FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.—Bobby Petrino seemed more relieved than upset.

The growing pains began immediately for Petrino’s new team, but the Arkansas coach was happy to come away with a win. The Razorbacks rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit Saturday night to beat Western Illinois 28-24.

“Whoo,” Petrino said afterward. “That was a lot closer than we anticipated.”

It its first game under Petrino—and the first of the post-Darren McFadden era—Arkansas needed a big game from quarterback Casey Dick to hold off the second-tier Leathernecks. Western Illinois le...

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