joe is one of our top players, no doubt,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “We want to get Joe Adams the ball, no doubt about it.”
The Razorback defense gave up just 24 yards in the first 20 minutes of the second half.
The Hogs started the game slowly, though, and Tennessee Tech took advantage. Arkansas won the toss, elected to receive and quickly drove into Tennessee Tech territory. Mallett was tackled for no gain on fourth-and-6 at the Golden Eagles’ 39, though.
The Golden Eagles used a facemask penalty to advance into Arkansas territory and converted a third-and-19 when sophomore quarterback Tre Lamb found senior Henry Sailes for a 39-yard gain to the Arkansas 1-yard line. The Hogs’ defense made a goal-line stand, but Matthew Barker’s 27-yard field goal gave the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead with 4:49 left in the first quarter.
“We really got it going in the second half, but we got out of the gates slow,” Mallett said. “We couldn’t put it in the zone (early).”
The Hogs quickly marched back into Tennessee Tech territory, but Mallett’s pass intended for receiver Joe Adams was tipped and intercepted by Golden Eagles’ defensive back Dustin Dillehay.
“I really didn’t get a chance to touch it,” Adams said. “The (defender) undercut it and tipped it and I tried to tip it over the second guy, but he intercepted it.”
Arkansas forced a punt and again quickly advanced into Tennessee Tech territory. This time Mallett found a diving Cobi Hamilton for a 37-yard gain to the Golden Eagles’ 11-yard line. Razorback running Dennis Johnson fumbled, but the Hogs recovered and Johnson scored from seven yards out on the ensuing play.
“Whenever you have a chance to overcome adversity, that’s what we’ve got to do,” Petrino said. “We had good plays, but didn’t capitalize.”
Freshman Zach Hocker’s extra point gave the Hogs a 7-3 lead with 14:19 left in the second quarter and the Golden Eagles were backed up to their own 1-yard line after muffing the kick-off and getting called for a block-in-the-back. Linebacker Jerry Franklin and cornerback Ramon Broadway chased Tennessee Tech running back Jocques Crawford out of the end zone on first down for a safety, putting the Hogs up 9-3 with 13:46 left in the first half.
Following the free kick, junior running back Broderick Green’s 1-yard run capped a nine-play, 49-yard drive and gave the Hogs a 16-3 lead with 9:14 left in the half.
The Hogs forced a punt that was downed at their 5-yard line. Three plays later, Mallett found Adams open and Adams outran the Golden Eagles’ defense for an 85-yard touchdown. Hocker’s kick extended the Hogs’ lead to 23-3 with 4:33 left in the half.
“Once I caught it, I turned around and looked and there were three defenders out there,” Adams said. “I just felt like I had to outrun everybody. Coach preaches YAC (yards-after-catch), so I try to get the most out of the receiving group.”
The pass was the fourth-longest in school history and a career-long for both Mallett and Adams.
Mallett completed 15-of-17 passes for 251 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the half, while the Hogs racked up 302 yards of offense.
“We were just getting into the groove and back into speed,” Johnson said.
Arkansas forced a quick three-and-out to begin the second half and took over on the Tennessee Tech 30 after Golden Eagles’ punter Nick Campbell hit just a 15-yarder. Sophomore running back Ronnie Wingo outran the Tennessee Tech defense for a 10-yard score three plays later.
The Hogs pushed the lead to 37-3 when Mallett found Hamilton for a 3-yard score. Sophomore running back Knile Davis carried three times for 36 yards on the drive.
Davis led the Razorbacks four-headed rushing attack with 67 yards on six carries. Johnson finished with 60 yards and a touchdown on three carries and a touchdown. His 49-yard run set up the Hogs’ final touchdown. Sophomore Ronnie Wingo had 47 yards and a touchdown on five carries, while junior Broderick Green toted the ball nine times for 25 yards and a score.
“We’ve got to run the ball to open up the downfield passing,” Johnson said. “We’re going to do it even more this week.”
Mallett surpassed the 300-yard mark when he found Adams on a bubble screen and Adams outmaneuvered the Tennessee Tech defense for a 15-yard score, extending the Hogs’ lead to 44-3.
Mallett left the game and the Hogs turned the ball over on subsequent possessions – an interception thrown by junior Tyler Wilson and a fumble by senior tight end Ben Cleveland.
“I’d like to see our two’s come in and execute and move the ball,” Petrino said.