Big day catching passes for Wilson, especially with score on second offensive play and Johnson on defensive play.
Razorbacks close out win in season opener, 56-13
No really expected it to be close and it wasn’t as Arkansas jumped on Western Carolina early and, despite some things coach Sam Pittman will find to work on next week, came away with a 56-13 win.
There weren’t any eye-popping numbers from anyone, but quarterback KJ Jefferson had a solid game, Andrew Armstrong made the most catches of anybody and Isaac TeSlaa showed what Pittman and coaches have been talking about in the spring and fall practices as he just catches everything.
We’ll have postgame interviews, photos and more information at HitThatLine as soon as available. Don’t forget to listen to the Hog Reaction show on ESPN Arkansas 99.5, 95.3, 96.3 and 104.3 across Arkansas after the Razorbacks broadcast postgame ends.
With more long lines early trying to get into War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, most of the crowd is settled in for the season opener on what has turned out to be an overcast day in a game Arkansas should dominate over FCS opponent Western Carolina.
It will be the first look at what new offensive coordinator Dan Enos will be installing. It will be a completely new look and the only way any fans should be alarmed with this one if it’s not a complete blowout. Don’t get too picky about some mistakes in the opener. It’s part of Sam Pittman’s evaluation.
1Q 13:03: It didn’t take Arkansas’ new offense long to start moving the ball and the defense playing better at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock against Western Carolina. The defense stopped a run on the first play of the game for a loss, then got a three-and-out. Quarterback KJ Jefferson threw a pass to freshman tight end on first down and an outside screen to Jaedon Wilson, who hauled it in and raced down the left sideline for a 65-yard scoring play. Hogs 7, Catamounts 0
1Q 8:04: This time they start running the ball a little with Raheim “Rocket” Sanders doing some pounding and working on some rather routine plays. There was a nice pass to Isaac TeSlas, the much-heralded wide receiver transfer, who was catching everything in practices. Isahaiah Sategna had a dandy 12-yard punt return to prevent some bad field position to set up the 7-play, 47-yard drive. Sanders ran it in from the 3 for the score. Hogs 14, Catamounts 0
1Q 3:03: Okay, this is getting out of hand really, really quick and starting to look like Oklahoma over in Norman dismantling the community college from Jonesboro that started an hour earlier. After the Catamounts stopped the Hogs’ offense, Hudson Clark grabs an interception and throws 31 yards into the end zone, TeSlaa went up and caught it for the score. Hogs 21, Catamounts 0
1Q :15: Western Carolina finally gets some kind of drive put together (8 plays, 59 yards) but had to settle for a 39-yard field goal by R. McCollum to get them on the board before the second period. Hogs 21, Catamounts 3
2Q 2:56: The Hogs finally got a handle on Western Carolina’s pesky offense and Jefferson scored on a 17-yard run to get things well in hand. Some folks were starting to wonder what was going on. The guess is Pittman doesn’t want to do too much fancy stuff. Hogs 28, Catamounts 3
2Q :00: As the first half ends, Sanders gets into the end zone for a commanding 35-3 lead that probably should have been a little worse. There was a long gap in second quarter where offense couldn’t seem to get untracked. Hogs 35, Catamounts 3
3Q 10:59: That score didn’t hold up long. Western Carolina got a 2-yard run from Desmond Reid and immediately cut into the lead. Razorbacks uneffective after Sategna’s big kickoff return was called back because of a penalty, which will probably be the biggest coaching point Pittman will hammer home after this one. Hogs 35, Catamounts 10
3Q 6:13: The Hogs answer it solidly with KJ hitting some key third-down plays (to TeSlaa) and got the lead back on a 16-yard scoring pass to Andrew Armstrong in the end zone. He’s leading all the receivers at this point with 78 yards and five catches. Hogs 42, Catamounts 10
4Q 7:55: Jacolby Criswell comes in with game in hand and hits 2-of-2 passing to direct a 48-yard drive in and 7 plays, completing a 14-yard scoring pass to Davion Dozier and this one is solidly in the blowout category. Hogs 49, Catamounts 10
4Q 4:19: Freshman linebacker Brad Spence grabs an interception of an overthrown pass and returned it 85 yards down the right sideline for another score to put this up even higher. Chris “Pooh” Paul got ejected earlier for a targeting call that will keep him out of the first half of next week’s home opener against Kent State in Fayetteville. Hogs 56, Catamounts 10
4Q 0:00: At the end with backups all over the field, Western Carolina managed to get a field goal for the final margin. Hogs 56, Catamounts 13
ANDY’S PICKS: Hogs’ cakewalk SEC opening week of games
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Thank goodness the season is finally here … sorta. Western Carolina, despite attempts all week about their improvement in the off-season and everything else, may be the weakest opening opponent they’ve had in a number of years.
Unlike Pete Morgan, I’m not even going to act like this game has any shot of being remotely contested. Nobody else will say it for bad luck or whatever but let’s just get this out of the way: Western Carolina hasn’t got a chance.
Oh, it’s not because the coach has done a bad job or their team couldn’t play dead in a cowboy movie, but even a Chad Morris-coached team probably would beat this team by at least five or six touchdowns. They simply don’t have the quality depth to compete for 60 minutes with the Razorbacks. They probably scheduled this game as a development tool.
With several people dinged up and Hogs coach Sam Pittman now in trying to save as much energy and wear and tear as possible and not get anybody else hurt. Unless the offense just misfires everywhere, the starters shouldn’t even have to hit the field in the second half with the exception of kickers and punters. If they are still playing then, something is seriously gone haywire or Pittman and the coaches just want some more video to made decisions.
This is the first attempt at solving the offensive line that’s been a continuing question since spring practice and injuries in fall camp haven’t helped sort things out an awful lot for a rotation to be anywhere close to being set.
There are too many possibilities for any type of rotation guess on the defensive side of things with new coaches and faces everywhere. It probably couldn’t be any worse than last year, but after a couple of seasons in recent memory, I vowed to never use that phrase again.
You can listen to the game that kicks off at noon on HitThatLine.com and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home. The pregame show begins at 9 a.m. and join ESPN Arkansas after the game for the reaction call-in show. The only TV to watch will be on ESPN+.
My prediction is we won’t know exactly what it will be in four games right now, but Saturday will be a first step in the process. Razorback 52, Western Carolina 6
SEC Predictions
It’s a week with a full slate of games. Pete Morgan decided to ignore most of them for whatever reason (but I did follow him back on that X thing, although nobody told me about it like he suggested, but I figure next time I talk to him I’ll ask him what happened that blue bird thing they used to have).
There are only about 1.5 league games that should really be competitive. We’ll move quickly through most of the picks because they will probably be blowouts. Vanderbilt did get a win to open the season and Florida played a pretty good team in a loss to Utah that probably landed Gators coach Billy Napier on a hot seat to start the season in Gainesville. Missouri and Eli Drinkwitz are still figuring things out, but did get a 35-10 win over South Dakota State (an FCS team that would probably be favored by three touchdowns over Western Carolina).
View this at your own risk and if you wager money based on our picks, you deserve whatever happens. Blowouts with a team under 10 is because picking shutouts is bad manners, but it could be anywhere around that.
Virginia at Tennessee (-27.5)
Blowout. The only question is when Josh Heupel calls off the dogs in this one. Vols 49, Virginia 7
Ball State at Kentucky (-26.5)
Another walk in the park. The Wildcats should have an easy time picking the score. Wildcats 42, Ball State 14
Mercer at Ole Miss (NL)
This is another example of why the SEC should go to a 9 or 10-game league schedule because this is ridiculous. Either you’re ready to start playing games or not because you can’t practice forever. Rebel 63, Mercer 17
UMass at Auburn (-35)
This is an example why the Tigers hired Hugh Freeze. Auburn has the feature slot Saturday afternoon at 2:30 on ESPN in a game where they are a five-touchdown favorite. Just because it’s the opener and it’s Freeze. Auburn 56, UMass 21
SE Louisiana at Mississippi State (NL)
The Bulldogs have blown openers against teams they should beaten handily (Louisiana Tech in 2008). But not this year. This is almost as bad as the Hogs’ opener. Bulldogs 52, SE Louisiana 3
UT-Martin at Georgia (NL)
For a defending two-time champion to open a new season with this matchup almost defies comprehension. Again, more conference games will eliminate the need for games like this. Bulldogs 63, UT-Martin 6
New Mexico at Texas A&M (NL)
Don’t expect a lot of answers to figuring out if Jimbo Fisher and Bobby Petrino can co-exist in this game. Really, though, it’s going to be almost impossible for anybody to sort out with Petrino in the pressbox and Fisher on the sidelines. Aggies 56, New Mexico 7
Alabama A&M at Vanderbilt (NL)
When you see the Commodores not even having a line on a game that should be proof positive nearly all of these are replacements for NFL preseason games that don’t really count. Commodores 42, Alabama A&M 10
Middle Tennessee at Alabama (-39)
Nick Saban may have insisted on a line being published for this game to give the Crimson Tide faithful something to argue about, but that’s about the only reason. Tide 45, Middle Tennessee 6
North Carolina (-2.5) at South Carolina
I’ve heard nothing about anything except the Gamecocks handling the Tar Heels in this one. Okay, most of that is from Zach Arns on the Ruscin & Zach show but my instinct is to agree with him on this one. I like what Shane Beamer is doing and they quietly may have one of the best quarterbacks in the league (he has gotten consistently better after getting a ton put on his shoulders early in his career). Gamecocks 35, North Carolina 31
LSU (-2) at Florida State
This one is going to be a gamble I’m willing to take. Besides, it may be the only realistic possibility I have of getting an unsurmountable lead over Pete (pretty sure I told him not picking is a forfeit on games). A lot of the talking heads in this state hate the Tigers for some reason, but I don’t and they are going to have a big game against Alabama and that will likely determine the SEC West in the final year of that existence … for now. Tigers 31, Florida State 28
Ruscin & Zach get real about the upcoming season in Friday’s podcast.
The guys give one final preview before the Razorback football season gets underway on Saturday in Little Rock.
PETE’S PICKS: Looking at Saturday’s thriller of an opener
FAYETTEVILE, Ark. — Usually, some of us Razorback fans wait anxiously during the final week of the off-season, take one last glance at the schedule, and attempt to resolve our fear of having a bad season.
“Well, if things do not work out for us, we will have our strength of schedule to publicly blame.”
Unfortunately, for those who fall back on this philosophy will need to find an alternate piece of mind if our flagship program does not meet the median of expectations in 2023.
We could go back-and-forth on where the strength of schedule falls for Arkansas this year. Different media outlets each have their own formula for determining where each school should rank. I have seen the Hogs as low as in the 60’s but as high as the upper-20’s. Throw out the highest and the lowest, and the overall consensus has Arkansas’s strength of schedule seemingly in the lower-30’s.
I know, I know. Your friend read where ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) has the Razorback schedule proudly in the Top Ten at the 6th position. Short disclaimer: While used as a metric, our traditional thoughts of what define a strength of schedule and ESPN’s FPI are not the same thing.
Regardless, our first opponent of this season might help explain our drop in the SOS rankings, and I am totally okay with it. For years, when other SEC teams have scheduled their non-conference opponents, their cupcakes have had a little softer dough than has Arkansas’s.
The Western Carolina Catamounts roll into Little Rock to take on Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 12:00 inside War Memorial Stadium. Not much is known about WCU outside of they seem to have a pass-heave offense often labeled as “explosive.
If that is the case, then this would be the perfect early-season test for what little we know of on-the-field performance by Arkansas’s defense led by new defensive coordinator Travis Williams. The Catamounts may be just enough of a talented FCS team to see what areas can be a focus for improvement for both Williams and Arkansas coach Sam Pittman.
This learning will also carry over to Arkansas’s offensive side of the ball, yet not quite as much. There is already a strong perception of success with Arkansas returning starters KJ Jefferson at quarterback, running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, and offensive linemen Beaux Limmer and Brady Latham.
The question mark is around a new offensive coordinator, Dan Enos. I say “new” knowing full-well we have seen multiple years of a Dan Enos offense in the past as he served as our offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2015 to 2017. Opinions vary on the success Enos had during his time here, and it is also up for debate on whether or not his offensive style (from our experiences with him) will prove efficient in today’s SEC.
Why Western Carolina will Win
Okay, I am trying to be completely subjective here, but it is difficult to honestly sit at my keyboard and pound out reasons why the Catamounts can pull off a victory at War Memorial.
Granted, I was criticized for my recent predictions for Arkansas’s 2023 campaign, but I was upfront with my homer bias in my thoughts, not to mention, sometimes we just have to cut loose and not be so serious.
That said, I am solemn when I say WCU is returning a lot of starters and players with significant playing time including quarterback Cole Gonzales who split reps last season but has defined himself as the clear starter this season.
Their offensive line is big. Really big. Pittman has been quoted as saying there may be multiple future NFL players in the trenches for WCU.
Lastly, bigger upsets have happened, and Arkansas somehow has a niche in scaring its fans during games we should easily win.
Why Arkansas will Win
We are better at offense against WCU’s defense than WCU’s offense will be against our defense. This little toss of word salad is basically the object of football; however, I cannot remember a game in recent history which better fits this phrase.
Tommy Craft even mentioned something to the effect of “this game will not be close, but it will be closer than many people think.” All considerations given, the Catamounts will score multiple times against our uncertain defense, yet our more dominant offense will make more trips to the endzone.
KJ Jefferson put in extra beach work in the off-season. Listen, I cannot sit here and say I am completely familiar with what KJ has done in previous between-season workouts, and, normally, when you hear your quarterback is at the beach, you worry about their lack of focus and preparation.
KJ gave us just the opposite. Word is he spent hours upon hours in San Diego improving his footwork, strength, and technique as he enters his final campaign with the Razorbacks. No doubt this dedication to improve will pay off.
Both coordinators have something to prove. As mentioned, both Enos and Williams are in their freshman campaigns calling signals on ‘The Hill.”
Neither will want a let-down to start off the season as they hope to build confidence in the players and hype with the fans. Let’s not also forget trust is a big deal to most football coaches. They will want to start earning it Saturday. Arkansas 45 – 17
Random Thoughts
Arkansas has struggled with a consistent secondary the past few seasons. I know the staff is trying to permanently fix (and not just patch) that integral part of the team. We will learn a lot about our defense Saturday.
It is far easier to make conference predictions after seeing how each team performs in Week 1. Therefore, I will be watching closely how are SEC allies perform and releasing my division projections in the upcoming week.
TRIVIA QUESTION: In Week One of the 1992 season, Jack Crowe lost his head coaching job at Arkansas after losing 10 – 3 to the Citadel in Fayetteville. By what school did Coach Crowe get hired the following season to serve as its offensive coordinator?
Sam Pittman also has a lot to prove for himself and his coaching staff as well. That will play into this game and this season.
No traceable amounts of alcohol were consumed during the writing of this opinion piece.
TRIVIA ANSWER: The Baylor Bears hired Crowe in 1993 and kept him throughout 1995. Crowe later served as head coach at Jacksonville State where he pulled off a similar Week One upset against his former assistant coach at Arkansas. That coach was Houston Nutt, who was (at the time) the head coach at Ole Miss.
Thank goodness football season is upon us!
Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at Noon via HitThatLine.com and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
SEC Picks for Week 1
Change for this year: I am only picking three games of my choosing based upon the level of importance and perceived level of competitiveness.
Massachusetts at Auburn: It is not often we get to pick a game involving the Minutemen. Plus a lot of people will be tuning into this game to see if any early improvements have been made by new Tiger head coach, Hugh Freeze. Auburn by 24.
(21) North Carolina at South Carolina: There is still enough of a rivalry here to make this an interesting match-up. I sit strongly in the Shane Beamer camp of potential, and, despite this home game being played in Charlotte, we may just have an upset in the making as South Carolina slow-rolls its way to improvement. Gamecocks by 10.
(5) LSU at (8) Florida State – GAME OF THE WEEK: We get to wait an extra day for this one. The Camping World Kickoff in Orlando on Sunday will be the best college football contest in the nation this weekend. LSU quickly returned their program to its previous glory following a couple of down years with Ed Orgeron at the helm despite them having won the national championship in 2019. The Tigers also seek to avenge a 1-point loss to FSU last season. The Seminoles enter the season boasting they have a more than solid chance at making the College Football Playoff this year. Week One will go a long way in determining who gets a strong foothold on the young season. Tigers by 14.
Back to WCU at Arkansas; check in during the game for all the highlights and updates from Saturday’s contest.
Thank you to all my readers who support me week after week. I am also appreciative of my wife who gives me permission to watch sports all weekend long. Nothing passive-aggressive to see here, folks.
Find me on ‘X’: @PeterMorganWPS And a $10 gift certificate to the fast food restaurant of your choice if you can get Andy Hodges to follow me.
Go HOGS!!!
Where the action picking up with Bet Saracen’s Neal Atkinson
Expecting action to pick up with Razorbacks being prohibitive favorite ahead of Saturday’s game with Western Carolina at War Memorial.
Scorebook Live’s Nate Olson on high school football games tonight
Surprised at Fort Smith Southside taking down Northside last week and other big games across state in loaded night.
What Aaron Torres expecting from Razorbacks this year
Being off radar may be a good thing for Hogs and Sam Pittman at this point with season just starting.
Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- September 1st, 2023
Hogs season record predictions, Florida loses to Utah last night, Deion on the big stage
Guests: Aaron Torres, Nate Olson, Neal Atkinson
#Arkansas #ArkansasRazorbacks #Hogs #Hawgs #WPS #ArkansasRazorbacksPodcast #GoHogs #HitThatLine #WooPigSooie #RazorbackPodcast #ArkansasPodcast #HogPodcast
Halftime is LIVE at the All-American Steakhouse and Sports Theater in Springdale
Call or text in
877-377-6963
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Arkansas football season starts tomorrow
Tye, Tommy & Chuck on hogs game tomorrow, Florida loss last night, best wins at War Memorial and more!
#Arkansas #ArkansasRazorbacks #Hogs #Hawgs #WPS #ArkansasRazorbacksPodcast #GoHogs #HitThatLine #WooPigSooie #RazorbackPodcast #ArkansasPodcast #HogPodcast
