OXFORD, Miss. — Sacking Mackey not easy
Senior defensive end Jake Bequette had one of Arkansas’ three sacks of Ole Miss quarterback Randall Mackey, but came close to many more.
Mackey continually scrambled out of trouble to gain yards or keep plays alive.
“That was very frustrating,” Bequette said. “I knew I had a really good 1-on-1 matchup there with that left tackle [senior Bradley Sowell].
“I was getting back there almost every time, but I just couldn’t get Mackey down.
That’s my fault. But he’s a very talented, very quick quarterback. You’ve got to give him credit.”
Arkansas junior linebacker Alonzo Highsmith and freshman end Trey Flowers also sacked Mackey once each.
Make it 10
Ole Miss has lost 10 consecutive SEC games for the first time since becoming a charter member of the conference in 1933.
The Rebels’ worst SEC losing streak had been the previous nine games and nine a row when they went 0-8 during SEC play in 2007 under Coach Ed Orgeron and then lost their 2008 conference opener against Vanderbilt after Houston Nutt replaced Orgeron.
Ole Miss’ last SEC victory was against Kentucky, 42-35 on Oct. 9, 2010.
Another safety
When Arkansas linebacker Jerry Franklin tackled Jeff Scott in the Ole Miss end zone with 14 seconds left in the third quarter, it marked the Razorbacks’ fourth safety in 20 games since the start of the 2010 season.
Franklin has had a hand in three of them.
Franklin and Ramon Broadway got a safety against Tennessee Tech to open last season when they tackled running back Jocques Crawford in the end zone.
Later in the season against Vanderbilt, Franklin sacked quarterback Larry Smith, causing a fumble that was recovered by offensive tackle Wesley Johnson in the end zone when he dived on the ball.
Defensive end Jake Bequette and Rudell Crim then tackled Ohio State running back Daniel Herron in the end zone for a safety in last season’s Sugar Bowl.
For starters
Senior safety Tramain Thomas and junior cornerback Darius Winston were back in Arkansas’ starting lineup.
Thomas had started 19 consecutive games before coming off the bench against Auburn, with senior Elton Ford taking his place. Freshman Tevin Mitchel started in Winston’s place against Auburn after Winston had started the first five games.
Senior defensive tackle Zach Stadther made his second consecutive start in place of sophomore Robert Thomas, who was injured against Texas A&M and didn’t play against Auburn.
Thomas played off the bench Saturday.
Junior tailback Ronnie Wingo played after missing the Auburn game because of a toe injury.
Nice record
Arkansas is 6-1 for the third time since joining the SEC is 1992. The other 6-1 starts came in 1998 and 2006. The Razorbacks finished 9-3 in 1998 and 10-4 in 2006.
Campbell good
Tyler Campbell, Ole Miss’ junior punter from Little Rock Catholic, averaged 37.7 yards on six attempts, but placed three inside the Arkansas 20.
Long way there
Arkansas receiver Joe Adams. lining up at tailback, ran what seemed like 50 yards on a 5-yard gain late in the first quarter.
After looking like he had nowhere to run, Adams reversed field and made it back to the other side to turn what looked like a big loss into a decent gain.
Polian on hand
Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian was among the NFL representatives at Saturday’s game. Other teams with scouts were New England, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Seattle.
Bowls
Arkansas officially became bowl eligible for the third consecutive season by beating Ole Miss. Scouts from the Capital One, Gator, Liberty and Outback Bowls attended the game.
The Razorbacks have played in all of those bowls except the Outback.
Quick drives
Arkansas’ 80-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter took 1:31. It was the 13th time this season and 75th time in Bobby Petrino’s fourth season as the Razorbacks’ coach that they have scored a touchdown in less than two minutes.
Long drive
Ole Miss’ 16-play touchdown drive in the fourth quarter was its most plays during a possession this season that ended in a score, surpassing a 15-play drive in a 38-28 victory at Fresno State.
Series record
Arkansas is 12-8 against Ole Miss since joining the SEC, but the teams’ continue to disagree on the overall series record because of a contested game in 1914.
Arkansas contends it leads the series 32-25-1 while the Rebels say they trail 31-26-1.
The Razorbacks count the 1914 meeting, which Ole Miss won 13-7, as a forfeit victory.
Sports, Pages 34 on 10/23/2011