Razorbacks run by Bulldogs in Little Rock 44-17

Sports - Razorbacks

Razorbacks run by Bulldogs in Little Rock 11/19/2011 - Tyler Maland, Athletic Media Relations LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Behind career days from junior quarterback Tyler Wilson and junior tight end Chris Gragg, the sixth-ranked University of Arkansas football team defeated Mississippi State 44-17 at War Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon. Arkansas moves to 10-1 (6-1 SEC) on the season, giving the Razorbacks back-to-back 10-win seasons for the third time in school history and the first time since 1988-89. Mississippi State drops to 5-6 (1-6 SEC) with the loss. Wilson was 32-for-43 passing with 365 yards and three touchdowns. The 32 completions set a school record. Gragg set career highs in both receptions and yards, hauling in nine passes for 119 yards and one touchdown, including a game-long 41-yard catch. Arkansas outscored Mississippi State 34-10 in the first half and held the Bulldogs scoreless in the second half until a touchdown with 15 seconds left, earning its third straight win of 16 or more points. The 539 total yards was the third-highest mark of the season for Arkansas. The Razorbacks set the tone for the day by scoring on their opening drive of the game, a 66-yard march punctuated by a leaping 20-yard touchdown catch by Cobi Hamilton on a third-and-ten pass from Wilson. Mississippi State countered with a field goal after the teams traded punts, but Arkansas opened its lead up to 14-3 with 1:34 left in the first quarter by establishing its rushing attack. The Razorbacks had a first-and-goal from the Mississippi State seven yard line and rushed three straight times for the touchdown, with fullback Kiero Small barreling in for the score on a third-and-one. The touchdown came on Small's first career carry. Mississippi State cut the Arkansas lead to 14-10 early in the second quarter, getting a five yard touchdown run from Dylan Favre, the Bulldogs' first of the day. The Razorback defense held Mississippi State to a three-and-out with 3:57 left in the first half, and Arkansas came roaring back. Tyler Wilson led the team down the field for a six-play 75-yard drive that ended with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Joe Adams. Seventy-two of the 75 yards came from the arm of Wilson, who was 5-for-5 passing on the drive. Wilson manufactured yet another drive late in the first half, moving the ball 38 yards in just over one minute to set up a 44-yard field goal by Zach Hocker to make the score 24-10 at the half. Arkansas increased its lead to 31-10 with 7:31 left in the third quarter with another persistent drive. On a second-and-goal from the Bulldogs' two yard line, Wilson sold a play action fake effectively and found Gragg wide open in the end zone for the touchdown. Hocker tacked on his second field goal of the day with 2:10 left in the third quarter, a 48-yarder to give Arkansas a 34-10 lead. He also knocked a 27-yard field goal through the uprights just under three minutes into the fourth quarter to make the lead 37-10. Broderick Green added the final exclamation point to the win with 3:20 left in the fourth quarter with a two-yard touchdown run to make the score 44-10. Quarterback Brandon Mitchell led the offense down the field for a 10-play 51-yard drive in his first appearance of the game to set up Green's run. Although Wilson and the Razorback passing attack led the offense, running back Dennis Johnson had a strong day on the ground, notching 14 carries for 98 yards. Wide receiver Jarius Wright added eight catches for 96 yards to increase his all-time school record in receptions to 163. Fellow-senior Adams had three catches for 27 yards and his third touchdown catch of the season. Senior safety Tramain Thomas had nine tackles for Arkansas, and senior Jake Bequette added two sacks. The Razorback defense held Mississippi State to just 211 yards of total offense in the game. Today's game in Little Rock marked the last official home game of the season, and moved Arkansas to 7-0 in home games this season, its first undefeated season at home since 1999. The Razorbacks wrap up the regular season on Friday, Nov. 25 with a 2:30 p.m. game at No. 1 LSU. The game will be broadcast on CBS. Comments Search RSS Only registered users can write comments! Powered by !JoomlaComment 4.0 beta2 < Prev   Next >