Razorbacks beat Portland State
Arkansas opens season with win with Ole Miss on the horizon
www.arkansasrazorbacks.com
FAYETTEVILLE — The Razorbacks (1-0) beat Portland State (0-1), 20-13, at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium Saturday. Touchdowns on the ground from Devwah Whaley and Rakeem Boyd, along with three Hog interceptions, were enough to grab a win in the season opener.
Following a six-play, 42-yard drive, senior K Connor Limpert knocked through a 34-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3 with 9:40 left in the first quarter.
Senior RB Devwah Whaley scored Arkansas’s first touchdown of the 2019 season, punching it in from one yard out with 3:19 left to play in the first quarter.
It was Whaley’s 13th-career touchdown, and his first since Arkansas played at Colorado State (9/8/18) last season.
On third and long, Arkansas forced its first turnover on the young season, as junior SS Kamren Curl continued his excellent day by nabbing his first-career interception. Curl also had two sacks in the first half.
Junior QB Nick Starkel connected with freshman WR Trey Knox for 38 yards, the Razorbacks longest reception of the game.
It was also the longest reception by a true freshman since Devwah Whaley hauled in a 43-yard pass against Florida back in 2016.
Sophomore CB Jarques McClellion nabbed his first-career interception playing with 7:25 to go in the third period. The second INT of the day for the Hogs shifted second half momentum back to the Razorbacks.
Sophomore WR Mike Woods had a 15-yard reception, which was the longest on the day for the second-year player, and drew quite the reaction from the Razorback faithful.
Junior RB Rakeem Boyd scored Arkansas’s second touchdown on the day, breaking through from two yards out with 2:20 left to go in the third quarter. The score would give the Hogs an 11-point cushion over Portland State as the two teams headed down the stretch.
Sophomore FS Joe Foucha sealed Arkansas’s opening day win, intercepting Portland State for the third time in the game. It was Arkansas’s first three interception performance since 2014, when they picked off Ole Miss three times.
Speaking of Ole Miss, the Rebels and the Hogs will meet again this weekend, at the Razorbacks head down to Oxford in the SEC opener for both teams.
Ole Miss is reeling from a season-opening loss to Memphis over the weekend. Game time Saturday is 6:30 p.m., and will air on the SEC Network.
For more information on Arkansas football, including in-game updates, follow @Razorbackfb on Twitter.
