Offense highlights Red-White Game
Matt Jones
Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Sports
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Forecasted heavy showers sandwiched Arkansas' Red-White game to cap spring practice, allowing the Razorbacks' offense to shine. The two squads combined for 829 yards of total offense, including 574 yards through the air as Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson each made their final case to be named starting quarterback. The Red team - made up primarily of first-team performers - won 49-21.
"The rain stopped and it went good," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "I was happy with a lot of things that transpired on the field.
"Offensively we showed we can execute. I thought our offensive front did a real nice job of pass protection and gave the quarterbacks time."
Mallett, who transferred from Michigan last January, finished the night 15-of-26 passing for 233 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw a pair of interceptions playing solely with the Red team.
Wilson finished the night 23-of-36 passing for 301 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in playing for both teams. The Greenwood native made the most of his time with the first team, going 14-of-16 for 169 yards and a third quarter touchdown strike to London Crawford.
Petrino said the decision on the starter would likely be made Thursday.
"Both showed they can execute the offense and make the throws," Petrino said. "They did have good timing. They did stand in there and throw it. They just had two bad decisions early in the game and it resulted in two interceptions. They can't do that and have to take care of the ball.
"It was good to get Tyler some work with the ones like we did. Because the Red team had so many offensive plays he actually got some more work with that group than we anticipated."
Arkansas quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee said he was also pleased with the performance of the duo.
"We're in a good position at the position, but we've still got a long way to go before we're prepared to win in the SEC," McGee said. "They're going to continue to work hard - they're good kids. It's really important for them to lead this team to a championship."
Early on it appeared as if the Razorbacks' run game would steal the show when De'Anthony Curtis, who finished with 103 rushing yards, busted a 55-yard touchdown run on the game's third play from scrimmage to give the Red team a 7-0 lead.
But with three running backs out for the game because of injury, the run game eventually stalled with the two teams combining for 255 rushing yards - 55 of which came on Curtis' first of two runs to pay dirt and another coming on a 60-yard score from Adrian Moore in the fourth quarter.
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