Arkansas showcases potential in Red-White spring game

LITTLE ROCK -- If sophomore Cole Kelley and junior Ty Storey were dead even in the Arkansas starting quarterback competition entering Saturday, the annual Red-White spring game provided more of the same.

Battling to succeed two-year starter Austin Allen under center, both quarterbacks passed for 126 yards and one touchdown in the 27-25 win for the offense at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Kelley completed 10 of 19 pass attempts, while Storey connected on seven of his 14 tries.

"I thought our quarterbacks did what we've seen all during spring," first-year Arkansas coach Chad Morris said. "We saw some good, we saw some bad, saw some plays that should have been made and saw some really good throws.

"We just ask these guys to be present. You can't be perfect so just be present. The way we talk to our guys is just about operating within the system. Those are things that we'll have to keep on."

After being forced to punt on its first two possessions, the offense found its groove midway through the first quarter. Starting its drive on the 47-yard line, the offense put its first points on the board when Storey connected with junior tight end Cheyenne O'Grady for a 53-yard score on the first play from scrimmage.

O'Grady had both touchdown receptions on the day, finishing with 58 yards on two catches.

"He's had a really good spring," said Morris. "He's a big target and for us to play fast, be effective and be the most explosive offense in the country, that tight end position has got to be a versatile guy. He has to be able to stretch the field vertically; we want to push the ball down the field."

Awarded points for sacks, tackles for loss, three-and-out possessions, fourth downs stopped and turnovers, the defense held an 8-7 lead at the end of the first quarter that featured projected starters on both sides of the ball.

Under the guidance of first-year defensive coordinator John Chavis, the Razorback defense had seven sacks, nine tackles for loss, nine pass deflections and one fumble recovery in the intrasquad scrimmage.

"I would say probably so, a little bit," Morris said when asked if the defense was ahead of the offense at this point. "Some days are different than others. A few practices ago, the offense was ahead of the defense, so it just depends on the day."

After junior Connor Limpert missed a 32-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the first quarter, Chris Lopez hit from 38 yards with 9:41 remaining in the second quarter.

The defense tightened up after Storey's touchdown pass in the first quarter, but Kelley engineered a scoring drive of his own in the final minutes of the first half.

The sophomore led the offense on a nine-play, 71-yard drive that was capped with a five-yard touchdown pass to O'Grady. Kelley passed for 54 yards on the scoring drive, including a 34-yard completion to junior La'Michael Pettway inside the 10-yard line.

Pettway finished with a team-high six catches for 91 yards.

"He definitely shined today," said Morris. "He's another guy that's been good at times and inconsistent at times. Today, he chose that it was time to be consistent. He's big, he's physical, he runs well, he's got good ball skills and it's time for him to be a guy that can make plays in a game situation."

Just two possessions after Kelley's scoring pass, the defense nearly scored a touchdown of its own at the end of the first half.

Junior defensive lineman Jamario Bell broke loose for a strip sack and senior Michael Taylor recovered the ball and raced for the end zone before being forced out of bounds at the three-yard line as time expired in the second quarter.

Bell finished with seven tackles and a team-high two sacks on the day.

"My challenge to him was that he's got to be more consistent," Morris said. "There's some days that he looks like an All-American, and some days where you don't know where he's at. It was great to see him perform today and he has shown that throughout the course of spring."

Awarded four points for the turnover and sack, the defense held a slim 20-17 lead at the break before reserves took over in the second half.

Backup quarterback Daulton Hyatt completed both of his pass attempts for 24 yards, but did most of his damage on the ground. The redshirt freshman had 30 yards on five carries, including a 17-yard scamper.

Maleek Williams scored the only touchdown of the second half on a two-yard run with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter. The redshirt freshman finished with 61 yards on a team-high 15 carries.

Lopez connected on his second field goal of the day with a 31-yard boot with 7:51 remaining in the fourth quarter to set the final margin.

"It was about coming out and seeing what we can do," said Morris. "Let's iron sharpen iron. Let's go against goods on goods and just see what we can do. It was exciting and I appreciate all that showed up today."

Sports on 04/08/2018

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