Razorbacks Rewind

— UA stars handled with care

Quarterback Ryan Mallett and receivers Joe Adams and Greg Childs were considered too dinged up to return during Arkansas’ 38-24 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday.

The circumstances of the game, with the Razorbacks holding a lead anywhere from 7 to 14 points, and the stoppages of play - a 58-minute delay for a thunderstorm and a 31-minute lightning pause - might have played a hand in not forcing them back into action.

Mallett was knocked out of his second-consecutive start, after a concussion removed him in the second quarter last week at Auburn.

Adams and Childs both twisted ankles in the third quarter, warmed up after the lengthy delays, but didn’t return.

“It was precautionary,” Adams said of his being held out. “I just rolled my ankle up. I’ll be back next week.”

Adams was hurt on a 17-yard catch and run early in the third period on which it appeared Adams might have been twisted backward by an unseen horse collar tackle. The play set up Zach Hocker’s 46-yard field goal.

Childs came out on the Hogs’ next series while trying to fight for extra yardage on a slant catch.

Mallett said he wasn’t sure when his injury occurred, but he also labeled it precautionary.

“It’s just a bruise,” Mallett said. “I just couldn’t get any velocity behind it and the doctors made the call.

Obviously I didn’t want to come out, but the doctors made the call and Coach [Bobby Petrino] said we’re going to be all right.”

Petrino said Mallett had trouble throwing a spiral and creating velocity during the weather delays, but they warmed him up to not let on to Ole Miss that Mallett was coming out.

Punt prowess

Arkansas vaulted from No. 26 nationally to No. 4 in punt returns, propelled by Joe Adams’ school-record 97-yard return for a second quarter touchdown.

Poll alert

Arkansas improved two spots to No. 19 in the Associated Press poll and three spots to No. 18 in the USA Today coaches poll issued Sunday.

The Razorbacks (5-2 overall, 2-2 SEC) moved from No. 23 to No. 19 in the BCS rankings.

Arkansas will play host to Vanderbilt for homecoming in a 6 p.m. kickoff on Fox Sports Net this Saturday.

Fake snuff

Arkansas players were on high alert with Ole Miss in punt formation on a fourth and-6 from the Arkansas 43 late in the third quarter.

Based on the down and distance, game conditions - Arkansas led 24-10 - and the fact an Ole Miss player went in motion, the Razorbacks were ready when Lionel Breaux took the snap and ran up the middle. Jake Bequette and Jerico Nelson combined to hold Breaux to a 1-yard gain to stop the trick play.

“I don’t want to say this, but I’m pretty sure we ran that when they were here, Coach [James] Shibest,” Bequette said. “I knew when they motioned the guy across the formation that they were going to do something crazy, so I just sat there and was patient with it and they ran it and we were waiting for it.”Turnover talk

The Razorbacks committed their 15th and 16th turnovers of the season - on Ryan Mallett’s first snap interception and Ronnie Wingo’s second quarter fumble - surpassing the total of 15 turnovers compiled by the 2009 team.

Mallett’s seventh interception of the year, which was Ole Miss’ second of the season, equaled the number Mallett threw all of last season.

The Razorbacks now rank 97th in turnover margin, at minus-0.71 per game.

Sack denied

Arkansas fans thought Tenarius Wright had sacked Jermiah Masoli on a third and-6 early in the fourth quarter to set up a change of possession.

But referee Steve Shaw announced that Arkansas had challenged the previous call - a play with offsetting penalties on which Isaac Madison was flagged for pass interference - just before the snap. Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino had seen linebacker Jerico Nelson tip a pass from Masoli, but the review indicated the tip came after Madison made contact on a receiver.

Bottom line: Ole Miss got to run its third-and-6 play for the third time.

Masoli connected with H.R.

Greer for 5 yards, Masoli converted a 2-yard sneak on fourth down, and the Rebels went on to score on Masoli’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Markeith Summers to cut the Hogs’ lead to 24-17.

“I knew I’d look bad on that if they scored,” Petrino said. “But you know, the ball hit Jerico. I saw the play. I really felt like he got the ball before the contact was made on the wide receiver.

“I don’t have a lot of luck on replays. That’s all I can say.” Topsy turvy

In a strange turn of events, it looked like the Razorbacks and Rebels swapped their modes of offensive operation on Saturday.

Ole Miss, which has struggled in the air this season, passed for a season best 327 yards, sparked by three go routes that gained 43, 39 and 31 yards. The previous high for the Rebels had been 282 passing yards against Tulane.

Knile Davis’ 176 yards sparked the Hogs to a season-best 197 yards on the ground. Arkansas came into the game averaging 113 rushing yards.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEKOFFENSE

RB Knile Davis

Arkansas featured a back for the first time this season andDavis came through with a maestro performance: 22 carries for 176 yards and 3 touchdowns. Davis’ biggest runs - touchdowns from 71 and22 yards - came in the fourth quarter after Ole Miss closed within seven points.

DEFENSE

DE Jake Bequette

One week after Bequette’s self described “invisible game,” thejunior out of Little Rock had a major impact against the Rebels. Bequette had a sack and forced-fumble on Ole Miss’ second series inside the Arkansas 30. He finished with 6 tackles, the sack and forced fumble and a pass breakup.

Sports, Pages 19 on 10/25/2010

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