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Thursday's contest between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Pine Bluff Golden Lions wasn't much of a contest at all.
An offensive clinic by Arkansas resulted in a 49-0 halftime lead for the Razorbacks that grew into a 70-0 final score after the two squads agreed to shorten both the third and fourth quarters to 10 minutes.
In the first showing for quarterback Taylen Green and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, the Razorbacks' offense hummed to the rhythm of 687 total yards, 279 of which came on the ground.
Arkansas' defense also did its job, holding Pine Bluff to just 123 yards of total offense in a shutout showing.
Game Summary
Arkansas scored on all 10 of its offensive possessions, with the first touchdown of the year coming courtesy of Utah transfer Ja'Quinden Jackson. After a quick three-and-out from the Golden Lions, it was Green who scored his first touchdown in a Razorbacks uniform on a four-yard run.
From there, the pattern became quite similar: five consecutive punts by UAPB led to five more touchdown drives for Arkansas, including a dazzling touchdown run from Green to cap the half.
In a shortened second half, little changed. Pine Bluff punted on the first possession of the half, leading to the first Arkansas touchdown for Benton, Ark. native Braylon Russell. Two more punts from the Golden Lions followed, leading to the final two Arkansas scores of the night.
Turning Point for Arkansas
On the first drive of the season, Arkansas faced a second-and-10 play from the UAPB 40-yard line. It was then that Green showed off the athletic ability he'd been praised for all offseason, as he broke off a 32-yard run that set up Arkansas with first-and-goal. From there, it was smooth sailing for Green and the Razorbacks offense, which put together a perfect season-opener.
What It Means
A win was the expected outcome for Arkansas against the Golden Lions, but such a fluid performance by both the offense and defense should be a cause for optimism ahead of a pivotal Week 2 matchup against Oklahoma State. If Arkansas wants to grab a road win next week, they'll need a similar showing from the offense, which has the potential to light up scoreboards across the Southeastern Conference.
There are few positives for UAPB to take away from this game. For a team with such little momentum after a poor 2023 and a limp season opener, the first home game of 2024 against Arkansas Baptist on Sept. 7 couldn't come at a better time. The Golden Lions will look to rebound next Saturday and earn their first win of 2024.
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