QB’s play earns him Hall award
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas senior quarterback Casey Dick’s 385 passing yards in Saturday’s 30-23 victory over Tulsa were two shy of the school-record 387 set by Clint Stoerner in a 31-21 loss at LSU in 1997 in what turned out to be Danny Ford’s final game as Arkansas’ coach.
Dick completed 25 of 38 attempts in his final game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium and was voted by the media as winner of the Crip Hall Award, which annually goes to the most outstanding performance by a senior in Arkansas’ homecoming game.
“The thing Casey did best was he really distributed the ball,” Razorbacks Coach Bobby Petrino said. “He wasn’t back there just looking for one guy, or looking for the first guy in his progression. He understood the coverages and mixed it up and went through his progression.”
Dick, whose only glaring mistake was throwing an interception on third-and-6 from the Tulsa 15 with 3: 04 left, completed passes to seven receivers. The Crip Hall Award has been given out since 1950. “It means a lot, and it means a lot to win it,” Dick said. “A lot of great guys have won it in front of me.”
Tejada back Alex Tejada regained his place-kicking duties after being replaced by Shay Haddock five games ago at Texas. Tejada, who lost the job after being 0 of 3 on field-goal attempts and missing an extrapoint attempt, hit all three of his field goal attempts Saturday, from 30, 22 and 22 yards. He also hit both extra-point attempts. “[Tejada ] had a great week of practice,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “I’ve been seeing him more relaxed, more confident.” Petrino praised Tejada for staying focused and positive while he waited to get another shot to kick field goals and extra points.
Miller time Arkansas wide receiver Lucas Miller had two knockdown blocks of Tulsa defensive back Charles Davis to help spring tight end D. J. Williams for gains of 39 and 44 yards. Miller also caught four passes for 63 yards.
No surprise Tulsa came into Saturday’s game favored by a touchdown and ranked 18 th in the BCS standings and 19 th in the AP poll, but Arkansas’ victory shouldn’t have come as a big surprise considering the Hurricane’s lack of success against teams from major conferences. Tulsa has lost 17 consecutive games to teams from BCS conferences since beating Oklahoma State 35-20 in 1998. Slick shut out Tulsa receiver Slick Shelley, a junior from Fort Smith Southside, came into Saturday’s game with 25 catches for 457 yards and 6 touchdowns, but he failed to get a reception against the Razorbacks. There were passes thrown to Shelley, including some deep patterns, but they either were off target or he couldn’t bring down the ball. Shelley, a transfer from Tennessee, also failed to catch passes against Alabama-Birmingham and Rice this season.
Who’s 93 ? Junior defensive end Chris Berezansky played in the first game of his Arkansas career Saturday. Berezansky, who wears No. 93, got some backup reps with Adrian Davis missing the game because of a knee injury and Damario Ambrose missing some plays after he limped to the sideline.
Rankled Arkansas has two victories against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 when they played the Razorbacks. Auburn was No. 20 when Arkansas beat the Tigers 25-22 on Oct. 11 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Tulsa came into Saturday’s game ranked No. 19. On the season, Arkansas is 2-3 against teams in the AP poll. Recruiting ties Tulsa has eight players on its roster from Arkansas. “We think Arkansas is part of our home recruiting base,” Coach Todd Graham said. “It’s so close. Everything is a gas tank away from Arkansas to Tulsa.
“ It’s definitely a place where we feel we can do well recruiting, and we have, and we want to continue to do that.”
Tulsa’s players from Arkansas are fullback Charles Clay (Little Rock Central ), receivers Slick Shelley (Fort Smith Southside ) and A. J. Whitmore (Nashville ), fullback Victor Pongonis (Springdale ), offensive lineman Jared Grigg (Hindsville ), defensive backs Genesis Cole (Little Rock Central ) and Cody Lambert (Warren ) and tight end Phillip Dokes (North Little Rock ).
Graham said Tulsa is recruiting several players from Arkansas for the 2009 class. Phillip Butterfield, a quarterback from Lake Hamilton, has committed to the Hurricane.
Thumbs up To Arkansas freshman Dennis Johnson, for his 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that proved to be the gamewinning play. To Arkansas’ defense, for holding Tulsa to a season-low 23 points. To Tulsa’s defense, for putting the clamps on Michael Smith. The SEC’s leading rusher coming into the game, at 131. 5 yards per game, was held to 67 yards on 23 carries. To Alex Tejada for shaking off a rough start this season and taking advantage of an opportunity to be the Razorbacks’ place-kicker again when he got a second chance.
Thumbs down To the pass play called by Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino on third-and-6 from the Tulsa 15 with 3: 04 left. A field goal would have increased the Razorbacks’ lead to 30-20, but Casey Dick threw an interception, leaving the door open for a Tulsa comeback. Yes, Dick threw the interception, but that couldn’t have happened if Petrino had called for a run in the middle of the field to set up a field-goal attempt. To the official who called the celebration penalty on Dennis Johnson after he returned a kickoff for a touchdown. C’mon, let the players show a little emotion.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
