It’s Dak season early for M-State
FAYETTEVILLE — Saturday night’s game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium was expected to shed light on the race for the Southeastern Conference’s first-team quarterback. Through one half, give the edge to Dak Prescott over Brandon Allen.
Prescott, a Heisman Trophy finalist last year and a contender in his senior season, passed for 307 yards and three first-half touchdowns, sparking Mississippi State to a 31-21 lead over Arkansas.
Prescott also ran for a touchdown as the underdog Bulldogs sought their fourth consecutive victory in the series. Mississippi State led 31-14 before Allen’s nine-yard touchdown pass to Jared Cornelius wtih 1;03 left in the half.
Prescott completed 21 of 27 with no interceptions and against one sack. His four-yard keeper with 4:12 left in the first quarter broke a 7-7 tie after passing 38 yards to Brandon Holloway for a tying touchdown.
Arkansas tied it 14-all on Allen’s five-yard pass to Jeremy Sprinkle early in the second quarter, but Mississippi State regained the lead a few minutes later on Westin Graves’ 21-yard field goal.
Prescott then went to work, passing eight yards to Fred Brown for 24-14 and 55 yards to Fred Ross for the score, with 5:34 on the clock, that made it 31-14.
Allen went 16 of 25 for 175 yards with no sacks or interceptions. His 20-yard pass to Drew Morgan made it 7-0 with 4:03 off the game clock.
Mississippi State, however, held 1,000-yard rusher Alex Collins to 27 yards on nine firsthalf carries. The Bulldogs started the second half with a 372-213 yardage lead and an 18-13 advantage in first downs.
Arkansas (6-4 going in) ends the regular season Friday with a 1:30 p.m. CBS-televised game in Fayetteville. Mississippi State is host Saturday to Ole Miss in the so-called Egg Bowl, the Rebels winning last year in Oxford after Mississippi State reached No. 1 in the national polls in midseason.