NEW ORLEANS — Mallett passes Stoerner
Ryan Mallett became Arkansas’ all-time leader passer with an 18-yard completion to Joe Adams in the third quarter of Tuesday’s Sugar Bowl against Ohio State.
That play gave Mallett 7,434 passing yards in two seasons with the Razorbacks. He surpassed the 7,422 passing yards by Clint Stoerner from 1996-1999.
Early jitters
Arkansas receivers dropped passes on the Razorbacks’ first two plays from scrimmage.
Joe Adams dropped what might have turned into an 80-yard touchdown on a pass over the middle from Ryan Mallett. Then Julian Horton dropped a pass on a crossing route that might have gone for a first down.
Going big
Junior defensive tackle Zach Stadther and senior linebacker Freddy Burton both made their first starts of the season for Arkansas to help the Razorbacks contend with Ohio State’s power running game.
Stadther’s start was the 17th of his career, while Burton made his 14th career start. Also back in Arkansas’ defensive starting lineup was tackle D.D. Jones. He made his first start since the Ole Miss game on Oct. 23.
Knocking heads
Arkansas safety Rudell Crim and defensive end Tenarius Wright both appeared in position to recover a fumble by Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor that was forced by Tramain Thomas.
But when Crim and Wright both dove to the turf going for the ball, they essentially knocked each other off the ball and it was recovered in the end zone by Buckeyes receiver Dane Sanzenbacher for a touchdown.
Upon review
Officials initially ruled that Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams had scored a touchdown when he kept his balance with Ohio State linebacker Ross Homan beneath and ran into the end zone.
But after replay officials reviewed the play, they ruled that Williams’ wrist, in which he was holding the ball, had touched the ground and Arkansas had first down at the Ohio State 17 instead of a touchdown.
On the next play, Ryan Mallett hit Joe Adams with a touchdown pass as the Razorbacks tied it 7-7 with 9:56 left in the first quarter.
Green on returns
Junior running back Broderick Green was the deep man on kickoff returns for the Razorbacks in the first half, replacing redshirt freshman Lance Ray.
Green had two returns for 33 yards, then was replaced by Ray in the second half on returns. Ray, who came into the game with a team-high22 returns for a 22.5-yard average, played as a receiver in the first half.
Chekwa hurt
Chimdi Chekwa, Ohio State’s senior All-Big Ten cornerback, injured his wrist in the first quarter after breaking up a pass in the end zone and didn’t return. He was replaced by sophomore Travis Howard.
Honorary captains
Former Arkansas All-Southwest Conference center Jay Bequette and former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner, were honorary captains during the pregame coin toss.
Bequette, a Little Rock attorney, was a freshman player for the Razorbacks in 1979 for their last Sugar Bowl team and is the father of Arkansas starting defensive end Jake Bequette.
Griffin, who several years ago was among a group of Ohio State officials to visit Fayetteville to tour Arkansas athletic facilities, is now president of Ohio State’s alumni association.
One vote for Hogs
The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch asked two of its writers, a local TV anchor, a radio host and a professional football player to predict the outcome of Tuesday night’s Sugar Bowl.
The media men, understandably, weighed in 4-0 on the side of the Buckeyes.
The lone dissenter?
Cincinnati Bengals offensive guard Bobbie Williams, who picked Arkansas to win 34-24.
“The Arkansas Razorbacks will be victorious,” said Williams, who started 35 games for the Hogs from 1997-1999.
“Why? The Razorbacks are too high-powered and Ohio State won’t be able to keep up! Go Razorbacks !”Extra points
The first recorded Hog call for the Sugar Bowl came at 5:59 p.m. more than 90 minutes before kickoff, and ex-Razorback Felix Jones got in on the action.
Lou Holtz, the former Arkansas coach who now works for ESPN, picked Ohio State to win during the pregame show. Holtz coached the Razorbacks in their most recent Sugar Bowl appearance, when they lost 24-9 to Alabama on Jan. 1, 1980.
Sports, Pages 20 on 01/05/2011