DRIVE BY DRIVE: Mississippi State Vs. Arkansas

The Mississippi State Bulldogs kick off against the Arkansas Razorbacks on the gridiron today at 11 a.m. Here, we’ll have drive-by-drive updates of the game today, so check back for up-to-date coverage throughout. If game threads aren’t your thing, this is the place for you.

This is the 34th meeting between the two programs. The last time the SEC West pair squared off was in Starkville, where MSU took home the victory. Arkansas leads the all-time series 18-14-1.

Will Rogers will be a no-go, but Woody Marks is dressed and in warm ups.

First Quarter

Arkansas wins the toss and defers. Mike Wright out to lead the offense.

MSU: Mike Wright’s first pass is picked off. A short first drive for MSU.

FIELD GOAL ARK: KJ Jefferson and the Hogs get rolling early off of Wright’s pick. A big first down catch followed by two stuffed runs and a chip shot between the uprights.

MSU: Mike Wright finds Zavion Thomas across the sticks on the bootleg pass. Thomas is then stuffed behind the line of scrimmage to bring up second and long. An incomplete pass on second down brings up a third and long that Tulu Griffin is short on after another completion from Wright. MSU will punt it away. Wright now 2/4 with 21 yards and one INT. MSU with -3 rush yards.

ARK: Jefferson completes a short pass to Isaac TeSlaa (what a name) on first down. Dubinion is swallowed up by the MSU defense on second. Incomplete pass on third leads to a 61 yard punt that is downed just inside the State 10.

MSU: Big gain from Mike Wright on a 26 yard rush. First down pass to Tulu Griffin goes for about 6. Woody Marks gets his second touch to bring MSU to a 3rd and short. Marks is stood up on the ensuing play. Arnett goes hard count on 4th and short, but takes the delay of game. MSU punt is fair caught by the Hogs at the Arkansas 20.

ARK: Tunnel screen on first down is wrapped up by MSU for a 2-yard gain. KJ Jefferson is tripped up by Jett Johnson after a 7-yard gain on second down, and he surges forward for the first down on the quarterback sneak on the play after. Shawn Preston Jr. sniffs out the bubble screen and makes the tackle for a loss. AJ Green rushes for two yards. Jefferson picks up seven yards on a scamper to bring up 4th down. KJ Jefferson – 5/7 for 26 yards through the air, 3 rushes for 21 yards on the ground. Penalty is called on Arkansas, will tack on 15 yards from the spot of the foul for MSU.

MSU: Wright takes the draw for 16 yards. Arkansas called for a tripping penalty. That’s 30 penalty yards given up on this drive alone for the Hogs. A pair of runs from Woody Marks has MSU in the red zone to end the quarter.

END OF 1: Mike Wright – 4/6, 31 yds, 1 INT, 2/46 r/y

Second Quarter

TOUCHDOWN MSU: Marks picks up a 4-yard rush to move the chains, but limps off the field after. Zavion Thomas picks up 12 yards to bring MSU inside the 5-yard line. Marks makes the touchdown grab, but is still favoring that left leg as he’s slow to get up and limps off. PAT is good. “He hooked up Mississippi State like an aux chord” – the broadcast crew.

ARK: Donterry Russell was able to get to Jefferson on 2nd down and force a big incompletion, and Nathaniel Watson gets to him for the sack on 3rd down. Three and out for the MSU defense.

MSU: Bulldogs will take over from their own 34 yard line. Griffin takes a carry for five yards on first down, and Pittman is lit up on second at the line. Wright forced out of bounds at the line again. That’ll be another short possession for MSU. Punt sails to the Arkansas 30.

ARK: KJ Jefferson gets out of the pocket and lowers the shoulder, but a penalty a holding is called. That’s the Hogs’ 3rd penalty of the day, 40 yards surrendered. Chunk play on second and long nets 11 for the Hogs. Jefferson is pressured and finds Dubinion before the sack, and he’s brought down behind the line. Hogs’ punt officially gets spotted at the MSU 16.

MSU: Seth Davis takes the first down scamper for a 9-yard gain on first and crosses the sticks on the ensuing play. Seth Davis fumbles but falls on it, if just barely. That play is under review. Ruling on the field stands. Wright tried a floater to Justin Robinson but sailed it. Flag is thrown, and it looks like a DPI. That will bail out the Bulldogs. Another penalty is called on MSU this time on the immediate play after, their second penalty for a total of 20 yards. Wright makes it 3rd and manageable with a big rush, and a tipped pass falls incomplete to bring out the punt team.

ARK: The Hogs will take over from their own 16 after a 38 yard punt from Crimmins. Corey Ellington lights up KJ Jefferson and forces a fumble that is picked up by Dubinion to bring up a 2nd and 21 to take this one to halftime.

Halftime Stats

Mike Wright: 6/9, 45 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 4/56 r/y

Woody Marks: 8 rushes, 29 yds, 1 rec for 2 yds, 1TD

KJ Jefferson: 9/12, 46 yds, 8/9 r/y

C. Little: 1/1 FG, 24 yds

Third Quarter

ARK: Hogs return the kick for 24 yards. On first down, Arkansas loses four yards. Jefferson completes a pass to Broden for nine yards to bring up 3rd and 5. Dubinion is spun across the sticks for the first down. Solid gain on first down is followed by a rush for no gain. Hogs are stopped short of the sticks at midfield, and will go for it on a qb sneak. Jefferson is stopped short, and MSU will take over on downs. The play is ruled as a fumble recovered by MSU, and it is under review. Either way, it looks like it should be MSU ball.

MSU: Woody Marks is back in the game, and his first carry goes for maybe a yard. Wright slides down short of the sticks on 3rd and 10, and the MSU punt team comes out after Arnett takes a delay of game.

ARK: Hogs catch the Osteen (not Crimmins) punt at the 11 yard line. Jefferson takes the first play from scrimmage for a first down. Donterry Russel down on the field. He makes it off the field and is in the tent. Cam Little and the field goal unit came onto the field, but a delay of game brings out the punt team and rolls out of bounds inside the MSU 5-yard line.

MSU: Cole Smith loses the snap on 2nd down, which will put MSU against their own end zone. That’s followed by an illegal procedure penalty. The next snap may come from the locker room. Wright surges forward on the keeper to bring up 3rd and long inside their own 5, which is followed by another false start. Wright heaves one down field to Justin Robinson for a 30 yard gain. A pair of short gains will bring up 3rd down and end the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

MSU: Mike Wright took one to the house for 63 yards that is called back on an illegal blindside block. That will be a 15 yard penalty from the original spot. Wright will slide down for maybe a yard on the 3rd and 15, and MSU will punt it away.

ARK: The Hogs take over and manage to move the sticks twice, but Jefferson is sacked for the third time today to bring up third and long. He throws one deep that’s intercepted by Shawn Preston Jr., that’s his 3rd on the season. No flags, and MSU will take over with 9:11 to go.

MSU: A pair of dismal runs leads to a third and long, when Wright finds Robinson right around the sticks. That one will be close, but he looks just short. On 4th down, Wright fumbles the snap and the Hogs return it for a touchdown, but MSU is called for a false start. That essentially saved MSU.

ARK: Hogs will take over from their own 24 yard line. Nate Watson gets to Jefferson for his second sack, team’s fourth on the day. An incompletion on 3rd down will force the Hogs to punt back to MSU.

MSU: Zavion Thomas returns the punt for 31 yards, MSU’s best of the day. Woody picks up a pair on the first carry, and Wright is sacked for a big loss on 3rd down. Bulldogs will be forced to punt it away.

ARK: Jefferson’s first pass is completed, but Brice Pollock makes the tackle for a minimal gain. Arkansas will take their first time out, and MSU will take over on downs right on the Arkansas 20.

MSU: After a few runs to bring up 3rd down, Arkansas uses their final timeout. Marks makes it 4th and 1 after a short gain. Ferrie misses the chip shot FG from 29.

ARK: After four dismal plays, Arkansas shows some life and crosses the sticks before a few incompletions brings up a failed Hail Mary.

FINAL: 7-3 MSU