No smack from Smoot after defeat

TIM COOPER
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Any chance Mississippi State had of playing in Atlanta on Dec. 2 ended when Arkansas defenders J.J. Jones and Quinton Caver stuffed Dontae Walker at the 1 on Saturday's final play at Scott Field.
The Bulldogs were eliminated from playing in the SEC title game and now must hope they can recover in time for Thursday's annual Egg Bowl showdown with Ole Miss.
"This hurts," Mississippi State cornerback Fred Smoot, one of the most quotable players in the SEC, said. "Nobody can describe the way I feel right now."
For more than three quarters, Mississippi State (7-3, 4-3) held Arkansas' offense in check. The Razorbacks were limited to six first downs and 91 yards of offense through the first three quarters, but Arkansas dominated the final 15 minutes and scored the tying touchdown on Brandon Holmes' 2-yard run with 62 seconds left in regulation.
Arkansas gained 101 yards in the final 15 minutes, holding the ball for almost two-thirds of the quarter.
"That took us out of position for a trip to Atlanta," MSU Coach Jackie Sherrill said. "Somehow we've got to muster up enough energy to play Thursday."
Mississippi State entered Saturday's game a half-game behind Auburn and LSU for the West Division lead. The best the Bulldogs can do now is tie for second.
The loss ended a 16-game winning streak at Scott Field for the Bulldogs and ended a nine-game SEC road losing streak for Arkansas.
After Arkansas scored to start the overtime, Mississippi State converted a fourth-and-21 to keep its drive alive. The Bulldogs eventually had a first-and-goal from the 5 but gained only 4 yards on the next four plays.
On fourth-and-goal from the 1, Walker tested the right side of Arkansas defense, but Jones and Caver met Bulldogs' sophomore tailback before he reached the line of scrimmage.
"It was the right call," Sherrill said. "We just didn't execute."
"I've never lost at Scott Field before today," said Smoot, a junior who had one of three MSU interceptions on Saturday. "Now I know, and I don't like it."

This article was published on Sunday, November 19, 2000

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