Arkansas came up short on a fourth down pass attempt with three minutes remaining, and No. 16 Mississippi State drove 44 yards on nine plays for a go-ahead touchdown before escaping with a 28-21 win Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville.
On a day that saw the Razorbacks (4-7, 1-6) come away with several lucky breaks for the first time this season, it was a questionable play call down the stretch that ultimately cost the Hogs a chance at taking an upset win and staying alive for postseason play.
With the game tied, 21-21, with just over three minutes remaining, Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos put wide receiver Jonathan Nance in as a Wildcat quarterback on third and three from the Arkansas 43 yard line. Nance picked up a yard but was injured on the play.
Instead of punting and leaning on a Razorback defense that had played surprisingly well throughout the game, Arkansas instead chose to dial up a play-action deep throw to La'Michael Pettway, who was in for the injured Nance.
Arkansas senior quarterback Austin Allen overshot Pettway, who appeared to run the wrong route on the play. MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald took over and found Deddrick Thomas for a 6-yard touchdown with 17 ticks remaining to push the Bulldogs to victory.
The Bulldogs (8-3, 4-3) were sloppy in the early going and saw Arkansas jump out to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Arkansas started the game going three-and-out offensively, but Blake Johnson's ensuing punt touched a MSU player and Reid Miller fell on it for the Hogs at the opposing 36 yard line. The Razorbacks needed just three plays before taking an early 7-0 lead behind a 3-yard rush from David Williams.
Williams led the Hogs with 8 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown, though 33 of his yards came on a kicked fumble in the third quarter.
Midway through the first quarter, Arkansas defensive end Sosa Agim, who finished with 9 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and a sack, stripped Fitzgerald and Briston Guidry fell on it in the end zone to give the Hogs a 14-0 lead.
Mississippi State scored twice in the last 5:17 of the first half to tie the game 14-14 at the break. The Razorbacks made it easy for the Bulldogs when Blake Johnson failed to get a punt off and was tackled at Arkansas' own 17 yard line with 3:44 remaining in the second quarter. MSU needed just three plays to capitalize on the mistake with a touchdown.
Devwah Whaley put Arkansas back on top, 21-14, with a 1-yard touchdown plunge to cap off a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with 4:53 left in the third quarter.
Fitzgerald knotted the game again 3:57 remaining, 21-21, when he hit Reggie Todd for a 37-yard touchdown strike.
The Razorbacks will face Missouri in a regular season finale meeting at 1:30 p.m. next Friday.
