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Mississippi State football vs Arkansas score prediction, scouting report in Week 9 SEC game

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Mississippi State football vs Arkansas score prediction, scouting report in Week 9 SEC game


STARKVILLE — Everyone remembers, and maybe is trying to forget, last season’s 7-3 slugfest between Mississippi State football and Arkansas. 

The Bulldogs prevailed, with Jo’Quavious Marks’ touchdown in the second quarter being the difference maker. Based on the outlooks of the teams this season, there should be more offensive fireworks when Mississippi State (1-6, 0-4 SEC) hosts Arkansas (4-3, 2-2) at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday (11:45 a.m., SEC Network). 

“I think both teams are in a completely different place,” first-year MSU coach Jeff Lebby said. “Again, they’re playing much, much better offensively. … I think when you look at them, they have the chance to make some explosive plays, and they have.”

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Here’s a look inside the Week 9 matchup. 

Arkansas has had good and bad moments this season

The peak of Arkansas’ season so far came three weeks ago when it toppled then-undefeated Tennessee at home. Arkansas and coach Sam Pittman also have wins at Auburn and against UAB and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Its losses have come to Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and most recently LSU. 

Arkansas has playmakers on offense

The Razorbacks have rejuvenated their offense with the return of coordinator Bobby Petrino. 

Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong is third in the SEC with 646 receiving yards, while running back Ja’Quinden Jackson is fourth in the conference with 592 rushing yards. Taylen Green, a Boise State transfer, is the quarterback, a dual threat who has 316 yards and four touchdowns rushing.

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However, Arkansas’ offense has been in rut lately and hasn’t scored more than 24 points in any of its past four games. Its 17.5 scoring average in conference games is fourth worst in the SEC. 

Jackson is doubtful to play, according to Wednesday’s injury report. MSU struggled to defend the run to begin the season, but held Georgia and Texas A&M to under 150 rushing yards in back-to-back games.

“They’re always going to be a hard-nosed team,” MSU linebacker Stone Blanton said. “They’re head coach is a hard-nosed guy. (They) always have big O-linemen, big backs.”

MORE: Three alarming stats for Mississippi State football’s defense after Texas A&M loss

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Mississippi State could have a productive rushing day

The Arkansas defense has been pretty well-rounded this season. However, the Razorbacks have allowed a 100-yard rusher in three consecutive games. 

That means Mississippi State’s running backs could be in for a big game, though it hasn’t had a 100-yard rusher this season. Johnnie Daniels has been MSU’s most consistent running back, but Davon Booth is coming off a season-high 79 rushing yards.

A lot will depend on the offensive line, too, which hasn’t met expectations this season. 

“You see a physical football team that plays with a ton of effort,” Lebby said of Arkansas. “It is all over the tape and it’s in all three phases.”

Lineman Landon Jackson is the player to watch on Arkansas’ defense.

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Mississippi State vs Arkansas score prediction

Arkansas 27, Mississippi State 26: This is a very winnable game for MSU, which has played much better in three consecutive games. However, the defense is still a big concern. It’ll be tight in the fourth quarter, until Arkansas pulls ahead on a late game-winning field goal.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.



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Joshua Harris tackles “American Ninja Warrior” and Arkansas health problems

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Joshua Harris tackles “American Ninja Warrior” and Arkansas health problems


Most people can barely conquer the monkey bars at a playground, but Joshua Harris is out here tackling American Ninja Warrior obstacles and using that spotlight to help Arkansans eat healthier.

Harris recently competed on American Ninja Warrior for the second time, calling it “an incredible experience” and saying it’s fun to be part of a national show while taking on the obstacles.

Away from the course, Harris runs a nonprofit called Well Fed, which operates across Arkansas and provides healthy food for people struggling with diet-related illnesses. He said the goal is to improve health outcomes by helping people access healthier options.

“Well, Arkansas has a lot of bad statistics when it comes to health, and we need to find ways to help change those health outcomes,” Harris said. He added that healthy food, including fruits and vegetables, can help people dealing with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and that the mission fits with his own lifestyle of training, exercise and staying healthy.

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Harris said his Ninja Warrior training and his nonprofit work connect in more ways than one. He described the Ninja Warrior community as full of like-minded people, and said the show embraced the story behind his work on food access in Arkansas.

He also said Well Fed runs food-as-medicine programs across Arkansas, working with health care to bring fruits and vegetables to people who need them. Harris said the aim is to make a measurable difference, including the possibility of seeing “type two diabetes reversed.”

As for what it’s like competing on TV, Harris said many viewers don’t realize the show is filmed overnight.

“When I’m doing Ninja Warrior on the TV show, a lot of people don’t realize that’s filmed at night, so it’s like three in the morning,” Harris said. He said he focuses on staying awake and locked in, with plenty of distractions from crowds and bright lights, but called the crew and community “amazing.”

Harris said his episode is coming up soon and he hopes people will watch and cheer him on.

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And he’s not slowing down after that. Harris said he plans to keep training and will head to Ireland in August for the OCR (obstacle course racing) world championship, where he’ll represent Team USA.



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Tulsa downs Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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Tulsa downs Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


SPRINGDALE — Tulsa scored two runs in the first INNING and four more in the second to grab an early lead en route to a 9-1 win over Northwest Arkansas on Friday night in front of 4,076 fans at Arvest Ballpark.

The Drillers (44-23) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on Chris Newell’s two-out, RBI-single and a bases-loaded walk by Kole Myers. Tulsa snapped a two-game skid.

Naturals manager Brooks Conrad just gave credit to the Drillers for a strong effort.

“You’ve got to tip your cap to the opposing pitching staff,” Conrad said. “They threw great. We had one run in the first, then they blanked us the rest of the game. It wasn’t our lack of effort or lack of preparation. It was just one of those games where we couldn’t get anything going offensively.

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“I think the bright spot was our defense. (Carson) Roccaforte continues to do well. It’s a point now that I see him night in and night out, and it’s to the point I see him every night and it’s just another good night.”

Tulsa, which took advantage of 11 walks by Naturals pitching to go with 12 hits, has already wrapped up the Texas League North Division first-half title. The half ends on Sunday.

Myers added a two-run single in the second, while Zyhir Hope chipped in a run-scoring single and Jake Gelof drew a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 6-1.

Myers drove in three runs, while center fielder Mike Sirotka finished with three hits, scored a run and drove in one.

Naturals starter Hunter Owens (1-3) allowed six runs on seven hits over two innings of work to absorb the loss. He struck out one and walked four.

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Northwest Arkansas (29-36) got a run in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-out RBI single by shortstop Daniel Vazquez. But the Naturals had a runner thrown out at the plate when Rudy Martin Jr. tried to score from first on Colton Becker’s double.

Despite the back-to-back losses, the Drillers improved to 12-4 in June.

Drillers manager Eric Wedge declined to comment following the game.

Prior to joining the Drillers last year, he had previously spent ten seasons managing at the major league level, including seven years with the Cleveland Indians and three with the Seattle Mariners. His most successful season came in 2007, when he was named the American League Manager of the Year after finishing just one game shy of leading Cleveland to the World Series.

The same two teams continue the series on Saturday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday afternoon at 2:05.

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Naturals 6, Drillers 5 (10 innings)

Martin singled up the middle to drive in the winning run and help Northwest Arkansas outlast Tulsa 6-5 in 10 innings in a game that started an hour late because of a rain delay on Thursday night.

Spencer Nivens started the 10th inning at second base, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Vazquez and scored on Martin’s hit.

Northwest Arkansas rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to claim the win. The Drillers scored four times in the top of the second, but the Naturals got three back in the fourth and tied the game on Colton Becker’s RBI triple.

Tulsa bounced right back with a run in the top of the seventh, but again Northwest Arkansas bounced back to tie the game in the eighth. Martin reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch.

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Martin and Vazquez had two hits each. They drove in a run each. Martin scored twice.

Augusto Mendieta (2-2) picked up the win in relief. He tossed two hitless innings of relief, struck out five and walked one.



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Authorities report 2 Tulsa residents found dead in Arkansas from apparent murder-suicide

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Authorities report 2 Tulsa residents found dead in Arkansas from apparent murder-suicide


BENTON COUNTY, Ark. — The Benton County Sheriff’s Office reported two Tulsa residents were found dead in a car parked off an Arkansas highway in what authorities believe is an apparent murder-suicide.

On Wednesday, deputies with the sheriff’s office stated they received a report about a car parked of Old Highway 68 near Siloam Springs with what appeared to be two deceased people inside.

Once authorities reached the scene, they were able to confirm both individuals had passed away.

Following an investigation, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office said they confirmed the individuals in the car were 26-year-old Kena Donshaie Knapper and 5-year-old Tyler Zane Winston from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

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According to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner, Winston’s death was ruled as a homicide while Knapper’s death was ruled a suicide.

At this time, the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory is still completing the final written report in this case.

FOX23 will provide more information in this case as it becomes available.



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