LITTLE ROCK — The 2023 football season could not have started much better for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
After forcing a three-and-out on Western Carolina’s first possession Saturday, Arkansas scored on its second offensive snap with a 65-yard touchdown pass from KJ Jefferson to Jaedon Wilson.
It set the tone for a lopsided victory for the Razorbacks, who defeated Western Carolina 56-13 in front of an announced crowd of 44,397 at War Memorial Stadium. Arkansas entered the game as a 34.5-point favorite.
The 56 points were the Razorbacks’ most in a season opener since a 63-13 victory over New Mexico State in 2004, and the most scored by a Sam Pittman-coached team. The 43-point margin of victory was also the largest under Pittman, who began his fourth season in charge of the program.
Arkansas scored on three of its first four possessions to build a 21-0 lead, then scored twice in the final 2:56 of the second quarter to go ahead 35-3 at halftime.
Getting off to a quick start was a point of emphasis during the preseason for the Razorbacks, who failed to score on their opening possession in 12 of 13 games last season.
Wilson's touchdown marked the first time Arkansas scored on its first possession since a Sept. 10, 2022, game against South Carolina.
"I don't know if it will work every time, but I think we really started fast," Pittman said. "Defense had two or three three-and-outs in a row, and the offense went right back and scored.
"We had a little lull in the second quarter, and then scoring the last play of the half was a big momentum for us to go up 35-3."
Raheim “Rocket” Sanders’ 3-yard touchdown run with 8:40 remaining in the first quarter capped a 7-play, 47-yard drive that included a 25-yard pass from Jefferson to Isaac TeSlaa and a 13-yard pass from Jefferson to Isaiah Sategna.
Sategna returned a punt 12 yards to the Western Carolina 47 to set up a short field. Also handling kickoff returns for the first time, Sategna had a 28-yard return in the second half, plus a 55-yard return nullified because of an illegal block in the back.
Arkansas was forced to punt on its third possession, but a Hudson Clark interception at the Western Carolina 31 on the ensuing possession set up a short field. Jefferson hit TeSlaa for a touchdown pass on the next play to put the Razorbacks ahead 21-0 with 3:03 remaining in the first quarter.
Jefferson completed his first 12 passes. He finished 18 of 23 for 246 yards and 3 touchdowns, and also rushed for a 17-yard touchdown late in the second quarter to give Arkansas a 28-3 lead. Back-up quarterback Jacolby Criswell played the majority of the fourth quarter.
"I thought he played well," Pittman said of Jefferson. "We're not asking him at this point to run the ball as much. We didn't want to run him today much; we weren't going to advertise that. But we wanted to see if we had the receivers we thought we did and things of that nature."
Jefferson’s touchdown run, as well as Sanders’ 1-yard touchdown run as time expired in the second quarter, were set up by Western Carolina turnovers on its side of the field.
Dwight McGlothern intercepted Charlie Dean at the 48 and returned it 16 yards to the Catamounts’ 32 to set up Jefferson’s score. Jayden Johnson forced and TJ Metcalf recovered a Brandon Adams fumble at the Western Carolina 47 moments later.
Richard McCollum’s 34-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the first quarter accounted for the Catamounts’ only first-half points. McCollum also made a 33-yard field goal on the final play of the game.
Western Carolina scored on its first possession of the second half to cut Arkansas’ lead to 35-10. Desmond Reid’s 2-yard touchdown run was set up by a 40-yard pass from Gonzales to Censere Lee down the right sideline.
The Razorbacks answered with Jefferson’s third touchdown pass — 16 yards to Andrew Armstrong — to expand the lead to 42-10 with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter.
Armstrong, a transfer from Texas A&M-Commerce, led Arkansas with 5 receptions for 78 yards. He, TeSlaa from Hillsdale (Mich.) College, and freshman Davion Dozier had touchdown receptions in their first games playing for the Razorbacks.
Playing about 50 miles from his hometown of Morrilton and in his first game after transferring from North Carolina, Criswell threw a 14-yard touchdown to Dozier to cap a 48-yard scoring drive on his first possession after replacing Jefferson. That gave the Razorbacks a 49-10 lead with 7:55 to play.
Arkansas freshman linebacker Brad Spence punctuated the blowout with an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown that grew the lead to 56-10 with 4:19 remaining.
The Razorbacks had five takeaways — including four interceptions — and did not commit any turnovers. Johnson intercepted Gonzales late in the third quarter. Dean threw the Catamounts’ other three interceptions.
“You can go practice all you want, but [you don’t learn much] until you play a really good football team and [get] live reps that exposes you and some things you need to get better at," Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell said.
"I don't care what the score is. We got better today because of the competition we played.”
Arkansas won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. Gonzales, the Western Carolina starting quarterback, was tackled by linebacker Jaheim Thomas for a 2-yard loss on the game’s first play, then following an 8-yard run by Reid, Gonzales threw incomplete on third-and-4 to force a punt.
Jefferson completed a 14-yard pass to freshman tight end Luke Hasz on the Razorbacks’ first play, then threw a swing pass complete to Wilson on the second play. Wilson got a block from TeSlaa and ran down the Western Carolina sideline untouched for his first career touchdown reception.
Wilson, a redshirt sophomore, finished with 3 receptions for 83 yards after he entered with 3 receptions for 49 yards in 9 career games.
"His opportunity came today and he took full advantage of his opportunity," Jefferson said. "He made plays, big for us in the passing game and blocking as well. I’m extremely proud of him. His hard work paid off, and just to see he’s in the right frame of [mind]."
Western Carolina held Arkansas to 105 rushing yards on 36 attempts for an average of 2.9 yards per carry. Sanders led the Razorbacks with 15 carries for 42 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Playing its first game with new coordinators Dan Enos on offense and Travis Williams on defense, Arkansas out-gained Western Carolina 379-291.
The Razorbacks were without left guard Brady Latham for an undisclosed injury that Pittman said is expected to heal by early next week. Latham had a streak of 36 consecutive starts snapped.
Joshua Braun, the expected starter at right guard, moved to left guard to cover for Latham's absence. Ty'kieast Crawford started at right guard.
"Our run game was not what we wanted it to be, but let's not make a mountain out of a molehill," Pittman said. "The passing game was what we wanted it to be. The protections were what we wanted them to be. We've got a lot of work to do, but I'm proud of the team, and I'll take 56-13 any time somebody wants to give it to us."
Arkansas is scheduled to play its first on-campus game next Saturday at 3 p.m. against Kent State. The Golden Flashes lost 56-6 at Central Florida on Thursday.
CORRECTION: Jaedon Wilson's touchdown reception was 65 yards