EASTERN ILLINOIS

made Arkansas take shots.

FAYETTEVILLE — Chad Morris said the Arkansas Razorbacks were eager to start writing their own story for the 2018 season after hearing everyone else offer opinions.

From a quarterback perspective, sophomore Cole Kelley was the starter and finisher during the first chapter of the Morris era, while junior Ty Storey created a Storey-book middle section in Arkansas’ 55-20 season-opening victory over Eastern Illinois on Saturday.

While the Panthers did a good job of committing personnel to cram the Razorbacks’ run game, Storey and his veteran receivers got to work in the second quarter.

Storey’s 214 passing yards in the second quarter included two touchdown passes to La’Michael Pettway and one to Jordan Jones after the Razorbacks displayed great clock management just before halftime.

A 48-yard strike to Pettway came with 1:20 remaining in the second quarter, and a 57-yard pass to Jones came on the first play after a change of possession with 45 seconds left in the half.

Jones was asked about the Razorbacks’ decision to strike deep to make Eastern Illinois pay for creeping its safeties toward the line of scrimmage.

“Me, I’m always talking about the deep ball,” Jones said.

“I was just telling them to put one up, let’s take a couple shots, and Pettway did a good job with the vertical routes, too, so if they’re going to play down and not respect it, then we’ve got to go out and make those plays.”