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

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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