LITTLE ROCK-On the 75th Anniversary of War Memorial Stadium, the weather was hot and so was the action on the field in a 56-13 Razorback victory over Western Carolina.
Arkansas was solid in all phases of the game, scoring almost at will on offense, and creating turnovers, including an interception that was returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
The game was originally scheduled to be played starting at 3 p.m. but was moved up to 12 Noon due to concerns about the heat that was forecasted for Little Rock. Temperatures were pleasant during warm-up and into the first half but turned hot in the second half.
RNN Sports would like to mention the good people of Little Rock and the stadium staff for their hospitality in hosting the game at War Memorial. Everyone seemed to be happy to have the Razorbacks back in town. The War Memorial golf course was full of tailgaters, and the stadium appeared to be approximately 85-90% full at kickoff.
The Hogs will return home on Saturday to play their Fayetteville opener against Kent State.
Here are some game notes on the Western Carolina victory as provided by the University of Arkansas:
» QB KJ Jefferson has now thrown and rushed for a touchdown in the same game 11 times in his career. Jefferson finished 18-for-23 with 246 yards and three passing touchdowns.
» QB KJ Jefferson completed his first 12 passes to start today’s game. He is the first Razorback quarterback to complete their first 12 passes of a game since QB Brandon Allen went 14-for-14 to start against Texas A&M in 2015.
» Arkansas’ first touchdown of the 2023 season comes on QB KJ Jefferson’s 65-yard pass to WR Jaedon Wilson. It is Jefferson’s sixth career touchdown pass of 65-plus yards.
» RB Raheim Sanders recorded his sixth career game with multiple rushing touchdowns. Sanders finished with 15 carries for 42 yards and two scores.
» WRs Andrew Armstrong, Isaac TeSlaa, Davion Dozier and Jaedon Wilson hauled in their first receiving touchdowns as Razorbacks.
» Saturday marked the first time Arkansas has intercepted four passes in a game since against getting four versus Ole Miss in 2020. It was also the first time Arkansas had five turnovers in a game since getting seven in that Ole Miss game in 2020.
» Since the start of the 2020 season (Pittman’s first season as head coach), the Hogs have totaled 39 interceptions in 37 games. DB Hudson Clark is responsible for five of those 36 interceptions.
» P Max Fletcher booted a career-long 52-yard punt in the third quarter. He has three career 50+ yard punts. Fletcher boomed five punts for 245 yards (49 yards per punt) with two punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
» True freshman Brad Spence’s 85-yard interception return for a TD was the longest by a Razorback since Rohan Gaines’ 100-yard return for a TD in 2014 versus Ole Miss
RNN Sports will have photos from this game on our “Team Press Pass” Facebook page on Monday evening. We will also be back next Saturday in Fayetteville to bring you of the Hogs’ game with Kent State. Kickoff for that game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Grace Tafolla.
