AF2 : Twisters’ 1-2 punch, defense dominating
Posted on Sunday, June 15, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/228731/
Arkansas wide receivers Jamaal Perry and Chris Denney and the Twisters’ defense were too much for the Lubbock Renegades.
Perry and Denney each scored four touchdowns and Arkansas forced four turnovers in the Twisters’ 61-25 victory before a crowd of 4, 931 at Alltel Arena on Saturday night.
Perry got the blowout started.
When Lubbock (6-4 ) defeated Arkansas 64-57 in Lubbock, Texas, on May 17, Denney caught 13 passes for an Arkansas singlegame record 229 yards and 5 touchdowns.
“We kind of had a feeling they might do something to try to limit Denney, which is fine because we have Jamaal Perry,” Arkansas Coach Chris Siegfried said.
Perry had three touchdown catches and scored on a 2-yard run — to give Arkansas (7-4 ) a 27-10 lead with 9: 12 left in the second quarter — before Denney caught his first pass.
“They have very talented receivers,” Lubbock Coach Rodney Blackshear said. “I didn’t have to tell our guys about Denney, but I did warn them about Jamaal Perry. I’ve seen enough of him to know he’s very good.”
Perry had 11 catches for 176 yards and Denney 6 for 67.
“This is the first game where a team said they had to stop Chris Denney,” Arkansas quarterback Kyle Rowley said. “I’m sure it’s been a little bit frustrating for [Perry ]. But I said, ‘Just be patient. You’re going to have a big game,’ and this was the one.
“ They tried to take Denney away, but you can’t leave Jamaal Perry open.”
Lubbock scored 10 points on its first two possessions, but its next four ended with two fumbles, an interception and the halftime horn.
Defensive back Tracy Belton intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble. Both turnovers led to Arkansas touchdowns.
“If our defense gets turnovers, or offense is going to score,” Belton said. “We’re all coming together. Game by game, we just keep getting better. Take a look at that scoreboard. I think that shows we’re getting better.”