Hogs move to 3-0

Hogs move to 3-0

Showdown with A& M on tap

UA Media Relations FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A 35-point first half coupled with a stifling defensive performance led Arkansas to a 42-3 commanding win over Texas State Saturday night in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Arkansas (3-0) wins its third-straight game to open the season and is a winner in nine of its last 10 games. It is the second 3-0 start under head coach Bret Bielema and seventh 3-0 start to a season since 1998.

Quarterback Austin Allen threw for a career-high 241 yards on 16-of-21 passing with two touchdowns. Allen spread the ball around to seven different receivers, finding Keon Hatcher and Jeremy Sprinkle for the two scores through the air.

Running back Rawleigh Williams led all players with 121 yards on 19 carries, scoring twice. Freshman Devwah Whaley saw his largest output of his young Razorback career with 11 carries for 50 yards.

As for the defense, senior Brooks Ellis led the way with seven tackles, one for a loss. It’s the second-straight game Ellis has led the team in tackles and fourth in the last five games going back to last season.

The Razorbacks wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard on their first two drives, taking a 14-0 lead on the Bobcats with a nice balanced attack. Quarterback Austin Allen began his night a perfect 6-for-6 through the air with Keon Hatcher as his favorite target.

Hatcher caught the first touchdown on a 9-yard pass from Allen and seemed to have a second on a long 74yard pass down the field, but it was called back after a review. The video replay showed that Hatcher’s knee was down just inches before the goal line after being tackled. Nonetheless, the 73-yard passing play was Arkansas’ longest from scrimmage this season and career-longs for Hatcher and Allen.

Senior running back Kody Walked finished the drive with his 14th career touchdown run by powering through the line into the end zone.

As efficient as the offense was in the first half, the defense held Texas State’s offense to just 26 yards and one first down. It was the best defensive effort by the Razorbacks in a single half since holding Texas to eight yards in the second half of the 2014 Texas Bowl.

Later in the second quarter, Ryan Pulley returned an interception for six points. Following the likes of Brooks Ellis last week. Pulley hauled in the second interception of his career and gave Arkansas a commanding 21-0 lead.

Arkansas made it 28-0 when Allen found tight end Jeremy Sprinkle for the 10yard score during its next possession. For Sprinkle, it was his 10th career touchdown reception and tied him with D.J. Williams for first all-time among all Razorback tight ends.

The Hogs finished the scoring barrage after Rawleigh Williams got in on the fun with a one-yard score to take a 35-0 lead into halftime. Williams scored the only points for the Razorbacks in the second half on a 15-yard touchdown run to make it 42-3 late in the third quarter. It was the final margin in the game as the fourth quarter was cut to 10 minutes due to impending weather in the area.

The Razorbacks travel to Arlington, Texas to take on No. 17 Texas A& M in the Southwest Classic. The game is set to be played at AT& T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN.

By John Thomas