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MISSST |
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Fitzgerald helps No. 17 Mississippi State top Arkansas 28-21
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Nick Fitzgerald has established himself as nothing short of one of the Southeastern Conference's top quarterbacks, if not the best, in his two seasons at the starter at Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs junior added another moment to his growing legacy in Starkville on Saturday, rallying No. 17 Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3) for a 28-21 win over reeling Arkansas.
Fitzgerald accounted for three touchdowns and totaled 254 yards in the win, finishing 12-of-23 passing for 153 yards and rushing 22 times for 101 yards. It wasn't until he connected with Deddrick Thomas for a 6-yard touchdown with 17 seconds remaining, however, that the Bulldogs had their first lead of the game.
The score capped the second game-winning drive in the fourth quarter of Fitzgerald's career. His other came in a St. Petersburg Bowl win over Miami (Ohio) last season, a game in which the Bulldogs scored with more than 12 minutes remaining and held on for the victory.
Saturday's winning drive came in the final minutes of the game, and it helped Mississippi State survive a lackluster performance that featured four fumbles.
''There was never any doubt we were going to win,'' Fitzgerald said. ''The last drive we went out there with full confidence and we knew we were going to punch it in.''
The Bulldogs have now won at least eight games in a season for the fourth time in coach Dan Mullen's nine years. They had already earned bowl eligibility for a school-record eighth straight season, but Saturday was a welcomed win a week after a disappointing loss to No. 1 Alabama .
It came at the expense of an Arkansas (4-7, 1-6) team that's now lost nine of its last 13 games, delivering yet another blow to the future of embattled Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema in the process. The former Wisconsin coach is now 29-33 overall in his fifth season at Arkansas, 11-28 in the SEC.
''It's horrible, it really, really is,'' Razorbacks quarterback Austin Allen said. ''You want to go out there and win the game for (Bielema). That's what we wanted to do today. It didn't happen for us. We were right there. We didn't do enough.''
The Razorbacks led by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Fitzgerald tied the game with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Todd with 4:07 remaining.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema then went for it on a fourth-and-2 from the Razorbacks 44, and the Bulldogs held. Nine plays later, Thomas scored to give Mississippi State its fifth win in six games against Arkansas.
''We said the last night we were going to do everything we can to win this game,'' Bielema said. ''We're going to do everything we can to keep swinging, keep fighting, and obviously that was an example of it.''
David Williams led Arkansas with 75 yards rushing on eight carries, while Allen completed 11 of 17 passes for 119 yards.
THE TAKEAWAY
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs lost 31-24 a week ago to No. 1 Alabama, with the Crimson Tide scoring in the final minute for the victory. Mississippi State played as if it were still recovering from that setback. The Bulldogs lost three fumbles, including one on a botched punt return, after they had run four plays. Despite the early struggles, Fitzgerald accounted for 178 of his yards in the second half and Mullen refused to believe Mississippi State was suffering from an Alabama hangover. ''I didn't drink since last Saturday night,'' Mullen joked. ''I didn't have a hangover, I was fine. I don't think so. I think we had a great week of preparation.''
Arkansas: The Razorbacks entered the game last in the SEC while allowing an average of 6.57 yards per play on defense, but they held the Bulldogs to only 130 yards in the first half that ended 14-14. Arkansas defensive end McTelvin Agim was at the forefront of the defense's stellar performance, finishing with nine tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for losses, including a sack and two forced fumbles.
KELLEY ON HAND
Arkansas backup quarterback Cole Kelley was in the crowd in Razorback Stadium on Saturday, a week after he was suspended following his arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Bielema said he expects the freshman, who started four games while Allen was injured, to rejoin the team on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Mississippi State hosts Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl on Thursday.
The Razorbacks close out the regular season by hosting Missouri on Friday.
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Copyright 2017 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
N. FitzgeraldĀ
7 QB
|
N. Fitzgerald | 12/23 | 153 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
N. FitzgeraldĀ
7 QB
|
N. Fitzgerald | 22 | 101 | 1 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ae. WilliamsĀ
22 RB
|
Ae. Williams | 19 | 71 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. HillĀ
8 RB
|
K. Hill | 3 | 15 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Je. JacksonĀ
86 WR
|
Je. Jackson | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. LeeĀ
28 RB
|
D. Lee | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. ThompsonĀ
10 QB
|
K. Thompson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. GibsonĀ
21 RB
|
N. Gibson | 1 | -5 | 0 | -5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
R. ToddĀ
20 WR
|
R. Todd | 0 | 3 | 50 | 1 | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ae. WilliamsĀ
22 RB
|
Ae. Williams | 0 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. HillĀ
8 RB
|
K. Hill | 0 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Je. JacksonĀ
86 WR
|
Je. Jackson | 0 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. ThomasĀ
83 TE
|
J. Thomas | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
O. MitchellĀ
87 WR
|
O. Mitchell | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. ThomasĀ
18 WR
|
D. Thomas | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. CouchĀ
17 WR
|
J. Couch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. HarrisĀ
11 LB
|
D. Harris | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. SimmonsĀ
94 DL
|
J. Simmons | 5-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. SweatĀ
9 LB
|
M. Sweat | 3-1 | 2.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. ThomasĀ
34 DL
|
C. Thomas | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. RayfordĀ
24 DB
|
C. Rayford | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. ThompsonĀ
40 LB
|
E. Thompson | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. DantzlerĀ
13 DB
|
C. Dantzler | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. LewisĀ
10 LB
|
L. Lewis | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. DurrĀ
25 DB
|
L. Durr | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. HillĀ
8 RB
|
K. Hill | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. GayĀ
6 LB
|
W. Gay | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. SpencerĀ
42 LB
|
M. Spencer | 1-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. HoyettĀ
95 DL
|
B. Hoyett | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. PetersĀ
2 DB
|
J. Peters | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. McLaurinĀ
41 DB
|
M. McLaurin | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. GreenĀ
4 LB
|
G. Green | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. AdamsĀ
43 DL
|
F. Adams | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. GrayĀ
12 DB
|
J. Gray | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. ChristmannĀ
47 K
|
J. Christmann | 0/1 | 0 | 4/4 | 4 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
L. CookeĀ
43 P
|
L. Cooke | 5 | 38.0 | 2 | 51 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
R. ToddĀ
20 WR
|
R. Todd | 3 | 7.0 | 15 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
A. AllenĀ
8 QB
|
A. Allen | 12/18 | 125 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. WilliamsĀ
33 RB
|
D. Williams | 8 | 75 | 1 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. WhaleyĀ
21 RB
|
D. Whaley | 12 | 21 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. StewartĀ
13 WR
|
D. Stewart | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. JonesĀ
10 WR
|
J. Jones | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. NanceĀ
7 WR
|
J. Nance | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. AllenĀ
8 QB
|
A. Allen | 6 | 1 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. HammondsĀ
6 WR
|
T. Hammonds | 3 | -1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. StoreyĀ
4 QB
|
T. Storey | 1 | -5 | 0 | -5 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
D. StewartĀ
13 WR
|
D. Stewart | 0 | 2 | 44 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. NanceĀ
7 WR
|
J. Nance | 0 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. JonesĀ
10 WR
|
J. Jones | 0 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ke. JacksonĀ
34 FB
|
Ke. Jackson | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. PattonĀ
18 TE
|
J. Patton | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
H. JohnsonĀ
32 FB
|
H. Johnson | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. HammondsĀ
6 WR
|
T. Hammonds | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. PettwayĀ
16 WR
|
L. Pettway | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. O'GradyĀ
85 TE
|
C. O'Grady | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. WilliamsĀ
33 RB
|
D. Williams | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
K. Richardson IIĀ
30 DB
|
K. Richardson II | 7-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. AgimĀ
3 DL
|
M. Agim | 6-3 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. GreenlawĀ
23 LB
|
D. Greenlaw | 6-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. CurlĀ
2 DB
|
K. Curl | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. MorganĀ
31 LB
|
G. Morgan | 4-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. HarrisĀ
8 LB
|
D. Harris | 4-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. GuidryĀ
7 DL
|
B. Guidry | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. ColeyĀ
20 DB
|
D. Coley | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. ToliverĀ
5 DB
|
H. Toliver | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. RamseyĀ
10 LB
|
R. Ramsey | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. SmithĀ
52 DL
|
T. Smith | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. RamirezĀ
9 DB
|
S. Ramirez | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. JacksonĀ
78 DL
|
B. Jackson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. MarshallĀ
42 DL
|
J. Marshall | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. LiddellĀ
28 DB
|
J. Liddell | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. CappsĀ
41 DL
|
A. Capps | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. LimpertĀ
19 K
|
C. Limpert | 0/0 | 0 | 3/3 | 3 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. JohnsonĀ
18 P
|
B. Johnson | 6 | 36.5 | 2 | 44 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
H. JohnsonĀ
32 FB
|
H. Johnson | 1 | 7.0 | 7 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. WarrenĀ
9 WR
|
D. Warren | 1 | 20.0 | 20 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. StewartĀ
13 WR
|
D. Stewart | 1 | 12.0 | 12 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |