Fayetteville, AR- The Mississippi State Bulldogs trailed Arkansas, 35-21, with 13:43 left in the game. On fourth and three at the Arkansas 18, Blake Shapen connected with Antony Evans III with :43 left to play. MSU scored to take home the win, 38-35. For Mississippi State, the result ended a four-game losing streak. They slammed the brakes on a 16-game SEC losing skid dating back to 2023. Despite the dramatics, collegefootballfan.com and many partisan Arkansas fans took umbrage to some of the 18 penalties for 193 yards against the Razorbacks. To put that total into perspective, Arkansas QB Taylen Green threw for 194 yards in this game (19 of 31 and one TD).
Tough calls to begin with
Several subjective calls came against the Hogs for supposedly flagrant violations. Could not agree on all counts. There are egregious, uncalled for hits. There are also collisions of impact occurring at a moment’s notice based on momentum and a high-rate speed. Trying to halt some of these collisions are not only unavoidable by nature, but dangerous to the aggressor if halted as well as to the target. We’ve questioned the same at other games. Today, there were more of these in an intense atmosphere between two conference foes competing to 0-4 conference records.
The rules should be further assessed by the NCAA. Of course, making these calls more subjective could cause even more controversies. On the other hand, in this game Mississippi State surrendered 30 yards on only four penalties. Not saying they should have received more, but penalties definitely made a difference in this game.
Mississippi State scores early; Arkansas often
Mississippi State took the early lead on and eight -yard TD pass from Blake Shapen to RB Davon Booth for his only reception of the day. The score remained 7-0 going into the second period. At this point, we realized we get around. This wasn’t our first rodeo seeing Shapen at QB. In November 2022, he led Baylor against Texas when we saw those two play in Austin.
At 1:17 into the second, Green tossed a three-yard TD pass to TE Rohan James for his only catch of the day to knot the score, 7-7. Later in the period, Arkansas RB Mike Washington converted a on a fourth down and four to keep a Razorback drive alive at the Arkansas 42. The drive resulted in a 42-yard FG by Frosh PK Scott Starczyk. On the next Razorback possession. On a fourth and one, Green connected with Washington for a 14-yard gain for the first. With 0:01 on the clock Starcyk connected for a 30-yarder to take the home team into halftime with a 13-7 lead. Washington led all in rushing this day with 119 yards and a TD on 19 carries.
Offenses take off in second half
The Bulldogs went right to work to start the second half from their 25. They started off appropriately with 15 more yards on a roughing penalty. Shapen left the game and Freshman Kamario Taylor stepped in and didn’t miss a beat. On second and eight at the Arkansas 45, Taylor connected with Anthony Evans III for a TD. It took three PAT attempts for Kyle Ferrie to make it good after two offside calls against Arkansas. The Razorbacks blocked his first attempt.
Starting from the 25, the Arkansas offense went to work. Washington performed the brunt of the work to get to the MSU 45. Green took over from there with a few completions and a run to get to the Bulldog eight. In a beautiful fake hand-off, he whirled and took it eight yards into the end zone for a 20-14 Razorback lead.
Mississippi State sputters; Arkansas thrives
With Taylor still under center, the Bulldogs got down to the Razorback 39. On fourth and seven, MSU HC Mike Lebby decided to go for the first. However, Taylor’s pass went incomplete. Arkansas took over from there. Raylen Sharp burst for 41 yards on the handoff to the Mississippi State 20. Next play, Washington went the distance and the Hogs extended their lead. Interim and former Arkansas HC Bobby Petrino called for the two-point conversion. Green passed for two to lead. 28-14, with 6:18 left in the third.
Arkansas penalties galore
Two consecutive unsportsmanlike penalties against Arkansas’s CJ Brown went for five yards and then half the distance. It forced the Hogs to kick off from their ten. On the return, the runner went out of bounds at the MSU 45. This is where the hit out of bounds looked basically inconsequential from this view high above Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The returner still stood after he bounced off a couple of Razorbacks along the sideline. However, the referees spotted the ball at the Arkansas 45.
Some confusing calls and a targeting call that was eventually overturned after much discussion, put MSU at the Arkansas 15. They lost five yards on a pass play to set up for second and 15 at the Arkansas 20. Taylor ran it right up the gut for a 20-yard score. Even the post-game play-by-play seems very confusing regarding this series.
Mississippi State about to fade?
In the final minutes of the third, Arkansas punted back after it’s next series. On the return, the Razorbacks got called for a facemask. State started from its 37. A pass tipped by the Arkansas secondary ended up in the hands of DB Jordan Young. It put U of A back in business at the MSU 41. The Hogs had second and 10 at the Bulldog 15. With 13:43 left, Arkansas extended the lead back to 14 with Raylen Russell’s two-yard run.
Further into the fuzzy fourth
Shapen returned at QB. A sack by DT Quincy Rhodes Jr. gave Mississippi State a second and 20 from their 38. Next play, Shapen connected with Anthony Evans for a 33-yard pass. A flag flew against Razorback LB Xavier Sorey Jr. He was in the action of making a sack before hitting Shapen just after he released the football. This was one of those bang-bang calls where a defender can’t stop a natural football move. They tacked on 15 more yards for roughing. Mississippi State had a first down at the Arkansas 14. Pass interference placed MSU on the two. Davon Booth took it through the middle for a score to make it, 35-28.
Arkansas punted away and Mississippi State started from its 29. On this drive, Rhodes Jr. slammed Booth to the ground after a five-yard loss that was no doubt a roughing call. The Bulldogs continued down to the Razorback 33. Ferrie’s kick went wide let with a little over five minutes left. But wait! Flag! Arkansas ran into the kicker – five yards. With 5:07 on the clock, Ferrie converted a 46-yard field goal to close the gap, 35-31.
Mississippi State vs. Arkansas: Fight for 1-4 or 0-5
Starting from the 25, Arkansas looked like they could make a go of it when Green picked up 13 yards on second and three. Nope. Holding call – 10 yards back. Punted on fourth and nine from the 26. Mississippi State took over on their 31.
A 32-yard pass from Shapen to Thompson put MSU at the 34 as they came to the two-minute time-out (at least still one too many clock stoppages in a college football game). On third and four at the Arkansas 18, DB Kani Walker broke up a Shapen pass – no flags! On fourth down with :51 left to play, Shapen hit Evans on the right and he raced to paydirt for the score. Ferrie put up the extra point with :43 left to play. A short completion followed by a sack an incomplete and a sack stalled Arkansas at their 22. Game over. Mississippi State wins, 38-35! Mississippi State takes home a 5-4, 1-4 record back to Starkville. Arkansas fell to 2-7, 0-5. The Razorback players and interim HC Bobby Petrino all wonder where they go from here.
WEEK Eleven coming up!
Despite the win to get the Bulldogs within one game remaining to be won to become bowl eligible, the going for Mississippi State only gets tougher. Three ranked SEC teams loom ahead – No 5 Georgia at home, No. 19 Missouri on the road, and No. 7 archrival Ole Miss in The Egg Bowl back in Starkville. Not much better for Arkansas – at LSU without Brian Kelly, at No. 13 Texas, and back here for No. 19 Mizzou.
Hopefully, Navy was caught looking ahead
We travel to South Bend, IN to see No. 10 Notre Dame (6-2) host Navy (7-1, 5-1). The Mids lost their first game of the season last Saturday to American Athletic foe North Texas State (8-1-4-1), 31-17. Looking for respectability to win a big game, Navy could only hope to give the Irish a challenge this season. This week is their one and only chance. Looking forward to a fun time otherwise with a good bunch of guys from over the years for our 729th college football game! In our history, the Irish lead this series over the Naval Academy, 8-1. We say, “Go Navy!”
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