Razorbacks hand Troy 56-20 defeat

By Brandon Marcello

Photo by Benjamin Krain

Arkansas' Jarius Wright is tackled by Troy's Bryan Willis during the first quarter of the Razorbacks game Saturday night in Fayetteville.

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• Razorbacks 56, Troy 20

ADVERSTISMENT

FAYETTEVILLE — Ryan Mallett threw for 405 yards and five touchdowns as the Arkansas Razorbacks beat Troy 56-20 on Saturday night at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Mallett set or tied four passing records in the win, including touchdown passes in a game and passing yards in a season (2,882). Mallett also became the first quarterback to throw for five touchdowns against Troy since Marshall's Chad Pennington did it in 1998.

Mallett completed 23 of 30 passes for 405 yards and five touchdowns with one interception. He's completed 82 percent of his passes in the last three games.

"It’s good to look at the records when the year is over with," Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. "The thing that records help us is it’s great for the individual and it’s good for recruiting. We’re happy for the individuals when they get the record, then we go out and sell it in recruiting."

Arkansas (6-4) was without the services of defensive coordinator Willy Robinson, who was hospitalized for a second day battling an infection. The players and coaching staff dedicated the win to the ailing coach, who left the hospital Saturday, Petrino said. Linebackers coach Reggie Johnson coordinated the defense Saturday.

The Hogs also became bowl eligible in their final game in Razorback Stadium this season.

Mallett, for a brief time, had the nation's longest streak of pass attempts without an interception with 141 before he was intercepted near the end of the first half. Troy's Levi Brown held the nation's top spot in the category entering the game, but was intercepted by Arkansas' Matt Harris after his 265th attempt. Brown was intercepted three times in the loss.

Mallett also set the school record for most 300-yard games in a season with four. He's also tied with Clint Stoerner, who previously held the Arkansas record for passing yards in a season, for most 300-yard games in a career with four.

"I'm always going to tell you that we got the win and that's the most important thing," Mallett said. "We're bowl eligible and we're ready to go bowling, but we've got to go play Mississippi State first and then go to LSU, and we're trying to win out so we've got to go to work tomorrow and Monday."

"Yeah, we’re happy about that," Petrino said. "Now we need to win the next game. That’s the biggest thing for us."

Arkansas hosts Mississippi State in Little Rock on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 11:21 a.m. and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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Comment on Razorbacks hand Troy 56-20 defeat

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Ran2133 says...

Well done Razorbacks. Keep playing well and win the next game. Bring on the MSU Bulldogs. Get well Coach Willie.

November 14, 2009 at 10:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

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