Forward pass unveiled

Hogs get wild with 215 yards

Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen (10) passes as he is rushed by Northern Illinois cornerback Shawun Lurry in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen (10) passes as he is rushed by Northern Illinois cornerback Shawun Lurry in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

FAYETTEVILLE -- Earlier in the week Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema called the Razorbacks' passing game "the best-kept secret in Fayetteville."

It's not anymore.

The Razorbacks have a passing game, just as Bielema said, and they showed it in beating Northern Illinois 52-14 Saturday night at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

The Razorbacks -- who came into the Northern Illinois game ranked 119th in passing yards among 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams with a per game average of 141.7 -- finished with more yards passing (215) than rushing (212).

"How about that passing game?" Bielema said with a smile after the game. "I know you guys were doubters.

"I was very confident in our throwing game. It's been a point of emphasis since last spring.

"These guys were anxious to throw it around this week, and I thought they did a nice of job of executing when their time was called."

Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen -- who threw a combined 17 passes as the Razorbacks' running game powered them to victories over Nicholls State (73-7) and Texas Tech (49-28) the previous two weeks -- completed 15 of 22 for 199 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception Saturday night.

"I think we've always had confidence in our passing game and what we're capable of doing," Allen said. "We knew it would have to come out eventually, that we couldn't run it down everybody's throat."

Allen's 44-yard touchdown pass to Keon Hatcher on the first play after Northern Illinois' onside kickoff attempt went out of bounds put the Razorbacks ahead 45-14 with 9:56 left.

"We kind of knew it was going to happen beforehand," Allen said. "It was something they were doing on defense to our looks. We were able to catch them in that look.

"We had a perfect play call for it. That was big for our offense."

Allen said the Razorbacks sent two receivers on vertical routes -- Hatcher and tight end Hunter Henry -- when the Huskies only had one safety playing deep.

"The safety and he had to pick which one to cover, and we were able to hit Keon down the seam," Allen said.

Hatcher said that when he saw the coverage, he knew the ball was coming his way. He was wide open when he caught the ball.

"B.A. just put it out there for me and I went and got it," Hatcher said. "Brandon played great. I love Brandon Allen."

The Razorbacks had an 8-play, 74-yard touchdown drive in 2:24, capped by Allen's 10-yard pass to Jared Cornelius, to take a 28-7 lead with 49 seconds left in the second quarter.

Allen completed 6 of 7 passes on the drive for 58 yards with Hatcher, Henry, Cornelius and tight end A.J. Derby making catches.

"That was very exciting for us to come out and throw it around a little bit," offensive tackle Brey Cook said.

Arkansas converted first downs on 10 of 14 third downs, with Allen completing passes for five first downs:

• To Cody Hollister for 6 yards on third-and-3.

• To Hunter for 9 yards on third-and-7.

• To Derby for 8 yards on third-and-3.

• To Hollister for 16 on third-and-10.

• To Hatcher for 14 on third-and-4.


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"It's huge to keep drives alive like that," Allen said. "When it comes to third down, we really buckle down and know we've got to pick it up."

Hollister, a sophomore junior-college transfer, started in place of Demetrius Wilson, who was held out of the game because of an ankle injury.

"Cody is a very, very efficient player," Bielema said. "I think him and B.A. have got something going that's really nice."

Hatcher had six catches for 107 yards. He was the first Razorback with a 100-yard receiving game since tight end Hunter Henry had 109 yards on four catches against Texas A&M last season.

"Keon did a great job all night of catching the ball," Allen said. "He's a physical guy that can get himself open, and I expect games like this out of him the rest of the year."

Allen completed passes to six different receivers, including a 14-yard gain to freshman Kendrick Edwards.

"To me, it doesn't matter who's out there," Allen said. "I go where the coverage dictates me to go."

Bielema said several of Allen's throws came on his second, third or even fourth progression.

"I mean, that's incredible patience," Bielema said. "I think B.A. feels comfortable throwing to a multiple set of our receivers, and that's something that'll bode well for the future."

Hatcher said the receivers have heared the criticism.

"But we don't let that stop us," Hatcher said of the receivers. "We continue to work hard, continue to get better each and every day so we can go out there and make plays for our team.

"Coach told us we can throw the ball, and we showed that tonight. But we haven't shown everything."

Sports on 09/21/2014

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