2003 GAME RECAPS
November 22, 2003
Reynolds Razorback Stadium · Fayetteville, AR
Mississippi State
6
Arkansas
52
The Bulldogs made the trip to Fayetteville for the last time in the Sherrill Era, fac-
ing off against the MSU head coach's former Southwest Conference rivals,
Arkansas. Though MSU got the early lead, eight turnovers plagued the Dogs as the
Hogs poured it on to win 52-6.
State got its first lead in nine quarters when Brent Smith hit a 30-yard field goal
late in the first quarter. The points were set up by a fourth-and-one run that Darnell
Jones turned into a 16-yard carry.
After stopping UA, State looked to drive again, but Caleb Miller stripped the ball
from Bryson Davis on the MSU 29. The Razorbacks then scored shortly after the
start of the second quarter when De'Arrius Howard got across the goal line from
one yard out. Chris Balserio's kick was good to give the Hogs a 7-3 lead.
MSU got excellent field position after
a 35-yard kickoff return by Fred Reid to
the State 45. But all was negated when
Bo Mosley picked off a pass at the
Arkansas 21. The Hogs scored in five
plays, capped by Cedric Cobbs 7-yard
run to put Arkansas up 14-3.
The Bulldogs drove with their next
possession to the UA 16, eating up over
seven minutes of the clock. Smith fin-
ished off this drive as well, sailing a 33-
yard attempt through the uprights for
MSU's final points of the afternoon.
Arkansas called on starting right
tackle Shawn Andrews at the goal line
towards the end of the first half. The
370-pound lineman, temporarily serving
as a tailback, got the score from one
yard out. Balserio's kick put the Hogs
up 21-6 at the intermission.
The Razorbacks put up 21 points in
the third period, with quarterback Matt
Jones throwing for two scores in the
quarter. The first went to Jason Peters
from 12 yards out. Cedric Cobbs got his
second score from six yards out after
an 85-yard drive. Jones' second TD
pass followed Cobbs' score less than
90 seconds later, as he hit George
Wilson on a 25-yard pass. At the end of
the period, Arkansas led 42-6.
The Hogs got one more touchdown
on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Reserve quarterback Ryan Sorahan hit
Steven Harris for a 43-yard TD pass.
Balserio's PAT put Arkansas up 49-6.
Arkansas' final score came when
Ryan Gullett lined up and hit a 24-yard
field goal. The Razorbacks ended the
game with the largest win difference in
the series.
Mississippi State
3 3 0 0 =
6
Arkansas
0 21 21 10 = 52
MSU - Smith 30 FG, 4:07, 1st
UA - Howard 1 run (Balserio kick), 13:43, 2nd
UA - Cobbs 7 run (Balserio kick), 11:41, 2nd
MSU - Smith 33 FG, 4:18, 2nd
UA - Andrews 1 run (Balserio kick), :25, 2nd
UA - Peters 12 pass from Jones
(Balserio kick), 9:48, 3rd
UA - Cobbs 6 run (Balserio kick), 5:03, 3rd
UA - Wilson 25 pass from Jones
(Balserio kick), 3:36, 3rd
UA - Harris 43 pass from Sorahan
(Balserio kick), 14:52, 4th
UA - Gullett 24 FG, 7:58, 4th
MSU
UA
First Downs
15
29
Rushes-Yards
31-120 63-322
Passing Yards
107
254
Passes (C-A-I)
11-28-6 14-21-0
Total Offense
227
576
Fumbles-Lost
4-2
0-0
Penalties-Yards
5-30
6-56
Time of Possession
26:48
33:12
RUSHING: (MSU) Norwood 10-61, Reid 4-28,
Turner 8-25, Jones 1-16, York 1-1, Davis 1-0, Fant
6-(-11). (UA) Cobbs 30-150 2TD, Jones 6-73,
Birmingham 5-36, Dickerson 3-32, Pierce 5-18,
Pearson 5-8, Richardson 1-2, Howard 6-2 TD,
Andrews 1-1 TD, Loggains 1-0.
PASSING: (MSU) Fant 9-19-3-90, York 2-9-3-17
(UA) Jones 11-16-0-187 2TD, Sorahan 3-5-0-67
TD.
RECEIVING: (MSU) Conner 3-37, Jenkins 3-32,
Lumpkin 3-22, Turner 1-11, Scott 1-5. (UA) Wilson
4-98 TD, Harris 4-87 TD, Smith 2-36, Pierce 2-21,
Peters 1-12 TD, Cobbs 1-0.
Attendance: 62,547.
GAME NOTES
· With his 120 all-purpose yards in the game,
Nick Turner established a new MSU
single-season record with 1,580 all-purpose
yards through 11 games.
· State's eight turnovers (six interceptions, two
fumbles) marked the most by the Bulldogs
since having eight miscues at LSU in 1992...
The six interceptions tied for the most by MSU
in a modern-day game (6 at Cincinnati, 1949).
