Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

10/22/2011 at 6:12pm

Image by Mark Wagner

Arkansas running back Dennis Johnson scored on a 52-yard touchdown to help spark the Razorbacks. They scored 29 unanswered points from there to overcome a 17-0 deficit and win 29-24 at Ole Miss.

OXFORD, Miss. — Roommates Knile Davis and Dennis Johnson worked their way through a choreographed postgame celebration of high fives and salutes in the south end zone of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as they headed toward the locker room following Arkansas’ 29-24 victory against Ole Miss.

Davis offered up the final salute and then added a little something extra on the end. Following their typical post-victory exchange, Davis began bowing in the direction of Johnson.

It felt a bit like a coronation for Johnson, the man who calls himself “King_Johnson33” on Twitter. Johnson put up a career-high 160 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries against the Rebels (2-5, 0-4) carrying the Razorbacks (6-1, 2-1 SEC) from what seemed like another poor running performance in the making.

Teammates and coaches had all sorts of recognition for Johnson following the game, but what he got from Davis, the man who he’s trying to replace as the go-to running back, was something special. Johnson appreciated the love in the aftermath of his helping the Razorbacks erase a 17-point deficit.

“That’s like one of my best friends, he’s my roommate,” Johnson said. “We’re always talking about things. He gives me pointers. Like I was there for him last year when he took off, he said he was going to be there for me when I take off.”

Johnson, the 5-foot-9, 213-pound junior from Texarkana, certainly looked like a back capable of picking up where Davis left off last season. It was almost this exact moment in 2010 that Arkansas coaches seemed to settle on one running back and the ground game got going.

Davis, a preseason all-SEC pick before an ankle injury sidelined him for 2011, had his breakout game against Ole Miss last season, running for 176 yards on 22 carries with three touchdowns. From there Davis went on a tear.

Could Johnson be next?

We’ll have to see if Johnson can carry the rushing load the rest of the way. But on Saturday he filled that role, breaking the Razorbacks out of the doldrums with a 52-yard run on a second-quarter draw play that was the first of 29 unanswered points by Arkansas. Ole Miss led 17-0 at that point and was having a great deal of success milking the clock and keeping the ball away from the Razorbacks.

“Dennis gives you spark,” quarterback Tyler Wilson said. “He’s a tough, physical player and you like to have him on your offense.”

It wasn’t a perfect day for Johnson, who eclipsed his previous high of 127 yards set as a freshman. He did lose his grip on the ball on a run to the one in the third quarter, perhaps providing a glimpse of why the ball doesn’t come his way more often. Remember that Johnson averaged 20 yards per carry in last year’s season opener and his reward was a spot on the bench for the second half because he didn’t properly protect the ball on a 49-yard carry.

Petrino demands a lot from his players. He seems to be especially hard on Johnson, who — to his credit — admits he needs to be more focused at times.

Despite the error, Petrino did go right back to Johnson the next time the team needed a carry. Johnson took that handoff 5 yards, then 11, then 28 as the Razorbacks kept the chains moving on what resulted in a Zach Hocker field goal that pushed their lead to 29-17.

Following the game it sounded like Petrino was willing to forgive the fumble near the end zone. Arkansas wound up with a safety on the ensuing Ole Miss possession and wound up with a field goal a few offensive plays later.

“Unfortunately, everybody fumbles, everybody throws interceptions,” Petrino said. “As a coach, the first thing I like to do is get him the ball right away, show I have confidence in them.

“I have tremendous confidence in Dennis Johnson.”

Petrino’s words count as high praise from him for Johnson. It was a nice show of respect to go along with the gesture from Davis.

Imagine the love Johnson will get if he keeps these strong performances coming.

Tagged: Arkansas Razorbacks, Dennis Johnson, Knile Davis, Houston Nutt, Ole Miss Rebels, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Bobby Petrino