Arkansas' Davis scores three TDs for Hogs in 2OT win 38-31

Sophomore Knile Davis became the 10th player in University of Arkansas history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, but tonight, it will be his first career touchdown reception that saved the day as the 13th-ranked Razorbacks won in double overtime over Mississippi State, 38-31. Davis rushed for 187 yards on 30 carries, but Ryan Mallett found him wide open from the backfield for six yards in the second overtime for the win. It was a game filled with drama as it looked twice that the Razorbacks had their ninth win of the year sewn up against the 22nd-ranked Bulldogs (7-4, 3-4). The Hogs shut down a potent Bulldog offense on its final drive of the game, and was killing time in the late fourth quarter. State was forced to use its final time outs. All the Razorbacks needed was a first down, but a fumble by Davis gave the ball back to MSU with just over a minute to play. State quarterback Chris Relf moved the Bulldogs up field, but was unable to get the score. Rushing before time expired, MSU got the kicking unit on the field for a 25-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. Arkansas won the toss and elected to play defense, a break that set the stage for another near miss. State running back Vick Ballard fumbled into the end zone for a touch back to end the first overtime for MSU. The Razorbacks were unable to end the game, however, as freshman kicker Zack Hocker missed, only his second of the season. The Razorbacks were on offense first to start the second OT, and Mallett opened up the offense quickly. On third down, he rolled right, then looked back left at Davis who had snuck out of the backfield against the flow of the play. Mallett tossed the easy pass to Davis for his first career touchdown reception. State was stopped on downs, with a definite final play of the game as Tenarius Wright sacked Relf to end the contest. For the night, Davis' three touchdowns led the Razorbacks. His rushing put him at 1,031 for the year, and becomes the 10th Razorback in school history to post a 1,000-yard season. Mallett threw for 305 yards in the game, going 17-of-26 with three touchdown passes and one interception. He had two drives of less than 40 seconds. D.J. Williams and Joe Adams had four catches each to lead the Razorbacks, with Jarius Wright topping the yardage with 105 for his two receptions.