Razorbacks win season opener against Eastern Illinois

Razorbacks win season opener against Eastern Illinois

New coach Chad Morris gets Hogs off on winning foot

www.ua.edu/sports FAYETTEVILLE — It was a game of firsts for the Razorbacks. New Arkansas coach Chad Morris got his firt win in his first game as the Hogs’ head coach in the teams first game of the new season, and a though the Razorbacks started the game with one quarterback, the team flourished with a different one under center. Cole Kelley was named the starting quarterback early lasy week, but it was Ty Storey who may have cemented his name at the top of the depth chart Saturday against Eastern Illinois.

Storey threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another to help the Razorbacks win in their debut under Morris. The junior did so despite not starting the game and only coming in for one play in the first quarter, a brief injury substitution for starter Kelley.

The performance was a welcomed breakout for the kid from an hour south in Charleston, Ark., especially after having attempted only four passes in his first three years on campus.

''Everyone goes through stuff,'' Storey said. ''… It's been a while, and it was nice to get hit again and be out there and move around. It was fun, just being out there with my guys.'' After finally entering the game as more than just a substitute on Arkansas' fourth series, Storey took control of the huddle – and a game in which the Razorbacks were winning only 10-0 at the time. He threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the second quarter alone and finished 12-of-17 passing for 261 yards overall.

Harry Woodberry threw for two touchdowns for the Panthers in their first game against a Southeastern Conference opponent.

Woodberry was 9-of-15 passing for 96 yards off the bench, and starter John Brantley completed 18 of 25 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.

Jamal Scott rushed 12 times for 82 yards to lead Eastern Illinois.

The Panthers, however, had no answers for a Storey-led Arkansas team that outscored Eastern Illinois 28-6 in the second quarter.

Arkansas managed only 80 yards rushing on 37 carries, but the combination of Storey and Kelley led the way to 350 yards through the air.

Kelley completed 9 of 12 passes for 92 yards and a 42-yard touchdown to tight end Austin Cantrell, but Saturday was Storey's day in Fayetteville.

After Saturday's breakout performance from the previously little-used Storey, it's hard to imagine the Razorbacks taking the field next week with anyone but the junior under center to begin the game.

After playing throughout the first quarter, Kelley didn't re-enter the game until late in the fourth quarter – after the Razorbacks played freshman Daulton Hyatt for a series at quarterback.

The Razorbacks forced six fumbles in their first game under defensive coordinator John Chavis, recovering five.

Chevin Calloway forced one of the fumbles and recovered two for Arkansas, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw had 10 tackles in the first quarter before exiting with a leg injury, and Morris didn't have an update on the senior's status after the game.

Up next, the Razorbacks will be on the road, heading west to take on Colorado State.

From UofA Sports