Rave Review

Sort of a strange day for Darren McFadden.

The junior running back didn’t have an easy time finding running room Saturday. He rushed for 61 yards on 19 carries. That’s a 3.2 yard-per-carry average. In 33 career games, he has posted an average below that mark just four times.

But he still managed to set a career high with four touchdown runs. He scored on runs of 1, 2, 2 and 3 yards.

McFadden also broke Ben Cowins’ all-time carries record of 635.

His 11-yard run on third and 6 on Arkansas’ final drive of the first half defined McFadden’s workmanlike afternoon. As he gained the first down, he ran right over FIU safety Ashlyn Parker, knocking off Parker’s helmet.

Defining Moment

Hard to pick one significant point of a 48-point victory against the team with the nation’s longest losing streak, now at 20 games and counting.

But here it goes, anyway.

It happened less than a minute into the game. On just the second snap of the game, Arkansas forced the first of seven Florida International turnovers. FIU’s Moses Hilton hauled in his only catch of the afternoon. But after eluding Arkansas’ Kevin Woods, Hilton lost the ball on a hit by senior safety Matt Hewitt and Adrian Davis recovered.

Enough Already

Florida International got the ball back with 47 seconds left in Saturday’s game.

The Golden Panthers then ran two plays and called a timeout after each one. That didn’t make Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring happy at all. As the teams left the field, Herring could be seen shouting at a few members of FIU’s coaching staff.

Herring didn’t elaborate on his outburst.

“They’ve got more to worry about than me,” Herring said. “I have no comment.”

Injury Report

Parker drilled Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick under his right arm on a pass play early in the second quarter. Dick suffered a slight concussion and never returned. He had a CT scan performed, which came out negative.

Arkansas trainer Dean Weber said Dick could’ve returned to the game if necessary. Dick is expected back at practice today.

Also, tight end Lance Thompson suffered a sprained right foot.

KEY PERFORMERS

Peyton Hillis (Taking Stock = Up)

Running Back

He lines up in the backfield most of the time, but Hillis proved Saturday why he is Arkansas’ most talented receiver by far. He also had 15 yards on two carries.

REC YDS TD LONG

6 77 0 25

Nathan Emert (Taking Stock = Up

Quarterback

He looked poised. He looked confident. And he looked unfazed. The former walk-on quarterback performed well in relief of injured starter Casey Dick.

C-A YDS TD INT

13-25 154 1 0

Rashaad Johnson (Taking Stock = Up)

Free Safety

It’ll be a day Arkansas’ backup at free safety will never forget. Johnson grabbed his first career interception in the final quarter and then added another pick just a few minutes later. He finished with 4 total tackles and almost had three interceptions — a deflection dropped off his left hand.

Offensive Line (Taking Stock = Even)

Large holes were not present often for Arkansas’ running backs. Darren McFadden averaged just 3.2 yards per carry. Felix Jones averaged just 5.2. The offensive line didn’t allow a sack, though Dick did take a brutal hit that knocked him out of the game.

FIRST QUARTER

FIU 0 — 0

ARKANSAS 10 — 10

9 Rushing Yards 57

26 Passing Yards 36

35 Total Yards 93

6:12 Time/Poss. 8:48

3 Turnovers 0

HIGHLIGHTS

Matt Hewitt: On the second snap of the game, the senior free safety stripped the ball from Moses Hilton and Adrian Davis recovered at the Florida International 20.

Felix Jones: The junior running back set up Arkansas’ first touchdown, taking a handoff from Wild Hog quarterback Darren McFadden and sprinting 18 yards around right end.

Elston Forte: FIU’s third drive only lasted two plays, as well. Forte, Arkansas’ junior weakside linebacker, jarred the ball loose from Julian Reams and Matterral Richrdson pounced.

Jerell Norton: The sophomore cornerback did a bit of everything in the quarter — a pass breakup, an 8-yard punt return and an interception on FIU’s fourth drive.

SECOND QUARTER

FIU 0 10 — 10

ARKANSAS 10 21 — 31

117 Rushing Yards 58

49 Passing Yards 69

166 Total Yards 127

8:28 Time/Poss. 6:32

1 Turnovers 2

HIGHLIGHTS

McFadden: Scoring bursts of 1 and 2 yards gave the junior running back three for the half. He had a 1-yard score in the first quarter.

Peyton Hillis: How about those hands? The senior fullback had an over-the-shoulder 25-yard grab and an 18-yard fingertip catch on third down.

Wayne Younger: FIU’s quarterback nailed Greg Ellingson for a 25-yard touchdown to get the Golden Panthers on the scoreboard. Three scrambles for 58 yards set up a field goal on FIU’s final drive of the halt.

Michael Grant: After Ellingson beat him on the touchdown , Grant atoned with an interception on his first play back on the field.

THIRD QUARTER

FIU 0 10 0 — 10

ARKANSAS 10 21 10 — 41

15 Rushing Yards 40

0 Passing Yards 51

15 Total Yards 91

5:08 Time/Poss. 9:52

0 Turnovers 0

HIGHLIGHTS

Hillis: Facing third and 10, Arkansas got a first down when Hillis hauled in a pass and drove through four Golden Panther tacklers for an 11-yard gain.

Alex Tejada: The true freshman kicker from Springdale capped the 14-play, 6-yard drive to open the second half with a 42-yard boot. Tejada was perfect Saturday on three field goals and seven extra points.

Kevin Woods: Younger misread Arkansas’ coverage and threw a pass right to Woods, who made the interception and ran it back 19 yards.

Jones: Junior flanker Reggie Fish freed up space with a great block as Jones ran around right end for a 16-yard touchdown.

FOURTH QUARTER

FIU 0 10 0 0 — 10

ARKANSAS 10 21 10 17 — 58

17 Rushing Yards 94

48 Passing Yards 24

65 Total Yards 118

11:04 Time/Poss. 3:56

3 Turnovers 0

HIGHLIGHTS

Freddie Farichild: FIU’s first drive of the quarter is halted by the sophomore linebacker. Fairchild sacked Younger for a 4-yard loss on third and 2.

McFadden: His touchdown total on the afternoon increased to four early in the quarter with a 2-yard scoring run off right tackle. He cut into the end zone untouched.

Rashaad Johnson: Career interception No. 1 was quickly followed by the sophomore safety’s second. His two final-quarter picks led to 10 Razorback points.

Michael Smith: With the help of an unintentional pick set by the umpire, the sophomore running back darted 81 yards down the middle of the field for a touchdown.

GAME TOTALS

Rushing Yards

Florida International 158

Arkansas 249

Passing Yards

Florida International 123

Arkansas 190

Total Yards

Florida International 281

Arkansas 439

Time of Possession

Florida International 30:52

Arkansas 29:08

Turnovers

Florida International 7

Arkansas 2

KEY DEFENSIVE BATTLE

Florida International QB Wayne Younger vs. Arkansas Pass Defense

Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring had mixed emotions.

Yes, Arkansas had whipped up on Florida International in a 58-10 blowout. And yes, his defense had forced seven Golden Panther turnovers. But no, Herring was not in the mood to declare Saturday a total success.

“The one positive for the game was we got a lot of turnovers,” Herring said. “We gave the offense a lot of easy field position. But giving up two deep balls and not being able to tackle the quarterback was unacceptable.”

Other than the two deep passes, Herring’s secondary didn’t give him reasons to be upset. The Hogs had five interceptions — two by Rashaad Johnson and one each by Jerell Norton, Kevin Woods and Michael Grant. Arkansas broke up five passes, led by Norton’s two.

FIU quarterback Wayne Younger finished with this ugly stat line: 9-of-26 for 93 yards with five interceptions and one touchdown.

“I can’t say enough about the improvement of our secondary from the beginning of the year,” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. “They are playing well with their eyes and making plays on the ball.”

Then again, Younger gave Arkansas fits at times with his feet. He rushed 14 times for 124 yards and most of those rushes were scrambles, not called plays.

Younger escaped from Arkansas’ defensive line and linebackers often. He darted out of the pocket three times for 58 yards on Florida International’s drive late in the first half, which was capped by a field goal.

“The quarterback made us look really bad at times,” Herring said. “It’s always good to win but in reality there are some things that are lingering.”

KEY KICKING BATTLE

Florida International Punt Coverage vs. Arkansas PR Jerell Norton

The jitters gone, his confidence skyrocketing, Jerell Norton can’t wait for his next punt return. Any time of any day, that thought is bound to be in Norton’s mind. He had two returns for 19 yards, including an 11-yarder.

But it was his return that wasn’t, a 34-yarder called back by a block in the back, that excited Arkansas’ coaches, players and fans the most.

“It’s always fun to get your hands on the ball,” said Norton, who also returned an interception 23 yards. “Since I’ve been back there, we’ve been preaching that the (punt return unit) has to step up, and we have.

“I’m getting key blocks, and I’ve been having fun. But I still feel like I’m young, and there’s a lot of stuff I have to learn, mentally and physically.”