Tag: Egg Bowl

Nov 18, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers (2) reacts with wide receiver Zavion Thomas (1) after a touchdown against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Everything riding on Egg Bowl for Mississippi State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mississippi State ended each of the past 13 seasons in a bowl game.

The Bulldogs (5-6, 1-6) need to defeat in-state rival Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2) in the Egg Bowl on Thursday night in Starkville, Miss., in order to become eligible for No. 14.

The Rebels have been assured of a bowl game for the last month and a 10th victory this season would only strengthen their postseason resume.

If MSU wins it will be able to hang on to the Golden Egg trophy, which it regained last season with a 24-22 victory in Oxford, Miss.

“(We) need to work to get this trophy back,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “We screwed it up last year.”

Both teams are coming off non-conference victories.

Ole Miss, which was routed by No. 1 Georgia 52-17 two weeks ago, started slowly against UL Monroe last week. It led just 7-3 at halftime but rolled to a 35-3 win to finish its home schedule 7-0.

Jaxson Dart threw all three of his touchdown passes during a 21-0 third-quarter blitz that put the Rebels in command.

Players on both teams know how a victory or defeat in the Egg Bowl can significantly alter the perception of their season — regardless of what has preceded the rivalry game.

Dart is from Utah and started his college career at USC, but as he prepares for his second Egg Bowl he understands its significance.

“We have to make sure that we don’t get too high or too low,” Dart said. “People tell you, ‘We don’t care if you don’t win any other games. We just care that you win the Egg Bowl.’ We understand the importance of it.”

A victory could wipe away a lot of disappointment from a turbulent season for the Bulldogs. The university fired first-year head coach Zach Arnett after a 51-10 loss at Texas A&M on Nov. 11.

Interim head coach Greg Knox welcomed back quarterback Will Rogers and running back Jo’Quavious Marks from injury for a 41-20 victory against visiting Southern Miss last Saturday.

That ended a three-game losing streak for MSU, which is tied with Arkansas for last place in the SEC West.

But a second straight win against an in-state rival in five days would make MSU the undisputed champion of the Magnolia State for 2023.

Rogers had missed four games because of a shoulder injury and Marks had missed three games because of a leg injury.

“It’s kind of like you’re starting the season over, essentially,” Rogers said. “It was nice to get the flow of rhythm back in my game a little bit.”

Rogers, who owns virtually every passing record in Bulldogs history, completed 12 of 27 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns, one of which went for 15 yards to Marks, who rushed for 34 additional yards.

Jeffery Pittman led the way with 98 yards and a touchdown as MSU had its second-highest rushing total of the season (238).

“Those are two of our most dynamic players on offense, and our offense runs through them,” linebacker Jett Johnson said. “It was great to have them back.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers (2) moves in the pocket while defended by Ole Miss Rebels defensive end Tavius Robinson (95) during the first quarter at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi State rallies past No. 20 Ole Miss in second half

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Will Rogers threw two touchdown passes and the Mississippi State defense shut down No. 20 Ole Miss’ running game in a 24-22 victory in the Battle for the Golden Egg on Thursday night in Oxford, Miss.

The Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) held the Rebels’ running back tandem of Quinshon Judkins and Zach Evans, who came in averaging a combined 208 rushing yards, to 87 yards and ended a two-game losing streak in the long-time rivalry.

Ole Miss (8-4, 4-4) led 16-14 at halftime. After a scoreless third quarter, Massimo Biscardi kicked a 34-yard field goal to give Mississippi State a 17-16 lead with 13:46 left in the game.

On a third-and-7 play, Rogers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Rara Thomas to extend the lead to 24-16 with 7:58 left.

After a Rebels fumble, the Bulldogs had a chance to score again, but Rogers lost a fumble at the Ole Miss 1-yard line.

The Rebels drove 99 yards and Jaxson Dart threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Dayton Wade with 1:25 left, but a potential tying two-point conversion pass failed. Mississippi State recovered the ensuing onside kick to hold on.

On the first possession of the game, Ole Miss needed just three plays to drive to a first down at the Mississippi State 15. However, the Rebels stalled and Jonathan Cruz kicked a 32-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs responded quickly, driving 61 yards on the ensuing possession, which ended with Jo’quavious Marks running 1 yard for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.

Ole Miss drove to a first down at the Mississippi State 18 on its third possession and stalled again. Cruz’s 33-yard field goal trimmed the lead to 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

Cruz added a 49-yard field goal to give the Rebels a 9-7 lead early in the second quarter.

The Rebels drove to the Mississippi State 1, and on fourth-and-goal Dart threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to JJ Pegues for a 16-7 lead.

Rogers tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Lideatrick Griffin with eight seconds left, cutting Ole Miss’ lead to 16-14 at halftime.

–Field Level Media