RAZORBACKS
Arkansas takes fight to Mississippi State
Arkansas staggers into Starkville, Miss., today as obvious 19- to 20-point underdogs to the Mississippi State Bullogs at Davis Wade Stadium.
Call the Hogs (2-8, 0-6 Southeastern Conference) underdogs, but head coach Chad Morris insists they have a fighting chance against Mississippi State 96-4, 2-4). The 11 a.m. game will be televised on ESPN (Resort Channel 30).
Arkansas scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns a week ago in a 24-17 loss to No. 7 LSU (8-2, 5-2) at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
“Well, I think our team continues to fight and play extremely hard all the way up until the very end,” Morris said. “It was evident again this past Saturday night out here against LSU to cut the lead down to one score with five minutes remaining. That says a lot about our program right now moving forward.”
First-year Mississippi State Coach Joe Moorhead, most recently the offensive coordinator for Penn State, has taken note of the Hogs’ fight. Moorhead replaced Dan Mullen, who was lured last winter to Florida where he was previously the offensive coordinator.
Mississippi State also lost last week, 24-0, to No. 1 Alabama (10-0, 7-0).
“Obviously, a very hardfought and a physical football game against Alabama,” Moorhead said. “There’s a reason they’re the No. 1-ranked team in the country and defending national champion. I thought we fought hard in all three phases.”
The senior day incentive that kept Arkansas fighting for four quarters against LSU now belongs to Mississippi State. The bowl-eligible Bulldogs will finish their regular season on Thanksgiving night in Oxford, Miss., to meet Ole Miss (5-5, 1-5) in the annual Egg Bowl.
Arkansas will not be eligible to compete in a bowl game. The Razorbacks will close the season on Friday against Missouri (6-4, 2-4) in Columbia, Mo.
“We’re not about to lay down for nobody,” Arkansas sophomore safety Kamren Curl said. “We’ll keep fighting. And we’ve got to fight for the seniors, too. They’ve got two more games left.”
Moorhead recounted Arkansas’ one-score losses to LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M (6-4, 4-3). He warns his Bulldogs could become the first SEC team burned by Arkansas this season should they saunter into today’s game overconfident.
“They’re very competitive in games against SEC opponents, particularly ones that have achieved a high level of success this year,” Moorhead said. “I don’t think that Arkansas’ performance or effort level is indicative of a team that is 2-8 and 0-6.”
The Hogs hope to have top running backs Rakeem Boyd and Devwah Whaley healthy to improve the ground game after being held to 16 yards on 19 carries by the Tigers. Tight end C.J. O’Grady caught both of Ty Storey’s fourth-quarter touchdown passes a week ago.
“A big, physical target,” Moorhead said. “He’s one of those mismatch guys, where if they get him locked on a safety or locked on a linebacker that he can kind of create separation with his athleticism and use his body on those 50-50 contested balls. He’s definitely a guy who’s going to warrant a lot of attention from our defense.”
Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (6-5, 230) is the team’s leading rusher. He ran for 101 yards on 22 carries with an 18-yard touchdown to go along with 12-for-23 passing for 153 yards and two touchdowns last year in Fayetteville when the Bulldogs won, 28-21, against the Hogs.
“It starts there,” said Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis. “A quality, quality quarterback. He makes that offense go.”
Mississippi State’s defense can make most offenses stop or at least look slow.
“Their defense is as good as advertised. No. 1 in the SEC,” Morris said. “It’s the fastest overall defense that we’ve seen.”