Ryan Mallett guided the Arkansas Razorbacks to another offensive explosion, racking up five touchdown passes in a 42-21 beating of Mississippi State in the final home game of the season.The victory at War Memorial Stadium moved Arkansas to 7-4 overall and 3-4 in Southeastern Conference Western Division play. The loss ended Miss State’s bowl chances by dropping the Bulldogs to 4-7 on the season, 2-5 in the SEC West.
The sophomore became the first Razorback in the 100-plus year history of football to throw for over 3,000 yards in a single season.
Another day of records for Mallett, who after only 11 games at Arkansas now owns or has a part of 12 different Razorback records.
Against MSU, Mallett tied his own school record with five touchdown passes. Twice he went for 50-yard plus passes to freshman Cobi Hamilton who led the Razorbacks with 131 yards receiving.
He closed with 18 of 34 for 313 yards and his five touchdowns.
With the regular season finale at Baton Rouge against LSU and a bowl game invitation left, Mallett could extend his early career domination of the Razorback passing records.
Giving up 21 unanswered points to Arkansas in the first half, Miss State changed quarterbacks and styles to begin the second half. The change turned what looked to be a runaway into an interesting and competitive third quarter.
Employing what looked like a close formation wishbone of the glory days of War Memorial Stadium, Chris Relf directed an 11-play, 94-yard drive exclusively on the ground. Anthony Dixon broke over 100 yards for the game with the 4-yard touchdown run to cut Arkansas’ lead to seven, 21-14, with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Mallett wasted no time breaking Miss State’s momentum and a pair of Stoerner’s records on the first possession of the second half. Mallett found Cobi Hamilton cutting under the State coverage. Four downfield receiver blocks and four evaded or broken tackles by Hamilton later, Mallett had his 30th career touchdown responsible and 27th career touchdown pass on the 64-yard effort.
Dixon matched Mallett on the next play, taking the handoff from Relf, bounding off two Razorbacks before breaking into the open for the 70-yard touchdown to return the margin to seven, 28-21.
For the day, Dixon finished with 24 carries for 176 yards, but after his touchdown run was neutralized by Arkansas’ defensive adjustments.
Arkasnsas put the score back to two TDs with a six-play, 50-yard drive, moved along by a pair of D.J. Williams first down receptions. Mallett evaded two Bulldog rushers, and throwing off his back foot on the run to Greg Childs for the back of the end zone made it 35-21. It was Mallett’s fifth TD pass, tying his own Arkansas record.
Arkansas defense dug in against the Bulldogs, changing their approach to shut down State with two three-and-outs and no more scoring after the Dixon breakaway.
Following State's last ditch drive ending on downs, Arkansas marched up field for its only rushing touchdown of the game, a two-yarder from Broderick Green and the final margin of 42-21.
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