Bill's Blog: Miss State
2:45 p.m. — That’s all from War Memorial Stadium today; the blog heads back to Fayetteville for Sunday’s women’s basketball home opener with East Tennessee State at 3 p.m.
2:42 p.m. — Relf keeps for the first down, then keeps again to run out the clock; final score, Arkansas 42, MSU 21.
2:40 p.m. — State trying to move up field for some progress, gets one first down but now faces fourth and 1.
2:35 p.m. — This looks to be Arkansas’ 4th straight win as the home team; 4th straight in the all Cardinal uniforms. Do you think we’ll stick with Cardinal and Cardinal for a while? Yeah, you betcha.
2:34 p.m. — Green gets the two yard touch down run — the first rushing TD of the day for Arkansas; PAT is good and its 42-21 with 2:35 left to play
2:33 p.m. — Hmm, that might be interfence in the end zone on Childs — two hand shove in the back that draws a hail of three flags.
2:32 p.m. — One yard gain to the 10, but more important, the clock rolls under three minutes left to play.
2:31 p.m. — Green on the carry off right guard, takes about half the MSU line with him down to the 11 yard line for the first down.
2:31 p.m. — Johnson breaks, then jitters, accelerates and picks up the first down to the MSU 23 yard line.
2:29 p.m. — Mallett works the progression, dumps to Davis for a short gain. 3rd and 9, Hamilton catches 9 for the first down.
2:27 p.m. — Hogs take over on downs. First down, Adams on the end around, results in four yard loss.
2:27 p.m. — Same formation, this time Relf rolls out to avoid Rudell Crim; Crim hits as he releases and the pass bounces at the feet of the intended receiver.
2:26 p.m. — Relf in shotgun, no back, spread; Razorbacks aren’t buying he’s throwing, QB draw all the way and gets only two; MSU goes on 4th.
2:25 p.m. — Relf keeps for a short gain to the 41, clock keeps running. Stops now as Relf overthrows his receiver. 3rd and long.
2:22 p.m. — MSU comes afer Breeding, gets close to running in to him but Breeding gets off a good punt, fair catch at the 37 of MSU.
2:21 p.m. — The review stands.
2:19 p.m. — Petrino is now challenging the play, much to the roar of the crowd.
2:16 p.m. — Mallett goes deep to Childs, caught and he races for the 73-yard "touchdown" but illegal touching called on Childs for leaving field on his own, then being the first to touch the ball on his return.
2:16 p.m. — Mallett keeps on second down after a screen play loss on 1st, moves the ball to the 24 for 3rd and 14.
2:14 p.m. — Flag on the play as Arkansas appears to have a 60-plus yard gain, but bring it all back for a clip, puts the ball half the distance at 14.
2:10 p.m. — TV time out after the MSU punt, Razorbacks will start from own 27 yard line when we resume play.
2:09 p.m. — Razorback defense has made adjustments to the MSU dog bone, forcing a 3 and out.
2:04 p.m. — Mallett evades two rushers, throws off his back foot to Greg Childs at the back to the end zone TOUCHDOWN ARKANSAS, PAT is good, UA 35-21.
2:02 p.m. — D.J. Williams for another first down reception, battles for more yardage and draws a personal foul from MSU, Razorbacks at MSU 11
2:01 p.m. — Ryan gets a handful of Johnson’s jersey and manages to hang on for the tackle. Back in the 70s, that tearaway would have led to a long run.
2:00 p.m. — D.J. Williams for the first down again, ball is now at the MSU 38.
2:00 p.m. — Johnson gets the catch over the middle for six yards to the 43; Mitchell for MSU’s tackle prevents a much longer run
1:59 p.m. — Who ever said this was going to be a rainy day game missed bad, the overcast has stayed, but it’s very high and the sun is starting to lighten up the field again as we start the fourth quarter.
1:56 p.m. — Johnson carries for a yard to end the third quarter, Arkansas 28, Miss State 21.
1:55 p.m. — Five yard carry to the Arkansas 48 for MSU, Dixon on 2nd down fumbles, covered by Ford at midfield.
1:52 p.m. — Razorbacks at 3rd and 6 at own 21, incomplete to Adams and Arkansas forced to punt. Punt to 27 for 52 yards, but gives Bumphis room to manuever, he slips coverage for a 20 yard return as punter Breeding makes the tackle.
1:49 p.m. — Mallett drops back into his own end zone, finds Williams over the middle but broken up at last minute by State. Flag on play, reason for the break-up as pass interference called. 1st and 10 at the 16.
1:48 p.m. — Crowd comes alive for 3rd and 7 at the 47, Relf looks to throw, dumps under to Bumphis but short of 1st down. Very nice punt to the Razorback two yard line.
1:45 p.m. — Heavens on the carry for Miss State, 2nd and 5 at 42; Relf keeps around left side for the first down at the 50.
1:44 p.m. — 55,634 is today’s attendance.
1:41 p.m. — Third and three at the 40, Mallett rips one over Childs’ head incomplete, Razorbacks to punt. Bumphis returns from 25 to the 37.
1:40 p.m. — Ruling on the field stands — FYI for distant fans, networking trouble here in press box and live stats will be down for some time as we attempt to renetwork and repair.
1:39 p.m. — MSU coach is challenging the play, right as Mallett tries to make the snap. Play is now under review.
1:38 p.m. — Joe Adams makes catch and turns, hit by Marcus Washington and the ball comes loose; MSU says fumble, official says lacked control of ball
1:36 p.m. — All crowd the line for the QB sneak by Ryan Mallett, the spot says first down.
1:34 p.m. — Johnson on first down up the middle for six to the 28, 2nd and four. Johnson again, looks like he may have the first down.
1:33 p.m. — Johnson picks up kickoff on the bounce, throws the kick coverage off and finds a seam; Gatling has a long gain or TD saving tackle at the 22
1:27 p.m. — Four downfield blocks by receivers — those "touchdown blocks" Petrino talks about so much — and four tackles broken or evaded by Hamilton in the 64-yard touchdown catch and run.
1:35 p.m. — No backs for Mallett from gun, hurry up, just before the clock runs out another change, finds Hamilton crossing under the MSU rush, Hamilton picks up blocks and a classic yards after catch TD.
1:24 p.m. — Mallet has his first pass of the second half batted down (same as the first of the opening half)
1:23 p.m. — Pooch kick hits the ground and covered by Razorbacks.
1:21 p.m. — The MSU drive was 94 yards on 11 plays taking up 5:38, not a single pass and no third downs.
1:20 p.m. — Dixon takes the short pitch from the single back set from Relf, works around the left side; 20 car. 106 yds for Dixon; PAT is good, UA 21-14
1:18 p.m. — Relf with Dixon and Elliott in the tight "dog" bone, fake to Elliott up middle, pitch to Dixon, who breaks tackles to the four.
1:17 p.m. — Dixon again for six, 2nd and 4 and back to single back spread for Relf. Elliott gets the gap from the idling start, takes it to the 25 for 14 yards.
1:17 p.m. — Dixon breaks up the middle off the "dog" bone; first down at the Razorback 45 yard line. All ground drive for MSU to this point.
1:16 p.m. — Single back spread now, and lots of checking before Relf hands off to Dixon up the middle for four.
1:15 p.m. — Relf keeps on the option and moves State out to the 40 yard line with the first down.
1:14 p.m. — Elliott bulls through for the first down to the 24 yard line. Relf out of what looks like a tight wishbone, gives to Dixon for six to the 30.
1:13 p.m. — Relf starts the second half at QB for the Bulldogs, hands off to Dixon for his 14th carry of the game.
1:12 p.m. — Bulldogs start the half with a clip on the return that will back MSU back to its own six yard line.
1:11 p.m. — We are reset for the start of the second half, Tejada to make the kickoff to Miss State
1:05 p.m. — Ryan Allmond – Little Rock — is the football Fan of the Year and will represent football in the 2010 spring football game drawing for the Fan of the Century. Your chance to be a fan of the year for your favorite sport — register at home games in Fayetteville or on-line for special 20th cyberfan
12:54 p.m. — MSU leaders Dixon 13-55 yds, Bumphis 1-49 yds, Elliott 2-26 yds; UA leaders Johnson 6-31 yds rush; Wright 3-34 yds 1 TD, Childs 2-38 yds rec; Hamilton 1-58 yds 1 TD rec.
12:52 p.m. — Quick halftime stats, MSU 8 FD, 28-96 yds rush, 5-7-0 35 yds pass; 35 plays 131 yards; UA 11 FD, 13-35 yds rush; 10-20-2 2 TD 191 yds pass; 33 plays 226 yards.
12:52 p.m. — Time for the halftime drawing for the football rep on Fan of the Century. The 10 finalists are: Ryan Allmond – Little Rock; Chris Dooly – Fort Smith; Shery Ford – Texarkana; Barbara Hoblitzell – Barling; John Moore – Proctor; Brad Norwood – Springdale; Wes Shirley – Fayetteville; Michelle Smedley – Hatfield; Jason Wilson – Van Buren; Bryan Yarbrough – Rogers
12:51 p.m. — Gary Anderson honored as the SEC Legend at halftime.
12:50 p.m. — A 52 yard attempt for Tejada, it’s on line, may have distance, officials start to raise their hands and bang, hits the cross bar and bounces back. MSU snaps final play and takes us to halftime, Arkansas 21-7.
12:47 p.m. — Razorbacks stuffed for a loss, now 3rd and 13 at 35; time out called, 2nd of half. 15.1 left in half.
12:46 p.m. — Childs gets Arkansas 18 up the field to the 32, hurry up time. Over throws Childs on second down.
12:46 p.m. — Bequette brings the pressure again, and now he gets a fumble recovery off Lee. Hogs now take over at 50 yard line with 32 seconds.
12:45 p.m. — Lee sacked by Jake Bequette, which ruins State’s momentum. Clock against Bulldogs also at 39 and running.
12:44 p.m. — Play stands and Corey Broomfield gets his second interception of the game — we’re checking if that’s a first by a single opponent player to have more than one pick in a game from Mallett.
12:42 p.m. — Shanked punt gives Hogs good field position, but Mallett rolling away from pressure throws his second pick of the game; MSU at own 45. Replay makes crowd think he’s out of bounds on interception, and the play is under review.
12:40 p.m. — Seat mate in press box looks up to see the punt — "did they run into him again?" he asks — no, Hutchins just shanked it that bad.
12:40 p.m. — Relf comes back in for Lee, tries the QB draw and loses yardage back to the 46. Razorbacks now call 1st time out of game to preserve clock
12:38 p.m. — Lee checks back in at quarterback, but is crushed by Elton Ford as he releases. Complete to Dixon but third and 5.
12:35 p.m. — Relf pulls back hand off to Dixon keeps for the first down to the 33 1/2 of MSU; Checks off into a pass, complete to Green but Ford levels
12:35 p.m. — Relf proving to be a good hander-offer; giving to Dixon again but this time for a loss of two; 3rd and 3 at own 30 for MSU.
12:34 p.m. — Miss State changes quarterbacks to Chris Relf. He hands off to Dixon for a 9 yard gain to the 31.
12:31 p.m. — Hard to describe just how open Wright was for the score. Mallett had time to look off a pair of options, and then sees Wright. Wright has slowed his route, and as Mallett sees him and delivers the ball, Wright stops at the top of the "A" at the end of ARKANSAS. There isn’t another MSU player within two end zone letters of Wright.
12:31 p.m. — That is Mallett’s 26th touchdown pass, tying Stoerner; PAT is good and now its Arkansas 21, MSU 7 with 4:53 left in 2nd qtr
12:29 p.m. — Mallett works the reverse boot leg, sees wide open Wright for the touchdown.
12:29 p.m. — Green gets the first down to the MSU 5 yard line.
12:27 p.m. — Mallett checks off play, finds Lucas Miller — great pull down catch by Miller — moves the ball to 3rd and 1, ball at MSU 8
12:27 p.m. — Childs crossing route fired in by Mallett for the first down at the MSU 17 yard line, 20 yard gain.
12:26 p.m. — Another great play fake and slight of hand hide of the ball by Mallett, looks up to see his receivers covered on their flag routes, wisely throws it away.
12:25 p.m. — Dennis Johnson and Broderick Green pounding the ball with alternating big back runs for Razorbacks. Now at the MSU 38.
12:24 p.m. — D.J. Williams with the second down catch, caught near the marker but has presense of mind to stick out the ball past for the first down.
12:22 p.m. — Green blasts through big hole on the right side, taken down after four yards, flags late; unnecessary roughness and it moves the ball up to the 41 yard line.
12:18 p.m. — Elliott gets five on first down, fake the wide pitch to Dixon then shovel pass for only three on second down. Lee trying to change play in the noise. Keeps for only two yards, will be one short. Punting unit on. Bounces to the UA 21. TV timeout.
12:17 p.m. — Bulldogs start from their 31, belly up the middle to Elliott for five yards and second down.
12:15 p.m. — Mallett also becomes the first Razorback in school history to cross 3,000 yards in passing in a single season. He now has 3,012.
12:14 p.m. — With the score, Mallett now ties the school record for touchdowns responsible for with his 27th; he now has a 11 school records.
12:13 p.m. — Mallett winds up, goes 55 yards in the air to Cobi Hamilton in full stride, Hamilton takes it in over the shoulder for the 58 yard TD. PAT is good.
12:12 p.m. — Johnson to the left side, searching for a gap; can’t find one, plows ahead and gets enough for the first down at the 42 yard line.
12:10 p.m. — Wright takes the quick pass from Mallett for eight yards. 2nd and 2 at the 40.
12:10 p.m. — State will go on 4th down; Lee goes for end zone; Harris gets his hands on it and can’t quite bring it down, just as well, better position at the 32 taking over on downs than the 20 on the touchback.
12:08 p.m. — Lee crushed by Davis and company, total pocket collapse. 11 yard loss to the 31 to bring up 4th and 21; MSU is going for it, now time out.
12:07 p.m. — After the clock gets reset to start the second quarter, Dixon gets back the sack yardage plus one for 3rd and 9.
12:07 p.m. — Dixon of MSU has nine carries for 37 yards, Bumphis one for 49.
12:05 p.m. — For Arkansas, 3 first downs, 5-15 yds rush; 3-8-1 pass for 64 yds; 13 plays, 79 total
12:04 p.m. — Quick stats: MSU 5 FD, 16 for 98 yds rush; 0-1-0 pass for 0 yds; 17 plays, 98 yards — all ground.
12:04 p.m. — Lee sacked to end the first quarter.
12:02 p.m. — Off sides on Arkansas, 1st and five. Play change from Lee; he gets hit as he pitches but Dixon takes it around the left side for the first down to the Razorback 20.
12:00 p.m. — Bulldogs’ Dixon drags players to within a foot of the first down; 3rd and short at the 32.
11:59 a.m. — Elliott takes the option pitch for 22 yards into UA territory.
11:58 a.m. — Dixon takes the handoff out of a Wild-Wishbone-Wing T looking formation, breaks through for the first down. The play is 14 yards and not a touchdown thanks to Nelson’s wrangling of the MSU back.
11:56 a.m. — Mallett scrambles out of pressure, picks back up a couple of the lost yards but still 3rd and long. Pressure comes from State, Mallett backpeddling to set up the screen, tipped up in the air and taken down by Williams. Hogs to punt on 4th and 10.
11:55 p.m. — McPhee breaks through for MSU for a 9-yard sack of Mallett, ball back at the UA 32.
11:54 a.m. — Dennis Johnson cuts back agains a power left formation, find 19 yards and is one broken tackle away from a touchdown.
11:51 a.m. — Called running into the kicker, the five yard penalty, MSU will go again. High spiraling punt, fair catch at the Razorback 22. Television time out.
11:49 a.m. — Dixon gets a lot of the sack back, but still 4th and 13. Hutchins gets the pressure from Ronnie Wingo, he shanks it but Wingo bumps punter.
11:48 a.m. — Lee rolls out and sacked by Adrian Davis for a big loss — 11 back to the 24.
11:47 a.m. — Hand off to Dixon gains nothing for MSU, 2nd and 10.
11:46 a.m. — Nearly blocked by MSU, Breeding’s punt take a huge Arkansas roll; 47 yard punt to MSU’s 35 yard line.
11:45 a.m. — Pass for Childs thrown a little behind him, he can’t bring it in and the Razorbacks punt for the first time today.
11:45 a.m. — Not much for Johnson on first down, incomplete for Mallett on second down.
11:43 a.m. — Fair catch at the Arkansas 16 yard line.
11:43 a.m. — Lee’s pass broken up by Sheppard on third down, MSU to make the first punt by either team of the day.
11:42 a.m. — Lee scrambles, scrambles; functionally a coverage sack for the Razorbacks as the run by the QB nets only five; on third down, false start.
11:41 a.m. — Bumphis on the return — 31 yards — out to their own 38 to begin their second drive of the day.
11:38 a.m. — Each team has scored on a four-play drive to start the game, each keyed off a long play over 35 yards.
11:37 a.m. — Joe Adams takes it at the five, then breaks two tackles into the endzone TOUCHDOWN ARKANSAS, 39-yd TD pass; PAT is good, tied 7-7 with 11:21.
11:36 a.m. — MSU’s Washington and London Crawford jostle in the end zone, no flags.
11:35 a.m. — Jarius Wright sets up down field, gets the first down at the MSU 39.
11:34 a.m. — Mallett hands off to Broderick Green, loss of one to set up 2nd and 11.
11:34 a.m. — Johnson gets his return chance this time and for a moment looks like he may break away; 31 yard return to the Razorback 41
11:30 a.m. — Stallworth goes over left tackle for the 1-yard TD run, the PAT is good and MSU leads 7-0 with 13:07 in 1st quarter.
11:29 a.m. — Dixon goes backwards, loss of two to the five. 2nd and goal for MSU. Lee keeps and gets back to 1 yard line. Crowd noise ramps up.
11:28 a.m. — Chad Bumpass picks up a Wildcat formation snap that hits the ground, but finds a gap to round the corner to the Razorback 3 yard line.
11:27 a.m. — Teams now back on the field.
11:26 a.m. — We’re now in a delay, the teams going to their sidelines while the WMS folks work on the clock — show 14:35 after two passing plays
11:24 a.m. — Play clocks are not working properly, and will now be kept on the field.
11:24 a.m. — MSU out of spread, no backs, low snap, flags — delay of game on MSU.
11:23 a.m. — Mallett intercepted by Corey Brunfield at the Razorback 47 yard line
11:21 a.m. — Mallett under center, has pass broken up going to D.J. Williams. Now we’re waiting, perhaps a clock issue, finally waved to start.
11:21 a.m. — State determined that history won’t repeat, kicks short to Arbrust, who returns it out to the 37.
11:20 a.m. — Clock winds to zero, Razorback receiving team takes the field. Last time this happened, the MSU team in white uniforms with maroon trim watched Dennis Johnson go the distance. That’s how the Missouri State game — the other WMS game — started.
11:19 a.m. — State wins toss, differs to second half, Arkansas elects to receive; MSU on the north goal, UA on the South
11:17 a.m. — Razorbacks take the field, huge ovation.
11:17 a.m. — State captains Washington, Chaney, Dixon, Brignone
11:16 a.m. — Razorback captains Mallett, A. Davis, Love , Sheppard — Michael Smith is with them, but in street clothes
11:13 a.m. — The "A" is formed and we are six minutes away from kickoff.
11:07 a.m. — Flip starters UA def: Bequette, Davis, DE; Stadther, Sheppard, DT; Franklin, Davis, Burton, LB; Crim, Gordon, CB; Harris, Ford, SS
11:07 a.m. — Flip starters UA off: Oxner, C; Grayson, Petrus, G; Dominguez, Love, T; Williams, TE; Adams, Childs, Wright, WR; TBA, RB; Stumon, FB; Mallett, QB
11:06 a.m. — Formal Hog Call with the band, we are 15 minutes to kickoff.
11:05 a.m. — Flip starters MSU off: Brignone, C; Saulsberry, Jenkins, G; Lawrence, Sherrod, T; McRae, Berry, Green, Wilder, WR; Dixon, RB; Lee, QB
11:04 a.m. — Flip starters MSU def: McPhee, Ferguson, DE; Love, Burns, DT; Wright, Chaney, White, LB; Langston, Washington, CB; Mitchell, Banks, SS
11:02 a.m. — Presentation on the field for the annual Kappa Delta football relay. Brooke Lefler, Hannah Miller and Cari Hunter from KD, Heather Winston from Arkansas Children’s Hospital. KD members raised over $7,000 for ACH in various activities.
11:01 a.m. — Interesting contrast, State lines up in the endzone for a punt coverage, then whole team comes onto field for their final huddle. Both teams did a special teams item before going to the locker room.
11:00 a.m. — Team changing up the close out of the warmups with a pair of field goal attempts, full scale, then huddling for the return to the locker room. Ovation from the crowd as they depart. Miss State leaves the field, but goes to the visitor sideline.
10:57 a.m. — Football team’s pregame video rolls on the stadium boards, we are just under 23 minutes to kickoff. The stadium lights are on and it continues to be a dull overcast. No rain in the picture at this time. A light wind keeping the American flags fluttering.
10:45 a.m. — Razorback marching band has entered the stadium.
10:30 a.m. — Here is the 2010 football schedule: Sept. 4 Tenn Tech, Sept. 11 ULM (LR), Sept. 18 at Georgia, Sept. 25 Alabama, Oct. 9 TAMU for SW Classic, Oct. 16 at Auburn, Oct. 23 Ole Miss, Oct. 30 Vanderbilt, Nov. 6 at South Carolina, Nov. 13 UTEP, Nov. 20 at Miss State, Nov 27 LSU (LR)
10:24 a.m. — Razorback backs on the field for warm-ups; confirmed that those aren’t new pants, just look different on the kickers when they were warming up earlier.
10:19 a.m. — The Twitter Tix giveaways to followers of the feeds and the blogs is always fun, but today’s winners on @RazorbackRoad were particularly special. Dewayne Millsap and his two young sons are getting into the game today, and it is the first Razorback game of those two young Hog fans lives. What a way to get the day started for the blog.
10:18 a.m. — 2010 football schedule to be released in the next half hour also.
10:16 a.m. — News from WMS — Michael Smith will not play today and is out for the season (hamstring); press release upcoming from website.
10:15 a.m. — Long time downstairs with the double giveaways.
9:40 a.m. — Heading down for the Twitter Tix giveaways and 100 minute meeting. Back soon.
9:40 a.m. — The Little Rock office of the FBI is on site today with Child ID packs for fans when they enter the stadium.
9:33 a.m. — Looks like the kickers for Arkansas are on the field in tee-shirts and pants, and appears there may be some new pants for today’s game. Very wide single white stripe on the Cardinal pants.
9:32 a.m. — Miss State’s specialists and backs are on the field in their travel clothes to walk the field.
9:31 a.m. — Gary Anderson receives his recognition as Arkansas’ SEC Legend at halftime today.
9:25 a.m. — The sun is out bright at War Memorial, while it’s misting a little rain.
9:21 a.m. — Athletic director Jeff Long is strolling across the turf along with the Razorbacks. Team has arrived and the specialists are walking in their travel sweats.
9:10 a.m. — Congrats to our 100 Years of Razorbacks Fan of the Century finalists in football. These 10 finalists will be on the field at halftime, and the winner advances to the overall Fan of the Century
8:55 a.m. — Little overcast at the stadium this morning, but great weather as far as the temp goes for late November.
8:46 a.m. — Good morning from the War Memorial press box — for the last time ever. At the completion of today’s game, the venerable media area will be demolished and an all-new press box construction begins. The new WMS press box should be ready in time for next season.
