Felix Jones scored all the points No.15 Arkansas would need to defeat Ole Miss on Saturday but for those who arrived late or tuned in after the opening kickoff, missed it. Jones, the 2005 All-America kickoff return specialist for the Arkansas Razorbacks took the opening kickoff from inside the Arkansas end zone and returned it 100 yards to give the Hogs a quick six. Following the PAT the Arkansas had all the points it would need but went on to score many more points in defeating The Ole Miss Rebels 38-3 in Reynolds Razorback Stadium on the Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Ar.
Jones, who entered the game averaging 17.8 yards per return, kick-started the Hogs to their sixth straight win, which is their longest winning streak since the 2002 club won six straight late in the season.
The win improves Arkansas to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the Southeastern Conference, their best conference start since the 1998 squad started 5-0. The win also makes Arkansas bowl-eligible for the first time in three years, but for the seventh time in head coach Houston Nutt’s nine seasons.
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After Jones’ return, the Arkansas defense forced a three-and-out and the Hogs went up 14-0 on Darren McFadden’s four-yard run. Taking over on its 43, Jones had runs of 11, six and five yards, and McFadden carries of 17, six and the four-yard score. McFadden also had a 15-yard reception from true-freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain.
On the touchdown, McFadden lined as the quarterback in the shotgun with Mustain split wide right. McFadden took the snap and ran up the middle for the score.
The Razorbacks led 14-0 after the first quarter, marking the fifth time in seven games the Arkansas defense held its opponent scoreless in the opening period.
It was 21-0 midway through the second when junior fullback Peyton Hillis dove over the line from a yard out. The score capped a 57-yard drive including two receptions by Hillis for 17 yards and another carry for six yards. Junior wide receiver Marcus Monk set up the score with a 15-yard catch to the one.
Mustain, who was 12-of-15 passing for 157 yards and a touchdown for the game, was three-for-three for 32 yards on the drive.
McFadden, the SEC’s leading rusher coming in with 104.2 yards per game, had 65 yards and the touchdown on 17 carries. Jones finished with 51 yards on nine carries.
Hillis was the top receiver with six catches for 43 yards.
For the game, UA had 346 yards of offense, including 141 rushing and 205 passing. The defense held Ole Miss to 245 total yards.
Prior to kickoff the betting line had moved to –21 Arkansas, a six-point rise since the line opened favoring Arkansas –15 last week. The 35-point win provided Arkansas backers with an easy cover.
