Tulsa World: Hogs pound Bulldogs

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Hogs pound Bulldogs
Mallett sets a school record for TDs in a season.

Ryan Mallett (left) threw for 313 yards and five touchdowns, leading coach Bobby Petrino's Arkansas team to a 42-21 victory over visiting Mississippi State. The Razorbacks improved to 7-4 overall and 3-4 in the SEC. DANNY JOHNSTON / Associated Press

By NOAH TRISTER Associated Press
Published: 11/22/2009 2:30 AM
Last Modified: 11/22/2009 6:45 AM

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — With its top running back out for the season, Arkansas relied on Ryan Mallett's arm against Mississippi State.

As usual, the sophomore was up to the challenge.

Mallett threw for 313 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Razorbacks to a 42-21 victory on Saturday, hours after the team announced running back Michael Smith would miss the rest of the year with a hamstring injury. Mallett's second pass of the game was intercepted, but Arkansas took the lead in the second quarter and didn't relinquish it.

"They were committed to stopping the run," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "Part of me wishes I could've thrown it every down, but that's hard to do."

Mallett's final touchdown pass was his 28th of the season, a school record. Clint Stoerner held the old mark of 26.

Anthony Dixon rushed for 176 yards for Mississippi State, which was eliminated from bowl contention.

The Bulldogs (4-7, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) ran all over the Razorbacks (7-4, 3-4) in the third quarter, cutting the Arkansas lead to 28-21 after Dixon's 70-yard scoring run. Mississippi State had the ball near midfield toward the end of the period, but Dixon fumbled and Elton Ford recovered for the Razorbacks.

"I think we started to run the ball downhill a little more in the second half," Dixon said. "I took the handoff and before I could turn right, the Arkansas defender was under me, knocking the ball loose."

Mallett threw an 11-yard touchdown pass — off his back foot while scrambling from pressure — to Greg Childs to make it 35-21 early in the fourth. He finished 18-of-34 with two interceptions.

"I thought the offense and defense did a good job of looking out for one another. When one wasn't getting the job done, the other stepped up and made some big plays. We played well as a team," Mallett said. "You're going to throw picks every now and then. You just have to bounce back."

Smith rushed for 1,000 yards last season, but he fought injuries throughout 2009.

ARKANSAS 42, MISSISSIPPI ST. 21

Mississippi St. 7 0 14 0 — 21
Arkansas 7 14 7 14—42

First Quarter

MSSt: Stallworth 1 run (DePasquale kick), 13:07.

Ark: Adams 39 pass from Mallett (Tejada kick), 11:21.

Second Quarter

Ark: Hamilton 58 pass from Mallett (Tejada kick), 12:35.

Ark: J.Wright 5 pass from Mallett (Tejada kick), 4:53.

Third Quarter

MSSt: Dixon 4 run (DePasquale kick), 9:22.

Ark: Hamilton 64 pass from Mallett (Tejada kick), 8:14.

MSSt: Dixon 70 run (DePasquale kick), 7:56.

Fourth Quarter

Ark: Childs 11 pass from Mallett (Tejada kick), 12:35.

Ark: Green 2 run (Tejada kick), 2:35.

A: 55,634.

	MSSt	Ark
First downs	18	22
Rushes-yards	55-327	27-83
Passing	49	313
Comp-Att-Int	8-13-0	18-34-2
Return Yards	32	0
Punts-Avg.	6-38.0	5-42.2
Fumbles-Lost	3-2	0-0
Penalties-Yards	7-65	4-24
Time of Possession	32:24	27:36

Individual statistics

Rushing: Mississippi St., Dixon 24-176, Relf 12-68, Elliott 7-62, Bumphis 1-49, Heavens 1-5, Stallworth 1-1, Team 2-(minus 13), Lee 7-(minus 21). Arkansas, Johnson 11-50, Green 9-25, Mallett 4-7, Wingo 1-4, K.Davis 1-1, Adams 1-(minus 4).

Passing: Mississippi St., Relf 4-7-0-27, Lee 4-6-0-22. Arkansas, Mallett 18-34-2-313.

Receiving: Mississippi St., Green 3-17, McRae 2-13, Wilder 1-12, Bumphis 1-5, Dixon 1-2. Arkansas, D.Williams 4-30, Hamilton 3-131, Childs 3-49, J.Wright 3-34, Adams 1-39, Miller 1-12, Wingo 1-7, Johnson 1-6, K.Davis 1-5. By NOAH TRISTER Associated Press

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