No. 18 Arkansas uses re-vamped Passing Attack to Cruise Past UTEP 48-13

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The Arkansas Razorbacks started the 2015 season off right picking up a big 48-13 win over visiting UTEP on Saturday. The familiar thread from the 2014 season was an overall solid performance in all three phases of the game but one area looked polished and new, a re-vamped passing attack.

The highlight of the game for Razorback Nation was seeing senior quarterback Brandon Allen connect on four touchdown passes in the first half building a 28-10 Arkansas lead before the break. The third-year starter completed 14-of-18 passes for a career-high 308 yards with four touchdowns.

Allen’s first scoring toss was a 26-yard play to receiver Drew Morgan. Allen then connected with senior wide out Keon Hatcher for a 20-yards score late in the first quarter, Jared Cornelius early in the second quarter and Hatcher again late in the second, this time on a 38-yard play.

The Hogs offense went back to the ground and pound in the second half with junior tailback Alex Collins scoring on a 7-yard run early in the third quarter and about a minute later, on a short field, Kody Walker punched one in from 3-yards out.

The Hogs allowed a Miners 38-yard field goal early in the second quarter putting the score at 14-3 and then allowed an Autrey Golden 10-yard touchdown run mid-way through the second quarter pulling to 21-10. UTEP was held scoreless until the end of the third quarter when Jay Mattox nailed a 44-yard field goal try.

Arkansas’ defense has some room for improvement but stifled UTEP’s offense for a total of 204 yards of offense. Miners’ quarterback Mack Leftwich was 9-of-14 for 120 yards with one interception hauled in by a blitzing Henre’ Toliver setting up an Arkansas touchdown run in the second half.

The Hogs held starting UTEP tailback Aaron Jones to 70 yards on 15 carries. Jones was the main offensive weapon for the Miners pulling in a game-tying high six passes for 83 yards.

The superlatives for the Razorbacks, as expected, included a 12 carry 127-yard performance with one score performance by Alex Collins. Junior running back Kody Walker had five carries for 11 yards with a score and true freshman Rawleigh Williams had 16 carries for 45 yards in mop-up duty.

Allen’s top target was Hatcher with six receptions for 106 yards with two scores. The tight ends, Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle, combined for four receptions totaling 102 yards. Jared Cornelius had two receptions for 75 yards with a score.

All eyes were on the special teams play for Arkansas with Cole Hedlund hitting 2-of-2 field goals with a long of 27 while connecting on all six extra point tries. Toby Baker punted just once for 35 yards. Eric Hawkins has two kick returns for the Hogs covering 55 yards with a long of 30.

Arkansas’ defense will have room for improvement on third-down efficiency allowing the Miners to convert 7-of-14 attempts. The Hogs were also penalized six times for 68 yards.

The Razorbacks take the show on the road to Little Rock in Week 2 facing Toledo at War Memorial Stadium.

Photo credit: Samantha Baker; No. 10 Brandon Allen calls out UTEP’s coverage at the line of scrimmage.