SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 3, 2011

Tyler Wilson threw two touchdown passes to Jarius Wright, and No. 15 Arkansas used a 20-point first quarter to fuel a 51-7 blowout of Missouri State in Saturday’s season opener.

The host Razorbacks (1-0) debuted Wilson at quarterback, replacing graduated star Ryan Mallet. Star running back Knile Davis is gone for the season after suffering an ankle injury in preseason. But on this night, Arkansas had more than enough offense to overwhelm the Bears (0-1).

Wilson and Wright connected on a 33-yard touchdown five minutes in, Joe Adams returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown and Kody Walker’s 1-yard touchdown run staked the Razorbacks to the 20-0 advantage.

Ahead 30-0 at halftime, Wilson and Wright hooked up for a 29-yard touchdown midway through the third. Wilson completed 18-of-24 passes for 260 yards. Wright caught six passes for 108 yards. Walker rushed for two scores as the Razorbacks finished with 466 yards of total offense.

Kierra Harris threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Saffold with 45 seconds left in the third for Missouri State. Arkansas held the Bears to just 163 total yards.

The Razorbacks play host to New Mexico next Saturday. Missouri State plays next Saturday at Eastern Kentucky.