FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—Hours before kickoff at Razorback Stadium, the video scoreboard flashed larger-than-life images of former Arkansas football notables such as Dan Hampton, Lance Alworth and, yes, even Jerry Jones.
Only the names seemed to change Saturday night as the 2014 Razorbacks dominated Northern Illinois and ended its nation-leading 17-game true road winning streak with a 52-14 thumping before a crowd of 67,204.
“We’re proud of that (streak), there’s no question,” NIU coach Rod Carey said. “But it’s time to start a new one. That’s the beautiful thing when something snaps. You can start a new one. We will be ready to go.”
From the opening kickoff that Korliss Marshall returned 97 yards for a touchdown after NIU won the opening toss and deferred, the Huskies faced an uphill battle against a formidable Southeastern Conference opponent.
“They had a fine return they popped loose. They executed it and got it in for seven,” Carey said of the auspicious start.
Said Arkansas coach Bret Bielema: “(Special teams coach) Rory Segrest has been talking about that play all week and thought we had a great chance to hit it. Korliss obviously did a great job and hit it full throttle, but those (blockers) all got a hat on a hat. Rory had a good plan when they kicked into the wind.”
Northern Illinois fell to 1-10 all-time against SEC competition. Their lone victory came exactly 11 years ago Saturday, a 19-16 upset at Alabama on Sept. 20, 2003.
Carey said earlier in the week he wasn’t that knowledgeable about the level of competition in the SEC, other than an SEC team has won seven of the last eight national championships.
“I still don’t know anything about the SEC and the level of competition. I know about Arkansas,” Carey said. “They are a good football team. I wouldn’t speak to that (comparison) still because we have only played the Razorbacks.”
Arkansas (3-1), coming off an impressive 49-28 victory at Texas Tech, controlled the line of scrimmage, the offensive tempo and the momentum.
After running the ball 68 times against Texas Tech, Bielema had a more balanced approach against the Huskies, running 45 times for 212 yards and passing 23 times for 215 yards. Quarterback Brandon Allen threw two touchdown passes.
Bielema, who beat NIU twice as Wisconsin’s coach, obviously delivered the message to his players that the Huskies were not to be taken lightly. The Hogs jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and kept the Huskies on their heels the rest of the way.
NIU sophomore quarterback Drew Hare, making just his second collegiate start, completed 18 of 29 passes for 179 yards. But Hare coughed up a key turnover after being sacked in the first quarter. Defensive tackle Darius Philon scooped up the fumble and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“I dropped back, I was trying to make a play and I should have had two hands on the ball. So it was bad ball security,” Hare said. “It’s unacceptable.”
Northern Illinois has beaten three Big Ten opponents on the road the last two seasons — Iowa, Purdue and Northwestern — and had hoped to add an SEC victory to strengthen its resume.
NIU still has a 27-game home winning streak intact. After playing three of their first four games on the road, the Huskies are off next weekend before playing three straight at home against Mid-American Conference competition.
“It will be great to get in front of our home fans,” Carey said. “I hope (Huskie Stadium) is sold out. We have three straight at home and we can use it. When we score (on the road) it’s dead silent. We’re looking forward to getting home to our community, no doubt.”
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