The University of Arkansas football team cruised to a 52-7 victory in its season opener against Alabama A&M on Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks won their season-opening matchup for the fifth straight season.
Senior quarterback Taylen Green, in his second season as Arkansas’ starter after transferring from Boise State, threw four touchdown passes in the first half. In order, CJ Brown, Raylen Sharpe, Jalen Brown and O’Mega Blake caught one each, helping the Razorbacks to a 31-7 halftime lead.
Freshman kicker Scott Starzyk made a 53-yard field goal, putting Arkansas ahead 10-7, and made all seven of his extra-point attempts in the game.
Alabama A&M drove 75 yards on its first possession, culminating in a 6-yard touchdown run by Maurice Edwards IV that made the score 7-7.
Green tossed a touchdown to CJ Brown on the Razorbacks’ first drive of the second half, then another to tight end Andreas Paaske on their second to extend the lead to 45-7.
Arkansas inserted backup KJ Jackson for the next drive, ending Green’s day after a 24-of-31 passing effort. Green finished with 322 passing yards, 6 touchdowns — 1 shy of tying the Arkansas single-game record — and no interceptions, while rushing for 41 yards on 9 carries.
Jackson quickly led the Razorbacks to another score. After Mike Washington Jr. made runs of 4 and 30 yards, he caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to put Arkansas ahead 52-7. Washington led Arkansas with 79 rushing yards on 9 carries, while Braylen Russell provided 41 yards on 11 carries.
Blake totaled 121 yards on 7 catches to lead Arkansas, while CJ Brown, Jalen Brown and Sharpe each had at least 41 receiving yards.