Mississippi State Bulldogs 51, Arkansas Razorbacks 50: Trust Brandon Allen

That’s an irony that Hedlund, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ redshirt freshman place-kicker, likely mulls off Arkansas’ 51-50 SEC West loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on last Saturday’s frigid night at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Saturday’s loss has overshadowed the record setting day for Arkansas senior quarterback Brandon Allen.

“Well, unfortunately, I’ve been through a couple heartbreakers since coming here to Arkansas but that one might be at the top of it”, Razorback head coach Bret Bielema said after the game. It did look low. We’ve got to be able to hold up, not only on our battery – the snap, hold and kick – but also the protection. Run the ball three times up the middle to set up a game-winning field goal attempt. “I know Coach Bielema and all the players join me in thanking our fans for their continued passionate support”. “I should say this, ‘You really didn’t know about the kick because the ball got taken off his foot, basically, before it ever really got in the air”.

Arkansas’ defense had no answer for Mississippi State senior Dak Prescott.

Linebacker Brooks Ellis nearly never came off the field Saturday against Mississippi State. What a huge momentum swing, but more importantly it got MSU back in the game on the scoreboard. “It will be something that will probably be cool to be looked at later in life, but right now it’s not anyone’s focus, not my focus, not this team’s focus”. Donald Gray finished with 59 receiving yards on two catches.

The win puts Mississippi State within shouting distance of a 10-win season. One would expect that they would only show signs of anger, and not passivity, against a Razorbacks team that is known for all points to be put up on the board.

Midway through the second half the Bulldogs found some life. Keon on the field with the Brandon Allen we now see would have moved them both up on the National Football League watchlist. “We were able to take advantage of some mismatches tonight”. Prescott (6-2, 230) is an impressive player, one of only three SEC quarterbacks to pass for more than 3,000 and rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. Arkansas took advantage of that with its next drive, a three-play, 65-yard touchdown drive including a two-point conversion on the old reverse throw to the quarterback. Allen hit Jeremy Sprinkle for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The play was set up by a Allen throw to Dominque Reed for a big gain. Throwing it isn’t necessarily wrong, but it might have been easier if they ran a normal play with more receivers closer to the line of scrimmage instead of all the way into the end zone. One would have to wonder, however, if the pressure will be too much for them. If you want a 1st down in that situation, you probably throw with a white-hot quarterback since the running game amassed fewer than 100 yards for the first time this year.

“We have to execute better”, Mills said. The guy does nothing but produce every week, and in my opinion he’s the most underrated player on the team.

On Friday, the Hogs will host Missouri in the Battle Line game, the new rivalry game with a new trophy to go with it. It is a lovely piece to go on display next to the Golden Boot trophy already in the display case.