Mississippi State 51, Arkansas 50

“Anytime you put the ball in the air, you are vulnerable for a pick as well”.

It was an unexpected finish to a remarkable back-and-forth affair, one that followed Mississippi State’s 31-6 loss to Alabama a week ago and came only after the Bulldogs saw a 17-point first-half lead evaporate under the onslaught of 28-straight Arkansas points. As good as Allen was, Dak Prescott may have been better in passing for 508 yards and five touchdowns. The Bulldogs, even with a limited running threat this season outside of leading-rusher Prescott, gained 123 yards on 35 carries, while the Hogs gained just 73 yards on 29 snaps.

“Getting to the edge, we just didn’t tackle well, couldn’t get off the field”, said Arkansas junior linebacker Brooks Ellis. Arkansas will end up in the Pool of Six with a win against Missouri next week, but a loss to the Tigers could have them in play for Birmingham or Shreveport with a 6-6 record.

Mississippi State had 631 yards, Arkansas 479. Wilson had a touchdown and 93 yards.

“Wow. What a football game that that was”, Mullen said. Any time you play a ball control team, it puts a lot of pressure on you to execute.

Until Mississippi State got on offense.

Arkansas rallied from down 31-14 to close the first half down 31-21 and took a 42-31 lead after the third quarter. Prescott finished that first-half with 296 yards passing.

Arkansas scored one more time before the half, after another impressive drive by BA. Allen hit Jared Cornelius for a 9-yard score with 52-seconds left to pull within 31-21. Great job by Mississippi State limiting him.

Quarterback Chad Kelly also now holds school records in total offense for a season (3,857) and touchdowns responsible for (34), breaking records held by Bo Wallace and Eli Manning. Arkansas has been solid against the run this year but has struggled defending the pass. However, like Arkansas seems to do, they are improving in every facet of the game as the season goes on. Allen lit up the Bulldogs in the losing effort. “… We’ve just got to get the front end of our calendar to match the back end, and we’ll be on our way”. Obviously that would mean the Bulldogs would need a big game from quarterback Dak Prescott. It takes them to an average of 203 yards per game rushing, which is a hefty total indeed.

Arkansas answered with a quick drive. The Hogs had a 4th-and-1 at the Bulldog 26-yard line and instead of trying a high percentage play that, granted, still might not have worked, the Hogs ran a double fake reverse and let Allen throw it deep into the end zone. The Hogs scored the two-point conversion on a few trickery. One would have to wonder, however, if the pressure will be too much for them. Four players on each team had at least 50 receiving yards. Mississippi State led 24-14 when Ross made a leaping one-handed tip to himself over Richardson, then juked his way past Richardson and safety Josh Liddell for a 55-yard touchdown. This is why I believe the Hogs are the second best team in the SEC right now.