Arkansas – Western Carolina: LIVE 1st Half updates, summary and highlights

Arkansas and Western Carolina are underway from War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

The 2023 college football arrived in earnest this week and the Razorbacks begin their trek through the 12-game regular-season slate Saturday against FCS opponent Western Carolina in Little Rock.

No one outside of that mountainous region of the Tar Heel State truly thinks the Catamounts have much of a chance to win, but they’ll bring home some bucks, just for trying.

Don’t miss any of the action and follow along right here for drive-by-drive and score-by-score updates from Little Rock.

Western Carolina 1st Drive

Western Carolina goes three-and-out after the Arkansas defensive line was able to generate pressure and get to quarterback Cole Gonzalez on first down. Desmond Reid was stuffed on second down and Gonzalez couldn’t complete the third down pass. Catamounts punted and Arkansas takes over for the first time this season.

Arkansas 1st Drive

KJ Jefferson finds freshman Luke Hasz for a first down on their first play from scrimmage. Then, Jefferson finds Jadon Wilson on a bubble screen for a 65-yard touchdown pass as the Hogs strike first. Cam Little’s extra point is good.

ARKANSAS LEADS 7-0

Western Carolina 2nd Drive

Western Carolina once again fails to get anything going on their second drive from scrimmage. A miscommunication leading to a five-yard penalty put them behind the sticks and they go three-and-out once again. Arkansas will take over in Western Carolina territory following a short punt.

Arkansas 2nd Drive

After two plays where nothing was gained, Arkansas converts a huge third down with a pass over the middle from Jefferson to Isaac TeSlaa for the 25-yard pickup. Jefferson immediately finds Sategna over the middle for a 13-yard gain on the following play. Three plays later, Rocket Sanders walks into the endzone for his first touchdown of the season.

ARKANSAS LEADS 14-0

Western Carolina 3rd Drive

First sack of the season for the Arkansas defense goes to Landon Jackson, who takes advantage of a bad snap for a 13-yard loss. Western Carolina gets some forward momentum on second down but Al Walcott makes his first tackle as a Razorback to force fourth down. Arkansas will take over from their own 19 yardline following the punt.

Arkansas 3rd Drive

KJ Jefferson avoids pressure and extends the play to find Andrew Armstrong for a first down. Two plays later, Rocket Sanders is stuffed for an 11-yard loss on second down and Arkansas fails to pick up the first down and is forced to punt.

Western Carolina 4th Drive

Western Carolina goes with a different quaterback as Charlie Dean III enters for Cole Gonzalez. Two plays later on 3rd and long, Hudson Clark intercepts Dean to end the Catamount drive.

Arkansas 4th Drive

Immediately following the Clark interception, Arkansas strikes in one play as KJ Jefferson finds Isaac TeSlaa for a 31-yard touchdown.

ARKANSAS LEADS 21-0

Western Carolina 5th Drive

Western Carolina picks up their first first down of the game with the help of a late hit penalty from Arkansas linebacker Jordan Crook. Charlie Dean finds Tamarez over the middle for a 21-yard gain, down to the Arkansas 27 yardline. Lorando Johnson gets called for pass interference to give Western Carolina the ball at the Arkansas 15 yardline.

Landon Jackson blows up a pass play to the flats for a 6-yard loss on first down. Johnson has a big stop on second down to force a third down (WCU is 0-4 on third downs today). Dean’s third down pass falls incomplete and the Catamounts attempt a 34-yard field goal, which is good for their first points of the game.

ARKANSAS LEADS 21-3

Arkansas 6th Drive

END OF FIRST QUARTER

After back-to-back positive plays, Arkansas has a very ugly rest of the drive. Jefferson rushed for the first time this game but only picked up 3 yards and immediately after, Beaux Limmer has a bad snap that results in a 3rd and 30 attempt. Arkansas isn’t able to convert and has a false start on the punt attempt. Western Carolina takes over at their own 15.

Western Carolina 7th Drive

Western Carolina goes a little more up-tempo on this drive and picks up a first down on their second play. Arkansas forced a third down, but roughs the passer to give the Catamounts a new set of downs. The Hogs are allowing Western Carolina plenty of space to pick up another first down. Jaylen Braxton gets called for pass interference but the offense interfered as well, so penalties offset.

The Razorback defensive line is able to swallow up Desmond Reid for a loss on first down. Dwight McGlothern blows up a screen on second down for another loss. Arkansas forces three-straight negative plays and forces the Catamounts to punt.

Arkansas 7th Drive

Arkansas still hasn’t been able to establish the running game as they go three-and-out deep in their own territory. Western Carolina is taking over with good field position.

Western Carolina 8th Drive

After Johnson is able to force a 7-yard loss on first down, Dwight McGlothern gets the second interception of the game. He picks off quaterback Charlie Dean.

Arkansas 8th Drive

Arkansas takes over in Western Carolina territory after the interception. After three downs, the Hogs go for it on 4th and inches and picks up the first down. On the next play, KJ Jefferson pulls the ball away from Dominique Johnson and scampers into the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown rush.

ARKANSAS LEADS 28-3

Western Carolina 9th Drive

Western Carolina turns it over on their first play of the possession. Branson Adams had a 22-yard gain before Jayden Johnson knocked the ball loose and true freshman TJ Metcalf comes away with the fumble recovery to give Arkansas the ball back.

Arkansas 9th Drive

Arkansas takes over in Western Carolina territory and is able to move the chains once thanks to a Rocket Sanders 5-yard gain. Jefferson finds Armstrong for a 29-yard gain over the middle that puts the Hogs deep into the redzone with less than a minute to go.

Jefferson keeps it up the middle on second down and gets inside the 1-yard line. On 3rd and goal, KJ Jefferson can’t get into the endzone and Arkansas is faced with a 4th and goal with three seconds to go. Hogs line up in an I-formation and hands it up the middle to Sanders for the touchdown. That ends the first half.

ARKANSAS LEADS 35-3

Story originally appeared on Razorbacks Wire