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McFadden, Jones help Arkansas run over Troy

Sep 2, 2007 - 4:21 AM FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas (Ticker) -- Darren McFadden started his quest for the Heisman Trophy in style. But he had some help from a fellow star runner.

McFadden ran for a touchdown and threw for another and second-string running back Felix Jones added two scores as 21st-ranked Arkansas pulled away for a 46-26 victory over Troy in the season opener for both teams Saturday night.

Jones highlighted the win with a 90-yard kickoff return for the Razorbacks (1-0), who will open their Southeastern Conference slate on the road next week at Alabama.

"Our kick return game was good," Houston Nutt said. "I thought the touchdown by Felix was the biggest play of the game. We got a nice wedge and he took it all the way. With the new kickoff rules, the opposing team is going to have a big choice on where they are going to kick it."

The runner-up for the Heisman last season, McFadden began his junior campaign by racking up 169 yards on just 25 carries. After Arkansas kicked two first-quarter field goals, McFadden made it 13-0 with a 12-yard score just six seconds into the second.

"I feel as though I played a good game tonight, but there are better performances to come," McFadden said.

According to Troy coach Larry Blakeney, that is a scary thought.

"(McFadden) is, hands-down, the best football player I've ever seen, he said.

But the 6-2, 205-pounder, who showed his versatility last season by lining up in the shotgun formation at times, again displayed his prowess under center on Saturday. McFadden threw a 42-yard TD pass to Crosby Tuck to make it 37-17 with 5:32 left in the third quarter.

"It felt good to hit Crosby for his first career reception and touchdown, and I'm glad he got to be a part of the victory," McFadden said. "There are still a lot of things we need to do in order to get better as a team, and we definitely have to be ready going into to Tuscaloosa (Alabama)."

However, the Razorbacks had poured it on thanks to Jones, who was a 1,000-yard rusher last season in the shadow of his heralded teammate. The junior running back ran for 103 yards on 12 carries.

Jones admitted that he was anxious to get on the field on Saturday.

"We had a lot of built-up energy and emotion from the offseason, and it felt great to finally get out there and relieve some of it on the field," Jones said.

He scored on a kickoff return to make it 19-7 at 11:25 in the second and ripped off a 40-yard run from scrimmage to give his team a 30-17 bulge with 6:48 left in the third.

"Don't give me any credit (for the return touchdown), all I did was run, the frontline did all the work," Jones said.

Casey Dick was 10-for-18 for just 91 yards without a touchdown or an interception for Arkansas, which racked up 480 yards of total offense.

"Casey did OK tonight," Nutt said. "If the screen pass to Darren would have worked out, it would have been six or at least gone for a big play. He also had some people drop some balls which did not help him out."

Omar Haugabook had an abysmal game, going 12-for-40 for 182 yards for the Trojans (0-1), who closed within 23-17 at halftime. But Troy was outscored, 23-9, in the final two periods.

"(Arkansas) changed up on us a little," Blakeney said of the second half. "The biggest thing was that every time we got our eyes up, we messed up on something. We had two penalties on kickoff returns, and we just killed ourselves in field position."