Postgame Notes: Arkansas at No. 23 Mississippi State
October 08, 2022 | Football
GENERAL
- Arkansas won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. MSU received the opening kickoff.
- MSU's game captain was WR Austin Williams.
- One Bulldog made his first career start: LB J.P. Purvis.
- Today's attendance was 57,849.
- State is now 5-1 for the first time since 1998 when the Bulldogs won eight regular season games and went 6-2 in SEC play.
- It is the Bulldogs' best start since going 6-0 in 2014.
OFFENSE
- Mississippi State has scored on 17 consecutive red zone opportunities with a touchdown on each of its last 14.
- MSU is now 20-for-21 in the red zone this season (95.2 percent), with 19 touchdowns.
- The Bulldogs average 5.57 points per red zone drive.
- The Bulldogs rushed for their highest total under Mike Leach (162Â yards).
- Previous: 151 yards, vs. Missouri (2020).
- State is now averaging 104.8Â rushing yards per game, its highest rate under Mike Leach and the highest rate by a Leach-coached team since 2016.
- The offensive line kept a clean pocket for the second straight game, allowing zero sacks.
DEFENSE
- MSU has a takeaway in 24 of its last 30 games.
- S Jackie Matthews intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter and returned it seven yards.
- CB Emmanuel Forbes intercepted a pass in the end zone.
- Forbes now has three picks in his last two games.
- The Bulldogs have a takeaway in every game of 2022 and their six-game streak is one shy of their longest under defensive coordinator Zach Arnett.
- MSU has an interception in 17 of 30 games under Arnett with 30 picks in that stretch.
- 10 active players have recorded 26 total interceptions in their careers.
- Stopped Arkansas on a 4th-and-1 at the MSU eight-yard line in the first quarter for a turnover on downs.
- Held the Razorbacks on the State one-yard line on three straight snaps to force a turnover on downs in the third quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Downed a punt at the one-yard line in the second quarter.
- Trapped Arkansas on its own one-yard line on the opening kickoff of the second half.
- Allowing just 19.1 yards per kick return this season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
WR Caleb Ducking
- Caught a 33-yard touchdown pass, bringing his season total to seven.Â
- Currently tied for the SEC lead in receiving touchdowns this year with Vanderbilt's Will Sheppard.
- Returned two kickoffs for 64 yards.
- Averaging 33.3 yards per return in his career, which is 6.6 yards better than the school record (minimum 30 attempts).
- Current record: 26.7, Leon Berry (2009-10).
- Averaging 33.3 yards per return in his career, which is 6.6 yards better than the school record (minimum 30 attempts).
- Carried a career-high 16Â times for a career-best 89 yards with two touchdowns.
- Posted his third career multi-touchdown game on the ground.
- Scored on a one-yard scamper in the first quarter.
- Broke a 30-yard run to the end zone in the third quarter.
- Now has 11 career rushing scores.
- Caught three passes for a season-high 60 yards.
- Has 157Â yards on 30Â carries in his last two games (78.5Â ypg, 5.2Â ypc).
- Set career highs in receptions (11) and receiving yards (80).
- Receptions are tied for eighth in MSU single-game history.
- Has now caught 166 passes in his career, which is second in school history.
- School Record: 199, Fred Ross (2013-16).
- Has now caught a pass in 29 consecutive games, which includes every game of his career.
- Boasts the second-longest streak in the SEC and is one of just two players in the league with catches in 20 or more consecutive games.
- Set a season high in rush yards with 80.
- Threw for 406Â yards with 32Â completions and three touchdowns.
- Turned in his eighth career 400-yard passing game, which is a school record.
- It was his 18th career 300-yard game, which is the school record.
- Posted his 24th career 200-yard passing game, which is second in MSU history.
- School record: 29, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
- Broke the SEC career record with 947Â completions.
- Previous: 921, Aaron Murray, Georgia (2010-13).
- Murray set his record in 52 career games, while Rogers needed just 28.
- Has now thrown 69 career touchdown passes which is second in MSU history.
- No. 1: 70, Dak Prescott (2012-15)
- Has recorded 8,635Â career total offense yards, which ranks third in MSU history.
- No. 2: 9,814, Nick Fitzgerald (2015-18).
- Responsible for 70 career touchdowns, which is third in school history.
- No. 2: 101, Nick Fitzgerald (2015-18).
- Caught a five-yard touchdown pass for his third score of the year.
- Has a touchdown in 11 games, which is tied for second among active SEC receivers since 2020.
- Downed a punt inside the one-yard line.
- Hauled in three passes for a season-high 42 yards.
- Caught a 10-yard touchdown pass for his 15th career receiving touchdown.
- Now stands alone in sixth place in MSU career history.
- No. 5: 17, Justin Jenkins (2000-03) and Eric Moulds (1993-95).
- Now stands alone in sixth place in MSU career history.
- Has now played in a school-record 56 career games.
- Split a tackle for no gain on the MSU one-yard line to force a turnover on downs.
- Broke up a pass in the second quarter.
- Intercepted a pass for a touchback in the fourth quarter.
- Now has 12 career interceptions, which leads the nation since 2020 and is the most among active SEC players.
- Third nationally among active players.
- Tied for fourth in MSU history.
- No. 3: 15, Nickoe Whitley (2010-13).
- Has three picks in his last two games.
- Now has 12 career interceptions, which leads the nation since 2020 and is the most among active SEC players.
- Led MSU in tackles for the fourth time this year with 11.
- Also his third double-digit tackle game of the season and fifth of his career.
- Split a tackle for loss in the fourth quarter.
- Split a tackle for no gain on the MSU one-yard line to later force a turnover on downs.
- Split a tackle for no gain on the MSU one-yard line to force a turnover on downs.
- Intercepted a Razorback pass in the fourth quarter for a seven-yard return. Â
- Made his first career start and finished with six tackles.Â
- Recorded a pair of QB hurries.
- Split a tackle for loss in the fourth quarter.
- Split a tackle for no gain on the MSU one-yard line to later force a turnover on downs.
- Recorded a sack on third down on Arkansas' opening drive.
- Now has 2.0 on the year and 14.5 for his career.
- Landed a 41-yard punt inside the one-yard line in the second quarter.
![Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) punts during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Fmsstate.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F1%2F1%2FUSATSI_27828199.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
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