LITTLE ROCK — Offense, Mallett soaring
It took Ryan Mallett 25 games to become Arkansas’ career leader in passing touchdowns.
Mallett, a redshirt junior from Texarkana, has thrown for 60 touchdowns in two seasons as the Razorbacks’ starter after transferring from Michigan.
Mallett had three touchdown passes in Arkansas’ 31-23 victory over LSU on Saturday in Little Rock to take sole possession of the record he had shared with Clint Stoerner.
Stoerner threw 57 touchdown passes from 1996-1999.
“Obviously, that’s a big accomplishment with all the great players that have played here,” Mallett said.
“But I’m more excited about getting the win.”
Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino called the passing touchdown record an “awesome” accomplishment for Mallett.
“He’s certainly an unbelievable player,” Petrino said. “He’s had a great year.
He’s worked extremely hard to focus, concentrate andcontinue to get better as the year has gone on.”
Including Mallett’s true freshman season at Michigan in 2008, he’s thrown 67 touchdown passes as a college player.
For starters
Arkansas free safety Elton Ford and outside linebacker Terrell Williams each made their first starts of the season, and nose guard Byran Jones made his first start in four games.
Williams started in place of Anthony Leon, who under NCAA rules had to miss the first half of Saturday’s game after being ejected againstMississippi State last week after drawing a personal foul penalty for fighting.
Ford started in place of Rudell Crim. It was the 17th career start for Ford, who started eight games in each of the previous two seasons, and the second career start for Williams.
Jones made his fifth start of the season and first since injuring his ankle against Vanderbilt on Oct. 30. Jones missed the next two games against South Carolina and Texas-El Paso, then played off the bench at Mississippi State last week. Alfred Davis had started in Jones’ place.
Cornerback Isaac Madison, who missed the second half at Mississippi State because of an undisclosed injury, was back in the starting lineup.
Leon played in the second half.
Three-pointers
Three-point accuracy problems followed the Razorbacks across the Arkansas River from Verizon Arena to War Memorial Stadium.
Arkansas freshman Zach Hocker missed a 41-yard field attempt in the first quarter Saturday after the Razorbacks’ basketball team was 3 of 21 on three-point attempts in their 70-65 loss to Alabama-Birmingham in overtime Friday night in North Little Rock.
It was Hocker’s second consecutive miss after he was wide left on a 39-yard attempt in the first overtime at Mississippi State last week, when the Razorbacks beat the Bulldogs 38-31 in double overtime.
Hocker came back to hit a 19-yard field goal to give Arkansas a 31-20 lead with 6:09 left against LSU.
Hocker has hit 13 of 16 field goal attempts this season.
Tejada the tackler
Arkansas kickoff man Alex Tejada made two tackles against LSU returner Patrick Peterson. Tejada has made nine tackles this season.
Big foot
LSU punter Derek Helton was credited with an 82-yard punt on his first attempt Saturday. Helton kicked the ball 57 yards to Joe Adams at the 30, but the ball tumbled to the Arkansas 4 - after several Tigers made diving attempts at recovering it.
Because Adams never had possession, Helton had the second-longest punt in LSU history. The longest was 88 yards by Donnie Jones against Kentucky in 2002.
Adams’ streak
Joe Adams’ 8-yard reception in the first quarter extended his streak to 33 games - every one he has played in for Arkansas - in which he’s caught at least one pass.
Handing it back
For the second game in a row, Arkansas turned the ball over one play after getting a turnover.
On Saturday, Ryan Mallett was intercepted by Morris Claiborne in the end zone inthe second quarter. Arkansas had gained possession on a fumble recovery by Freddy Burton.
Last week at Mississippi State, Knile Davis lost a fumble after Arkansas cornerback Eric Bennett had recovered a fumble by Robert Elliott.
In a hurry
Arkansas had touchdown drives of 53 and six seconds in the first half. It was the 61st time the Razorbacks have scored a touchdown on a possession of less than two minutes in Bobby Petrino’s three seasons as coach.
Lee back home
Cliff Lee, the Benton native and former Razorbacks pitcher who has played for Cleveland, Philadelphia, Seattle and Texas over the past two seasons, attended Saturday’s game with his wife and two children. The Lee family was recognized on the field between the first and second quarters and led the crowd in a Hog call.
Texas Rangers President Nolan Ryan and New York Yankees General Manger Brian Cashman were not spotted standing by Lee, though both have been in the Little Rock area to make pitches to the 2008 Cy Young Award winner. Lee is considered the biggest prize of this offseason’s free agent market.
Sports, Pages 34 on 11/28/2010