If the wheels on Arkansas' season hadn't already fallen off, they did Saturday in Starkville, Miss.
Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and the Bulldogs offense, averaging just 11 points per game in Southeastern Conference play entering today's game, hammered the Razorbacks 52-6 on Senior Day.
Mississippi State had not scored more than 28 points in any league game prior to Saturday.
But a hapless defense like Arkansas' was just what Fitzgerald needed. In his final game in Davis Wade Stadium, the SEC's all-time leading rusher at the quarterback position combined for five touchdowns – four through the air – in the blowout win. Fitzgerald had failed to throw a touchdown pass in five of six SEC games and totaled only two in league play coming in, but completed 9 of 14 passes for 127 yards and the four scores. He completed his seven final passes after starting 2-for-7.
Mississippi State jumped on the Razorbacks in the third quarter, adding two touchdowns in the first seven-plus minutes. Bulldogs receiver Justin Johnson, naturally, caught his first touchdown of the season on a 34-yard bomb from Fitzgerald and, following Reid Bauer's mishandled snap on a punt attempt, Keith Mixon's four-yard catch made it a 31-6 game.
Bulldogs receiver Austin Williams also finished with a pair of touchdown grabs. His second score, a 33-yard reception with 5:20 left on the clock, came from Bulldogs backup quarterback Keytaon Thompson on fourth-and-13 against senior safety Santos Ramirez.
Not only did Mississippi State have success through the air, it rushed for nearly 300 yards and averaged better than six yards per carry. Fitzgerald did his damage on the ground – 85 yards, touchdown - but senior tailback Aeris Williams led the way and rushed for 104 yards on 15 carries, marking the fifth time in seven SEC games the Razorbacks have allowed a 100-yard rusher. LSU's Nick Brossette finished with 90 yards last week.
Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey finished 16 of 28 passing for 137 yards and an interception. His lone pick of the game came on the possession following Mixon's score. Storey threw at receiver Jordan Jones from the right hash across the field toward the left sideline, where C.J. Morgan nabbed the easiest takeaway of his season. Connor Noland and John Stephen Jones split time at quarterback in the fourth quarter.
Rakeem Boyd and receiver La'Michael Pettway were the bright spots in the loss. Boyd rushed for 84 yards on 14 carries and Pettway hauled in four passes for 83 yards, including a 47-yarder on the Razorbacks' first possession of the second half. Arkansas' offense, though, totaled just 219 yards of offense – barely besting last week's mediocre effort against No. 7 LSU.
Saturday was a tough day for Razorbacks receiver De'Vion Warren, too. Warren miserably underthrew a wide open Storey on a double-reverse pass in the second quarter that would have gone for a big gain. In the second half, he dropped a pass over the middle of the field that would have resulted in at least a first down and, knowing his speed, likely more. In the fourth quarter, coaches called for Warren to attempt another pass. He was flagged for intentional grounding.
He did have a 71-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter.
The Razorbacks struggled with the Mississippi State defensive line throughout the game as well. Thought to own one of the best front lines in college football, the Bulldogs played like it, finishing with five sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Three players totaled 1.5 sacks, and defensive back Johnathan Abram was lights out, recording a game-high 12 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 2 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
In the 11th game of the season, Arkansas arguably turned in its worst all-around performance of the year. Following the loss, Chad Morris was as raw and emotional as he's been all season, labeling the effort from players and his own coaching staff "unacceptable."
The Razorbacks will be big underdogs in their season finale next week at Missouri, and they should be. Arkansas will head to Columbia, Mo., on a short week, as well. This time of the year should be about grabbing positives to carry toward the future.
Instead, Morris is still having to challenge his team's fight in Week 11, and that is less than ideal to say the least.