Like it is

Hogs run roughshod, then pick 'em apart

Rawleigh Williams III celebrates in the end zone after scoring one of 4 touchdowns in the first half of the Razorbacks game against Mississippi State in Starkville, MS.
Rawleigh Williams III celebrates in the end zone after scoring one of 4 touchdowns in the first half of the Razorbacks game against Mississippi State in Starkville, MS.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- In the first half there seemed to be only one thing that could stop Rawleigh Williams here last night.

The end zone.

The sophomore running back had eight carries in the first half and half of them went for touchdowns as he gained 191 yards and had touchdown runs of 72, 42, 33 and 7 yards.

It was as if when Mississippi State scouted the Hogs and No. 22 came on the tape the Bulldogs fast forwarded. That first half helped the Hogs escape with a 58-42 victory at Davis-Wade Stadium.

Saying the Dogs had no answer for Williams early would be like saying Ed Orgeron will not be the next head coach at LSU after losing at home to Florida, a team the Hogs manhandled.

The most amazing thing about Williams Saturday night, and this season, is a year ago at this time he was in rehabilitation for a broken neck and no one knew if he would play football again.

More than half the crowd left with the home team trailing 38-14 at halftime, but the Bulldogs opened the second half by driving 70 yards in seven plays for a touchdown and the shootout that would see a combined 1,194 yards of offense was on.

The Bulldogs, finally focused on Williams, pushed the Razorbacks to fourth and goal after Austin Allen completed three passes for 68 yards and they bull-rushed Williams when the Hogs went for it, so he jumped up and tossed his first career touchdown pass and the Hogs led 44-21 after a missed point after.

The Bulldogs were not through, in fact, the game was right back to the way it started with both teams scoring almost at will as defenses struggled.

Mississippi State produced its second touchdown of the third period when it drove 76 yards on six plays with Nick Fitzgerald showing off his arm again on a 31-yard perfect strike to the UA 5, and then Fitzgerald scampered in from the 2 to make it 44-28, making every bettor who took the over very happy.

The clock that looked like it was dragging to the Hogs was speeding for the Dogs. Time was of the essence.

All Mississippi State needed was to get a couple of quick stops against the Razorbacks and MSU's greatest comeback ever was possible.

The Dogs were shutting down the Hogs running game that racked up 283 first-half yards, holding the Hogs to 14 third-quarter yards.

Arkansas was still driving, but now on the strength and accuracy of Allen's passing.

Allen's outstanding game had been overshadowed only by Williams until Allen rallied the Hogs 61 yards, 53 on 4 pass completions, to their seventh touchdown.

The drive ended on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Keon Hatcher, and then Hatcher executed the wildcat formation perfectly, taking the snap and racing around left end for two points and a 52-28 lead with 14:04 to play.

Allen was 17 of 24 passing for 293 yards at the point, and the balance was almost mind-boggling as the Hogs had run for 301 yards.

But the Bulldogs got the cowbells ringing again. Fitzgerald passed the Bulldogs down the field for a touchdown, and he made it 52-36 on a two-point conversion pass.

There was 11:12 to play, and the Bulldogs needed two more touchdowns and two-point conversions to get to a tie. They gambled with an onside kick but rolled snake eyes when a Bulldog touched the ball a yard too soon.

The Hogs tried to run it, but ended up with third and 11. A 10-yard completion to Jared Cornelius made it fourth and 1 at the Mississippi State 25, and the Hogs went back to Williams, who had his biggest run of the second half, good for 5 yards and a first down with 7:48 to play.

Three plays later Devwah Whaley went 4 yards for a touchdown with 5:29 to play. State would score again, but it was too little too late.

Sports on 11/20/2016

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