Final score and recap: Arkansas blows away WCU to start 1-0
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas football will begin its 2023 season against Western Carolina in Little Rock on Saturday (Noon CT, SECN+, ESPN+).
The matchup is the first meeting between the two programs, but there is some familiarity between the schools. Arkansas Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek and Associate Communications Director Mike Cawood worked together at WCU.
Arkansas had a close call last season against its lone FCS opponent, trailing Missouri State 27-17 in the fourth quarter before eventually pulling away with a 38-27 victory over Bobby Petrino's team.
Western Carolina is no stranger to FBS competition, but the Catamounts have never come away with an upset victory. WCU is 0-61 against FBS schools and 0-20 mark against the SEC.
Arkansas enters Sam Pittman's fourth season in charge coming off its second consecutive bowl victory and its second consecutive winning season, a feat not accomplished by the program since 2015-16, when the Hogs won 15 games with victories in the Texas Bowl and Liberty Bowl. From 2021-22, Arkansas has won 16 games with victories in the Outback Bowl and Liberty Bowl.
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Follow along to get live updates, scores and highlights from the Arkansas-Western Carolina game:
Arkansas vs. Western Carolina score
Arkansas football vs. Western Carolina live updates, highlights
Follow along below all game for updates, including live scores, big plays and any injuries.
Fourth Quarter
FINAL: ARKANSAS 56, WESTERN CAROLINA 13. WCU kicks a field goal as time expires, but the Razorbacks cruised from start-to-finish and open the season 1-0. Kent State comes to Fayetteville next week before a difficult five-game stretch behind with BYU.
Arkansas freshman Quincy Rhodes went down and needed immediate attention from both training staffs in the closing stages of this game. Thankfully, Rhodes bounced to his feet and was able to walk off the field under his own power.
TOUCHDOWN HOGS, 4:19. Pick-six. What a moment for true freshman Brad Spence, who jumped the route and found himself with nothing but green turf in his way. That's the exclamation point, with Arkansas leading 56-10 and 4:19 remaining.
TOUCHDOWN HOGS, 7:55. Jacolby Criswell with his first Arkansas touchdown pass, finding freshman Davion Dozier for his first collegiate score on a 14-yard pass. Good drive by the backups to go up 49-10.
Jacolby Criswell now in the game for Arkansas at QB. Jefferson finished 18-for-23 with 246 passing yards and four total touchdowns.
Chris Paul Jr. called for targeting early in the fourth quarter and will miss the first half of next week's game against Kent State. It was a close decision, with Paul pulling out early on his tackle but still making head-to-head contact with the WCU quarterback.
Third Quarter
Another WCU turnover, this time off an interception by Jayden Johnson. The junior safety is having a terrific game with a forced fumble in the first half.
It took nearly three quarters, but the revamped Arkansas defensive line has its first sack of the season thanks to Keivie Rose.
TOUCHDOWN HOGS, 6:13. A great Arkansas drive is capped off by a 16-yard strike from Jefferson to Andrew Armstrong. Great route ran by the senior transfer. Was that Jefferson's final throw of the afternoon?
TOUCHDOWN WCU, 10:59. Desmond Reid scores on a 1-yard run, just one play after a deep pass that beat Jaheim Singletrary. It was pretty good coverage from Singletary, but a great throw and catch from WCU.
Second half is underway and Arkansas avoids disaster on its first drive. KJ gets sacked and fumbles, but he falls on the ball at his own 1-yard line. Great punt by Max Fletcher out of his own end zone.
Second Quarter
TOUCHDOWN HOGS, :00. Sanders scores on a 1-yard run straight up the gut with a heavy formation on the final play of the half. Arkansas leads 35-3 at intermission with plenty to like. The only complaint is a non-existent running game.
Fumble, recovered by Arkansas. Jayden Johnson lays the wood, and TJ Metcalf scoops up a fumble on what was a big run by WCU. Catamounts struggled with turnovers last year and they are off to an awful start in that department today.
TOUCHDOWN HOGS, 2:56. KJ Jefferson waited till the last moment to keep the ball on a read-option. Beautiful read for a 17-yard score on Jefferson's first designed run of the day. Arkansas leads 28-3.
Dwight McGlothern with an interception on the season-opener for a second-straight year. Charlie Dean stared down his receiver the entire time. Easy play for McGlothern. Arkansas takes over at the Catamounts 31-yard line.
Jaheim Thoms, a transfer from Cincinnati, has been everywhere for the Arkansas defense. He and Anthony 'Tank' Booker both recorded crucial tackles for loss to halt a nice WCU drive, but the Arkansas offense went three-and-out.
The running game has been ugly. Eight rushes for negative-11 yards, which includes a bad snap Jefferson had to fall on. Does Arkansas miss Brady Latham?
First Quarter
FIELD GOAL WCU, :15. Catamounts finally get a first down on their fifth drive, eventually cashing in 34-yard field goal from Paxton Robertson. Hogs still in control with a 21-3 lead as we close down the opening quarter.
TOUCHDOWN HOGS, 3:03. Jefferson to TeSlaa on a 31-yard pass down the middle. Score was set up by Hudson Clark, who mades two consecutive great plays by blowing up a swing pass and then picking off Cole Gonzales on 3rd down. Arkansas up 21-0. The rout is on, but it's time to get some momentum in the running game.
Good start for the Arkansas defense, who forced a three-and-out on each of Western Carolina's first three drives without the defensive line causing too much havoc in the Catamounts' passing game.
TOUCHDOWN HOGS, 8:40. Raheim Sanders plunges in on a two-yard run, and Arkansas leads 14-0. KJ Jefferson looks sharp, sitting 5-for-5 for 114 yards. He threw a dart to Isaac TeSlaa on 3rd-and-long early in the drive.
TOUCHDOWN HOGS, 13:03. A screen pass from KJ Jefferson to Jaedon Wilson goes 65 yards for a score. Great block by Isaac TeSlaa. Arkansas leads 7-0 less than two minutes into this game thanks to a 3-and-out and an explosive play.
Western Carolina's first drive is a three-and-out. Jaheim Thomas began his Arkansas career and the Razorbacks' season with a tackle for loss on the first play of the game.
Pregame
Arkansas wins the toss and defers to the second half. Western Carolina will get the ball first.
Arkansas captains today are KJ Jefferson, Landon Jackson, Raheim Sanders and Trajan Jeffcoat.
There was a moment of silence prior to the national anthem for Ryan Mallett, Alec Collins, Dion Stutts and Chris Smith, four members of the Arkansas family who have all passed away since the conclusion of last season.
There is no sign of senior offensive lineman Brady Latham in pregame warmups. Josh Braun will slide over to left guard in Latham's place, wit Ty'Lieast Crawford appearing to be the starting right guard.
Andrew Chamblee took the first reps in warmups at left tackle with the starting offensive line. Chamblee and Devon Manuel were battling for the starting spot protecting KJ Jefferson's blindside.
What time and channel is the Arkansas football vs. WCU game on?
When: Noon CT
Channel: SECN+/ESPN+
Where: War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock
Betting line: Arkansas by 34.5; Over/Under of 62.5
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Final score and recap: Arkansas blows away WCU to start 1-0
