Troy faces a tough Arkansas

When Troy faces Arkansas tonight at 6:30, the Trojans won’t see stud running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, but they will see another explosive offense.

Two years and one coaching staff from the last time Troy played at Arkansas, the Razorbacks (5-4) are still locked and loaded on offense, but with 6-foot-7 quarterback Ryan Mallett and several receiving threats, led by Jeremy Childs, Joe Adams and tight end D.J. Williams.

In 2007, Arkansas beat Troy 46-26.

“We moved the ball a little bit on them,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. “They were certainly very good, especially when they put both of those running backs out there and did their Wild Hog stuff. It was tough stopping it, and I’m sure they’ll be tough to stop now.

“They’re a little bit different style, but have a great player at quarterback.”

Mallett has thrown for an SEC-best 2,477 yards with 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions. The Razorbacks don’t have an all-SEC rusher, but they have three solid ones in 5-foot-9 speedster Michael Smith and youngsters Broderick Green and Ronnie Wingo.

“I saw them play Auburn (a 44-23 Arkansas win), so they’ve got some running backs left,” Blakeney said. “They ran all up and down the field on them.”

With seven straight wins, the Trojans (7-2) are headed towards a fourth straight Sun Belt championship with one more Sun Belt win, but that doesn’t downplay the importance of winning this one for more national respect.

“The challenge is a challenge that we love to face,” Troy linebacker Bear Woods said. “We want to beat one of our marquee teams this year. Bowling Green is gone, Florida is gone, so there’s just Arkansas. As seniors, you can say it’s non-conference, but this game is just as important to us because we’ve only got three games left.”

Troy could be catching Arkansas at a good time, since the Razorbacks are trying to gain bowl eligibility and move up the SEC pecking order. A strong finish could put Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. A weak finish keeps the Razorbacks out of the bowl picture entirely or in a lesser bowl.

Last year, Troy was up 31-3 at LSU before falling 40-31 in a mid-November game.

“I think it is a good time because they’re in between SEC games,” Woods said. “The team that we are, being a Sun Belt team, they might say, ‘Hey Troy’s this and this,’ but I know they’re too in depth in the SEC to be worried about us too much.”

One glance at film will keep Arkansas players on their toes, coaches say.

“One thing, the film doesn’t lie,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “When players watch the film and see their good players, then they know they better get ready to play. When you get worried is when they don’t look very good on film. These guys look good on film, so our guys will be ready.”