Sep 2, 2007, 3:29 GMT
Fayetteville, AR - Darren McFadden ran for 151 yards and a touchdown and also threw for a score in No. 21 Arkansas' 46-26 victory over Troy.
Casey Dick completed 11-of-20 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, while freshman Alex Tejada added four field goals for Arkansas (1-0), the most by a Razorback since 2003.
Felix Jones also had a huge game, rushing for 129 yards and score on 12 carries, then tacking on 144 yards in kick returns -- including a 90-yard run back on a kickoff for a TD.
Omar Haugabook went 15-of-43 for 204 yards and a touchdown with an interception for Troy (0-1) before leaving with an injury in the fourth quarter. The Trojans' running game also struggled, as Kenny Cattouse was held to 44 yards on 15 carries with a score.
Arkansas took the opening kickoff and Dick directed a march from his own 22, highlighted by a Jones rush reverse for 40 yards on the first play. The Trojan defense stopped a 3rd-and-5 run by McFadden, but Tejada connected on a 35-yard field goal with 12:55 remaining.
Tejada added a 23-yarder with 5:44 left in the first to make it 6-0.
The Razorbacks added another score, as McFadden capped a 7-play, 67-yard drive with a 12-yard rush to the end zone just six seconds into the second quarter.
Troy finally got on the scoreboard on a 1-yard run by Cattouse, but Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards to give Arkansas a 20-7 lead.
A 17-yard touchdown pass from Haugabook to Gerald Tate pulled Troy within six later on, and both sides traded field goals in the final minute of the first half. Tejada connected from 29 yards out for the Razorbacks, while Troy's Greg Whibbs booted a 42-yarder as time expired made it a 23-17 game at intermission.
The rout was on in the third, as Jones broke through on a 44-yard touchdown run with 6:48 remaining to make it 30-17.
Troy punted on its next possession, and Arkansas needed just one play to get back in the end zone, as McFadden launched a 42-yard TD pass complete to Crosby Tuck with 5:32 left in the stanza.
Whibbs added a 32-yard field goal with 44 ticks left in the third to make it 37-20.
The Razorbacks pulled away for good in the fourth, as Tejada made good on a 30-yard field goal and Michael Smith found the end zone on a two-yard run with 6:45 to play.
The final touchdown for the Trojans came on a two-yard rush by Tanner Jones as time expired.
Game Notes
Arkansas is 88-22-4 in season openers, including a 9-1 record under coach Houston Nutt...The Razorbacks own a 122-0 advantage in the all-time series after a 23-0 win in Little Rock in 2002.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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