Arkansas-Eastern Michigan postgame notes

Arkansas Game NotesEastern Michigan — 10/31/09Team NotesThe Razorbacks are playing in Fayetteville on Halloween for the first time since a 12-7 victory over Texas A&M in 1959. Arkansas had several new starters for the game, which were selected based on the evaluation by the UA coaching staff on effort given each day in practice this week. The following players made their first start of the season (Damario Ambrose, Alfred Davis, Reggie Fish, David Gordon, Broderick Green, Bret Harris, Anthony Leon, Terrell Williams). The following players made the first start of their career (David Gordon, Broderick Green, Bret Harris, Anthony Leon, Terrell Williams).Arkansas has started six true freshmen this season, the total ranks second nationally and first in the SEC. Arkansas is +10 in turnover margin this season. Last season the Razorbacks were -9. The Razorbacks had one interception in the game. This is the first time in six games that Arkansas has not recovered a fumble. Arkansas has recovered 13 fumbles in their last five games (Texas A&M-2, Auburn-3, Florida-5, Ole Miss-3). Arkansas recovered just five fumbles during the entire 2008 season.The Razorbacks have 20 touchdown drives this season under three minutes and 16 under two minutes.Arkansas was 3-3 on red-zone possessions on the day. For the year, the Razorbacks are 27-28 on red-zone scores and have scored a touchdown on 19 of those possessions.Joe Adams led the Razorback receivers for the second time this season. He is one of three Razorbacks to lead Arkansas in receiving this season (Jarius Wright 6-139 vs. Missouri St.; Greg Childs 5-140 vs. Georgia, 5-85 vs. Auburn, 4-135 vs. Florida, 3-83 vs. Ole Miss; Joe Adams 6-81 vs. Alabama, 3-110 vs. Texas A&M, Eastern Michigan, 3-109). The Razorbacks receivers have combined for six 100-yard receiving games this season and had just five last year.Arkansas is now 52-32-4 in 88 homecoming games. The Razorbacks have won their last four Homecoming games.Greenwood, Ark. native Lucas Miller won the 59th Crip Hall Award which is presented annually to the most outstanding Razorback senior on Homecoming.The Razorback defense has not allowed five of their eight opponents this season to score in the first quarter including three Southeastern Conference teams (Missouri St., Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Eastern Michigan).Arkansas has scored 50 or more points in a game 42 times in its history and the last time was Nov. 23, 2007 in a three-overtime game against LSU (50-48). The last time that Arkansas scored 50 points in a regulation game was Oct. 27, 2007 against Florida International (58-10). That game was also a homecoming game.This is just the second time in Razorback history that Arkansas has scored 40 or more points in at least five games during a single season. The only other time was 2007 when the Hogs put 40 or more points on the board seven times.The Razorbacks were 1-1 on fourth down. For the season the Hogs are 7-13.Freddy Burton’s touchdown is the third non-offensive score of the season for the Razorbacks. Arkansas’ opponents have had zero.The Razorbacks have outscored their opponents 76-37 in the first quarter this season. This is the third game this season that the Hogs have scored 21 points (Missouri St., Georgia, Eastern Michigan) in the first quarter. Arkansas scored only 55 points in the first quarter last year.Arkansas’ quarterbacks completed their first 11 passes of the game (Ryan Mallett-9, Tyler Wilson-2). Their first incompletion came at the 6:39 mark in the second quarter.Seth Armbrust blocked a punt in the third quarter. It is the first blocked punt by the Razorbacks since Nov. 3, 2006 against South Carolina. Armbrust also recovered the block for a touchdown and is the first to do that since Cedric Washington recovered one against New Mexico St., on Sept. 4, 2004. It is the first blocked punt with Bobby Petrino as head coach.The Razorback defense held Eastern Michigan without a first down until the 11:28 mark in the third quarter. That was also the first time the Eagles crossed the 50-yard line in the game.Arkansas’ 42 points in the first half match the highest total any Bobby Petrino coached team has scored in a single half.The Razorbacks’ 63 points are the most by an Arkansas team with Bobby Petrino as the head coach.Arkansas has scored more points this season (287) than it did during the entire 2008 season (263).Individual NotesRyan Mallett was 14-16 for 248 yards and three touchdown passes on the day. He now has 18 touchdown passes in eight games this season. Mallett opened the game with 11 consecutive completed passes, the total is a career best to start a game. He completed nine straight against Missouri State to open the season.Ryan Mallett’s 18 touchdown passes this season through eight games are as many or more than the Razorbacks threw in 54 entire seasons dating back to the 1947 season. Mallett has passed for at least one touchdown in every game as a Razorback and in 10 of his 11 career starts.Alex Tejada converted eight extra-point attempts on the day and was 0-1 in field goal chances. On the year, he is now 10-13 on field goal attempts and 33-34 on extra-point opportunities. Tejada now has 116 PATs which move him to third on Arkansas’ all-time list. He trails Steve Little (121) by five and all-time leader Bill McClard (125) by nine.Broderick Green’s 99-yard touchdown run in the second quarter carried him over the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career. The run was the longest by a Razorback from scrimmage in school history and just the second run of 90 yards or more in Razorback lore. The run is the longest since Billy Moore ran for 90 yards in 1962 against Tulsa. Green finished the game with a career-high nine carries for 134 yards.Freddy Burton intercepted his first pass of the season and career in the first quarter. He returned the pick for the first touchdown of his career. It is the first pick-six since Antwain Robinson returned one for a touchdown on Nov. 17, 2007, against Mississippi State.Joe Adams made three catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. His touchdown grabs were the fourth and fifth of his career and third and fourth of the season. He has made a catch in every game of his career. His 78-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter was the longest catch of his career. His participation in the game was his first since the Texas A&M game. This was the second 100-yard receiving game of his career.Knile Davis had his second and third running touchdowns of his career. All have come in the last two games. His 26-yard scamper for the first touchdown was the longest of his career.Dennis Johnson returned three kickoffs for 68 yards and currently ranks second for single season kickoff returns in Arkansas history. His 1,692 total return yards over the last two years ranks second all-time. He is 57 yards behind Arkansas’ all-time leader, Felix Jones (2005-07), who returned 62 kicks for 1,749 yards.Game NotesArkansas’ captains were Adrian Davis, DeMarcus Love and Ryan Mallet.Arkansas is 5-3 in coin tosses this season. The Razorbacks are 3-2 when they win the coin toss.

Download: Game Notes – Eastern Michigan.pdf