Ryan Mallett threw five touchdown passes as Arkansas defeated Mississippi State 42-21 on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Mallett broke his own school record with two toudchdown passes to Cobi Hamilton, one to Joe Adams, another to Jarius Wright and Greg Childs.
Mallett’s final touchdown pass was his 28th of the season, a school record. Clint Stoerner held the old mark of 26.
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.
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.
Mallett is the only Arkansas player to throw for five touchdowns in a game, which he has done three times this year. He also holds the school record for yards passing in a season.
Arkansas began the game on a sour note when Mallett was intercepted on his second pass. Mississippi State mishandled its first snap, but wide receiver Chad Bumphis picked up the ball in the backfield and ran all the way to the Arkansas 3 for a 49-yard gain. Arnil Stallworth’s 1-yard touchdown run made it 7-0.
The Razorbacks answered with Mallett’s 39-yard touchdown pass to Joe Adams, then took the lead on his 58-yard scoring toss to Cobi Hamilton in the second quarter.
Mallett’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Jarius Wright gave the Razorbacks a 21-7 halftime lead.
Dixon’s 4-yard scoring run pulled Mississippi State to within seven early in the second half, but Mallett answered with a 64-yard strike to Hamilton. The third-and-long play started as a simple slant, but Hamilton eluded two tacklers and outran the defense for a touchdown.
Arkansas announced before the game that running back Michael Smith will miss the rest of the season with an injured hamstring. The Razorbacks were outrushed 327-83.
However, Mississippi State had no passing game to speak of. Tyson Lee and Chris Relf combined to throw for 49 yards and were sacked four times.
Broderick Green ran 2 yards for the game’s final touchdown with 2:35 remaining.
Head to Whole Hog Sports for the latest game analysis with Wally Hall and Brandon Marcello.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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Information for this article was contributed by Noah Trister of The Associated Press.