Bulldogs beat Illini in emotional game
TAMPA – It was an incredibly emotional past few weeks for Mississippi State football with the loss of head coach Mike Leach, but Leach would have loved nothing more than for his team to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
A stadium equipped with a Pirate ship in a tropical environment with a team hungry to play for the memory for its coach set the stage for a storybook close to Leach's career. Though he wouldn't be credited with the win, there was no doubt that his presence was felt.
After struggling on the offensive side of the ball for the better part of three and a half quarters, State had a nineplay, 70-yard drive in the final 2 minutes to set up a gamewinning field goal for Massimo Biscardi. A wild lateral play in the last seconds was ended by Marcus Banks' fumble recovery returned 60 yards for a score putting a stamp on a magical afternoon in Tampa for the Bulldogs in a 19-10 win over Illinois.
“Since the change happened, there's been a whole lot of things occupying my time,” MSU head coach Zach Arnett said. “Studying Illinois got put to the back burner. I signaled the defense, but I didn't call it. Matt Brock actually called it. I was getting pulled in so many different directions. I don't want to take credit for something I didn't do, unless you think the signals went in nice.
“Coach (Steve) Spurrier and the offensive staff did a tremendous job. They called the right plays at the right time. I was happy with the defensive assistants that got our guys prepared to play, but it's players. They could have found every reason to let the outside affect them. All they did was went to work. They
enjoyed their time here, but they were locked in during football time. They competed and executed.”
The victory ended one era and began another for the Bulldogs. The first-time head coach Arnett had a chance to start his career as the State coach with a victory. Fittingly, it was his defense that dominated the game, holding Illinois to just 215 yards of total offense, 22 yards rushing and 3-for-11 on third downs.
State's defense had 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks and held the Illini to under 100 yards rushing marking the fourth time this season and second time this year a Bulldog defense has accomplished that feat. It was done with linebackers coach Brock handling all the play calling.
“He did incredible, and I didn't even realize he was calling the plays until the fourth quarter,” MSU linebacker Jett Johnson said. “He called a great game and put us in some great positions. I told him that after the game and he said, ‘ heck no, you guys made the plays.'”
Johnson led the way on the defensive side with 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Sherman Timbs stepped in for Tyrus Wheat, who was not playing in the game, had two tackles for loss and a sack of his own. Jaden Crumedy also had 1.5 tackles for loss and Emmanuel Forbes had seven tackles and a pass breakup in his final game as a Bulldog.
While the MSU defense paved the way, the offense had to make plays when they mattered, and the group came through. Trailing 10-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, State was faced with a fourth and 2 from the Illinois 8 when Will Rogers found wide receiver Justin Robinson in the back of the end zone for the score.
The play, which was reviewed to see if Robinson's foot was out in the back of the end zone, gave life to an offense that was struggling.
Robinson ended up winning the game's Most Valuable Player honors after hauling in seven catches for 81 yards and a score. Rogers was 29of- 44 with 261 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Those two picks each came in the first half on consecutive possessions with one of those coming inside the 10- yard- line after being tipped.
State had 290 yards off offense with 274 coming through the air and 116 on the ground. Simeon Price was a huge lift for the team with Jo'Quavious Marks banged up in the game and Dillon Johnson transferring. Price had seven carries for 68 yards with a 28-yard run getting State in field goal position to win the game in the final minute. He had four carries for 48 yards in the last possession.
As many expected it could be, the game was a defensive slugfest most of the way. It wasn't until the final 3 minutes that the Illini was able to get on the board first with a * 2-yard touchdown run from
Tommy Devito. State was able to get points just before the half when Biscardi made a 38-yard field goal to make it 7-3 at halftime.
Trailing by seven going into the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs helped turn the game on that Robinson catch. The MSU defense got backto-back stops thanks to four total sacks on those possessions and got the ball back with under 2 minutes left when they were able to drive down the field and take a knee to get the field goal with 4 seconds left.
The wild play ending with a touchdown from Banks sealed the deal and sent the Bulldogs out with their ninth win of the year.
It couldn't have been a more fitting ending to the year for MSU after losing Leach.
Postgame on the field saw moment after unforgettable moment. From Leach's son, Cody, soaking it in, to players signing a maroon “MIKE” flag and even a proposal from running backs coach Jason Washington, it was an emotional scene.
Many players will move along from Starkville and coaches will as well in the offseason, but the team that was in 2022 will never forget the season in which they fought through so much adversity and came out on top. A 9-4 ending for the first time since 2017 made it all the more sweet.
“It definitely meant a lot, especially for what (Leach) did all year and then coach Arnett stepped in,” Robinson said. “Everybody was feeling some type of everything.”