Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Arkansas Razorbacks Match Player Stats On Nov 18, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 18, 2017

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Nick Fitzgerald threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Deddrick Thomas with 17 seconds left, capping a fourth-quarter rally and lifting No. 16 Mississippi State to a 28-21 victory over Arkansas on Saturday.

Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3 SEC) started its game-winning drive at the Arkansas 44 after Razorbacks quarterback Austin Allen threw incomplete on fourth down with 3:01 left to play.

Fitzgerald ran for 2 yards on fourth-and-1 from the 35, then broke free three plays later for a 13-yard run to the 6. After Fitzgerald was stopped for no gain on first down, he threw a low pass to Thomas in the right corner of the end zone for the game-winning score.

Arkansas (4-7, 1-6) led 14-0 at the end of the first quarter and held a 21-14 lead for most of the fourth quarter. But Fitzgerald found freshman wide receiver Reginald Todd for a 37-yard touchdown on a third-down play with 3:57 left in the game. Jace Christmann's extra point tied the score at 21.

Fitzgerald completed 12 of 23 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran for 101 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries as Mississippi State beat Arkansas for the fifth time in the past six meetings.

Arkansas took advantage of a pair of early turnovers.

The Razorbacks failed to generate a first down on the game's opening possession, but the ensuing punt hit a Mississippi State player in the back and was recovered by Arkansas' Reid Miller at the Mississippi State 36. Three plays later, David Williams scored on a 3-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

Later in the first quarter, Mississippi State's Nick Gibson fumbled on a hit by Arkansas defensive end McTelvin Agin, with Briston Guidry recovering the ball in the end zone to make it 14-0.

Mississippi State answered with two second-quarter touchdowns. Fitzgerald ran 18 yards for a TD with 5:17 left in the first half to cap a 50-yard drive. Then, after Arkansas punter Blake Johnson was tackled at the Razorbacks' 17 on a poor snap, Aeris Williams scored on a 8-yard run to tie the score with 2:18 remaining in the half.

An unusual play helped Arkansas regain the lead late in the third quarter.

On a second-down play from the Mississippi State 34, David Williams fumbled the ball. The loose ball was kicked by a Mississippi State defender and bounced to the 1-yard line, where Arkansas recovered. Devwah Whaley scored two plays later to put the Razorbacks ahead 21-14 with 4:35 remaining in the third quarter.

Allen completed 12 of 18 passes for 124 yards for Arkansas, which finished with 221 yards of offense. David Williams had 75 yards on eight carries.

Aeris Williams finished with 71 yards on 19 carries for Mississippi State.

NOTES: Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald has accounted for nine touchdowns in the Bulldogs' past two games against Arkansas -- four touchdown passes and five TD runs. Fitzgerald ran for three touchdowns and passed for two in a 58-42 loss to Arkansas in 2016. ... Arkansas sophomore RB Devwah Whaley scored a touchdown for the fifth consecutive game -- four rushing touchdowns and one TD reception. ... Mississippi State is bowl eligible for a school-record eighth consecutive year. Before coach Dan Mullen's arrival in 2009, the school record for consecutive bowl appearances was three from 1998-2000. ... Coach Brett Bielema saw his record with the Razorbacks drop to 29-33, including 11-28 in SEC games. Bielema's job security has been questioned this season, and Arkansas fired athletic director Jeff Long on Wednesday.