ARKANSAS 63, EASTERN MICHIGAN 27: Sweet stuff

FAYETTEVILLE — The tape of Arkansas vs. Eastern Michigan 2009 ought to go straight to DVD, filed in the horror section.

On a crystal clear Halloween night, the Razorbacks vented frustration built up from back-to-back SEC losses, bludgeoning the Eagles 63-27 before a crowd of 62,501 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Arkansas (4-4), a 36-point betting favorite, had its way against Eastern Michigan (0-8), posting its highest point total since a 66-7 victory over North Texas in 2007, and tying the ninth-most points the Razorbacks have ever scored.

Arkansas scored on its first four series, on defense and on special teams, scoring in ways that sent media members digging into the record books.

“I like the way we came out and played in the first half,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “I thought we executed well and the guys flew around.”

The Razorbacks’ second half was blemished by three turnovers and slipshod defense against the play-action pass as Eastern Michigan outscored the Razorbacks 27-21 in the final 30 minutes.

Eastern Michigan Coach Ron English, whose program took home a $650,000 guarantee for serving as fodder for the Hogs’ homecoming, was asked if he thought Petrino was motivated to hang a big number on his Eagles after the frustration of last week’s loss at Ole Miss.

“That’s what Petrino does,” English said. “He’s going to try to score as many as he can. That’s what he does, so this is not surprising. It’s what he does.”

The apex of the Razorbacks’ highlight reel came on back-to-back snaps in the second quarter that resulted in big-play touchdowns.

Broderick Green shot up the middle and down the left sideline for a record-setting 99-yard touchdown run, then Ryan Mallett hooked up with Joe Adams for a 78-yard scoring pass as the Razorbacks pulled ahead 42-0.

Mallett, whose accuracy had been off in recent weeks, completed his first 11 throws and finished 14 of 16 for 248 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Green ran 9 times for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns, his first 100-yard game as a Razorback. Green’s 99-yard score came with 4:10 left in the first half after a 64-yard Patrick Treppa punt was downed at the Arkansas 1.

Green charged through a big hole over left guard, cut to the left sideline, fighting off a tackle attempt from cornerback Arrington Hicks. A block from receiver Jarius Wright helped spring Green for the final 30 yards.

Green’s 99-yard score was the longest run in Arkansas history and only the seventh 99-yard touchdown run in major college football since 1941.

Adams, who missed the previous three games recuperating from a mild stroke, caught 3 passes for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns, picking up where he left off before sitting out against Auburn, Florida and Mississippi.

Arkansas outgained Eastern Michigan 589-348, including a 390-39 advantage in the first half when the Eagles were held without a first down.

But the Eagles capitalized on a series of big-play, play-action passes in the second half, gathering 309 yards and 27 points to revive a previously moribund offense.

“I think we lost a lot of concentration and gave up some big plays,” Petrino said. “There was nothing fancy about the plays. I think we had 11 guys going for the run.”

Adams, Green and Knile Davis each scored two touchdowns for Arkansas, which has three more in-state games before finishing up the regular season at LSU.

Linebacker Freddy Burton intercepted a Kyle McMahon pass at the 50-yard line in the first quarter and rambled down the left sideline for a touchdown as part of the Razorbacks’ first-quarter onslaught.

Arkansas had the game well in hand after Seth Armbrust blocked Eastern Michigan’s first punt of the second half. Armbrust eventually recovered the ball and ran the final yard for a touchdown to make it 49-0.

Eastern Michigan outscored Arkansas 27-14 from that point.

Quarterback Kyle McMahon led a five-play scoring drive, which included the Eagles’ initial first down of the game, and capped it with his 8-yard pass to tight end Ben Thayer.

Eastern Michigan, which came into the game ranked 114th nationally with a 15.4 scoring average, hit a 77-yard play on its next snap, with Mc-Mahon hooking up with Kinsman Thomas for a touchdown to make it 49-13.

That score was part of a four-touchdown spree by the two teams in a span of 5:40.

The Razorbacks scored on Knile Davis’ 4-yard run and Lucas Miller’s 16-yard catch from Mallett.

Arkansas’ streak of 13 consecutive quarters without a turnover ended when an Eastern Michigan punt hit Greg Gatson in the back and the Eagles recovered early in the fourth quarter.