Freshman gives seniors a win to remember
Swinging for the Fences
Matt Watson
Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: Sports
Senior quarterback Casey Dick saved the best numbers of his career for his final game in Fayetteville, giving the underdog Hogs a thrilling victory over the previously unbeaten Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Dick's career-high 25 completions and 385 yards were just enough to edge the nation's top offense and earned the quarterback the Crip Hall Award for most outstanding senior in the homecoming game. He was just two yards shy of the single-game UA record set by Clint Stoerner in 1997.
After a career full of ups and downs, Dick gave the home crowd at Reynolds Razorback Stadium a big win to remember him by.
He wasn't perfect by any means. He threw passes too short, too high or too late. He took sacks and was intercepted. But after 60 minutes of football, Arkansas came out on top.
But on the day that Dick and the Razorback seniors were honored, it was the younger players who stole the show.
Freshman Dennis Johnson made the play of the game, returning a kickoff 96 yards, splitting and out-sprinting the coverage team for the go-ahead score in the third quarter.
Sophomore D.J. Williams caught six passes for 129 yards, earning every yard, stiff-arming defenders to the ground and taking hits for going across the middle of the field.
Freshman Jarius Wright made the catch of his young career on Arkansas's first series, reeling in a 34-yard diving grab on a third down. After a dazzling spin move or two, the Warren native ended the day with five grabs and 112 yards.
More importantly, Wright's first catch was apart of the first Razorback opening drive of the season that ended in the end zone.
The Hogs jumped out to a 17-0 lead, thanks to Dick's 147 first-quarter passing yards and a pair of three-and-outs from the Arkansas defense.
The Razorback D may have played better than any other unit that's ever given up 528 offensive yards.
Former Hog coordinator Gus Malzahn showed Arkansas fans what they missed out on - including the statue of liberty - but the high-powered Tulsa offense could only produce 23 points against the Razorbacks.
Dick's career-high 25 completions and 385 yards were just enough to edge the nation's top offense and earned the quarterback the Crip Hall Award for most outstanding senior in the homecoming game. He was just two yards shy of the single-game UA record set by Clint Stoerner in 1997.
After a career full of ups and downs, Dick gave the home crowd at Reynolds Razorback Stadium a big win to remember him by.
He wasn't perfect by any means. He threw passes too short, too high or too late. He took sacks and was intercepted. But after 60 minutes of football, Arkansas came out on top.
But on the day that Dick and the Razorback seniors were honored, it was the younger players who stole the show.
Freshman Dennis Johnson made the play of the game, returning a kickoff 96 yards, splitting and out-sprinting the coverage team for the go-ahead score in the third quarter.
Sophomore D.J. Williams caught six passes for 129 yards, earning every yard, stiff-arming defenders to the ground and taking hits for going across the middle of the field.
Freshman Jarius Wright made the catch of his young career on Arkansas's first series, reeling in a 34-yard diving grab on a third down. After a dazzling spin move or two, the Warren native ended the day with five grabs and 112 yards.
More importantly, Wright's first catch was apart of the first Razorback opening drive of the season that ended in the end zone.
The Hogs jumped out to a 17-0 lead, thanks to Dick's 147 first-quarter passing yards and a pair of three-and-outs from the Arkansas defense.
The Razorback D may have played better than any other unit that's ever given up 528 offensive yards.
Former Hog coordinator Gus Malzahn showed Arkansas fans what they missed out on - including the statue of liberty - but the high-powered Tulsa offense could only produce 23 points against the Razorbacks.
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