Bulldogs knew they could block kick

FAYETTEVILLE — Beniquez Brown wasn’t even supposed to be in the game on the field goal attempt that decided the outcome of Mississippi State-Arkansas.

With the Bulldogs clinging to a 51-50 lead with 39 seconds left, the Mississippi State linebacker had a feeling he could make a difference as freshman Razorback kicker Cole Hedlund headed out onto the frigid field at Razorback Stadium.

“We knew that they kick the ball low,” Brown said, recalling footage coaches had shown of two kicks Hedlund had had blocked earlier this season -- the first against Tennessee on Oct. 3, the second against Ole Miss on Nov. 7. “Even when they played Ole Miss, he kicked it low.

"So we knew he kicked real low and obviously coach told us he’s like one for four from a certain distance. We just knew if we gave it our all we’d have a chance to get it.”

Brown thought his team’s chances of getting it would go up if he was in the game, so he asked defensive line coach David Turner if he could in to defend the attempt. Turner agreed and Brown lined up on the left side at the Bulldogs’ 12-yard line.

The ball was hiked and Mississippi State players surged to try to block Hedlund’s 29-yard field goal attempt. “I had the tight end [Alex Voelzke] man-to-man,” Brown recalled. “I kind of shot the gap.”

Brown blocked Hedlund’s kick with the palm of his right hand. That block silenced the Arkansas crowd and essentially sealed the Bulldogs’ 51-50 win, lifting their record to 8-3 and dropping Arkansas to 6-5 overall. “I didn’t jump -- just ran straight through there,” he said, the phone in his pocket ringing with congratulatory calls. “I got it pretty early before he could get it up.”

Mississippi State's Richie Brown speculated even if Beniquez Brown had not blasted nearly unimpeded through Arkansas’ line, a Bulldog still would have blocked it.

“I’d just got taken off by “Hutch” [Darrion Hutcherson], our tight end, because he’s like (7-feet) and I’m a measly 6’2” white guy,” Brown recalled. “There was a lot penetration from our defensive line… If our first guy didn’t block it, I think Hutch might have even blocked it.”

The game featured one of the most impressive shootouts between two quarterbacks in SEC history. The Hogs’ Brandon Allen broke an Arkansas record with seven touchdown passes to go along with 406 passing yards.

“Brandon Allen is a totally different quarterback compared to last year. Last year they ran at us all night and made some passes, but this year they were going back and forth all night,” Brown said. “We got a stop when we had to, but those two are great quarterbacks.”

Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, meanwhile, also came through with a career night, totaling 508 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns.

Prescott was especially hot in the fourth quarter. Had Arkansas made that blocked field goal to go up 53-51, he felt like he could have marched Mississippi State right back down the field and into field goal position in under 30 seconds.

“We would have scored," Prescott said.

Evin Demirel is a contributor to WholeHogSports. For more exclusive insight on the Hogs from the Bulldogs’ locker room, visit BestofArkansasSports.com.