Bulldogs Fall To #6 Razorbacks In Little Rock

Saturday, November 19

Little Rock, Ark.

2:30 PM

Mississippi State

5-6 , 1-6

#6 Arkansas

10-1 , 6-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Mississippi State

Arkansas

Bulldogs Fall To #6 Razorbacks In Little Rock

November 19, 2011 | Football

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - History was not on the side of Mississippi State entering Saturday's game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark., and it still wasn't when the clock hit zero at the end of the fourth period Saturday night.

The Bulldogs (5-6, 1-6 SEC) dropped to 0-6-1 at War Memorial following a 44-17 defeat by the Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1, 6-1 SEC) Saturday in State's final road game of the 2011 campaign.

The Hogs, led by quarterback Tyler Wilson's career night, used a superb second-half outing to pull away from the Dogs and keep pace in the BCS race. Wilson completed 32 passes, a school record, for 365 yards and three touchdowns, throwing for over 200 yards by the half.

The Maroon and White played toe-to-toe with the Razorbacks for the first half of the contest. Despite being down 14-3 at the end of the first, State used a tough defensive effort in the second to gain momentum. With Arkansas threatening to score again, MSU all-American candidate Johnthan Banks sacked Wilson and forced a fumble, which Fletcher Cox returned inside the Arkansas' 30. A couple of plays later, redshirt freshman Dylan Favre would rumble into the endzone, trimming Arkansas' lead to 14-10.

Following the score, MSU senior Charles Mitchell would make a series of defensive plays, including a pass deflection on a long pass attempt by Wilson on third down. Arkansas' next attempt for points would be denied, as Cox would continue his stellar play, blocking Zach Hocker's 32-yard field goal attempt, keeping the Bulldogs within four.

But Wilson would connect with Joe Adams for a 32-yard score and Hocker would nail a 44-yard field goal in the last 2:04 of the firts half to put Arkansas up 24-10 at the intermission.

In the second half, the Hogs would run away with the contest.

State's offense could never get jump-started, with a handful of three-and-outs that kept the defense on the field for majority of the half. Wilson would continue to capitalize, throwing for another score in the second half, while Hocker would hit two more field goals.

State managed to put up a score late in the ballgame, as Favre drove the Dogs down the field, ending the game's scoring on a short touchdown toss to Malcolm Johnson.

Arkansas outgained State in every category statistically, with 539 total yards to State's 210. Arkansas passed for 373 of those yards and rushed for 166 yards. State threw 127 yards through the air and ran for 83 yards.

Favre led the Dogs in passing, throwing 8-for-16 for 72 yards and a score. He ran for a score as well. Ballard led all State rushers, running 13 times for 53 yards. Malcolm Johnson was the Dogs' leading receiver with two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown.

While Wilson led the way passing, Dennis Johnson led the Razorbacks on the ground, rushing for 98 yards. Chris Gragg led the Hogs in receiving with eight receptions for 119 yards and a score.

Mississippi State will return home next Saturday to host the 107th Battle for the Golden Egg against in-state rival Ole Miss. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT and fans can catch the action on ESPNU or the MSU Radio Network.