Mississippi State spoils homecoming for Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks finally got to play a game on Frank Broyles Field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Saturday for the first time since the home game against Brigham Young University on Sept. 16 as they welcomed the Mississippi State Bulldogs for homecoming.

While the Arkansas defense kept the MSU offense to seven points, but the offense could not generate much of anything as the Razorbacks lost their sixth straight game, suffering a 7-3 homecoming loss to the ‘Dogs.

The game got off to a blazing start for the Razorbacks (2-6 overall, 0-5 in Southeastern Conference play) as safety Alfahiym Walcott picked off a Mississippi State pass at the MSU 35 with 14:25 left in the first quarter.

The Hogs got as deep as the MSU 6, but had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Cam Little with 12:30 remaining in the period for a 3-0 lead, which was where the score stood entering the second quarter.

However, for the rest of the first half, the Hogs were pretty anemic offensively as each of the next four Arkansas possessions ended in punts and the following attempt came to an end because it was the end of the first half.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 1-3) took the lead on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Mike Wright to Jo’Quavious Marks with 13:03 left before halftime. Kyle Ferrie’s extra point put Mississippi State ahead 7-3, which was the score at halftime.

The scoring drive was aided by two Arkansas penalties. The first was a fair-catch interference penalty, then a tripping penalty midway through the drive.

The offensive woes for the Razorbacks continued to start the third quarter. On the first possession of the second half, the Hogs faced fourthand inches from their own 47. Quarterback K.J. Jefferson tried to sneak for the line to gain, but in the mass of humanity the ball came loose with MSU safety Shawn Preston Jr. making the recovery at that spot with 11:33 left in the third quarter. However, the Hogs’ defense rose to the occasion to force a MSU punt on the ensuing possession.

It looked like the Arkansas offense was going to start clicking. After forcing a MSU punt, the Razorbacks took possession at their own 11 with exactly 10 minutes remaining in the period. The Hogs drove as deep as the MSU 33, but the drive stalled.

Little came on to attempt a 51-yard field goal, but before the ball was snapped the Hogs were called for a delay of game penalty. The Razorbacks decided to punt the ball, pinning the Bulldogs at their 3-yard line with 3:54 left in the period.

After three false start penalties, on third down, Wright hit Marks, who basically won a jump ball with the Arkansas defender to haul in the pass at the MSU 32 to keep the drive going, which continued into the early stages of the fourth quarter.

It looked like the ‘Dogs had increased their advantage as Wright went around the right side for an apparent 63-yard TD run, only to have it nullified due to an illegal blind-side block. The Bulldogs ended up punting, setting up the Hogs at their own 29 with 13:54 left to play in the game.

The Razorbacks once more moved the ball down field with some success. However, one play after it looked like their might have been a quick whistle saying Jefferson was stopped when he popped up to his left to continue a run, the Arkansas QB threw an interception, picked off by Preston Jr. at the MSU 31 with 9:11 remaining in the contest.

However, as all game long, the Hogs’ defense kept the Bulldogs out of the end zone to end the game.

“The defense has continued to improve,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “We asked them at halftime, ‘If you’ll hold them or shut them out, I think we’ll win. We can get down there and score enough points to win.’ We just weren’t able to do it.”

The Razorbacks got the ball back three more times. Those drives ended with a punt, a stop on downs and an incomplete Hail Mary pass at the goal line on the final play of the game.

“We just didn’t play well offensively – whether it was the first quarter or the fourth quarter,” Pittman said. “I don’t know if we just didn’t get physically whipped (by MSU’s defense). We have enough talent on offense that we ought to be playing better than what we are. That’s me. I’ve got to figure this out. When you can’t consistently run the football (103 yards vs. MSU), you’ve got problems in scoring in the red zone. Sitting where we’re sitting right now (offensively) is not acceptable. We’re struggling so much on offense – trying to find something that’s going to work. We’re just not very good right now.”

The bye week for the Hogs may be coming at the right time as they will be off next weekend before hitting the road to play the Florida Gators on Nov. 4 in Gainesville, Fla.

“We’ve got lot of decisions to make,” Pittman said. “We owe it to our team. We owe it to the fans. We’ll figure that part of it out. My biggest concern is about the entire team. We’ve got lot of figuring out to do between now and Florida.”

Enos Relieved of Duties Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman relieved offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dan Enos of his duties on Sunday. and he is no longer a member of the Razorbacks’ program. Wide receivers coach and former Ohio State quarterback Kenny Guiton will take over play calling duties for the Hogs for the remainder of the season.