Fight to finish in Armed Forces Bowl
A bowl victory that increased Mississippi State’s win total this season to four and No. 24 Tulsa’s failed attempt to add another unlikely comeback to its impressive collection this season took a back seat to the melee that broke out Thursday shortly after the Armed Forces Bowl ended.
Freshman Will Rogers scored his f irst rushing touchdown of the season and had a 13- yard touchdown pass to lead Mississippi State past Tulsa 28- 26 in a game that was tense from the start.
Minutes after it ended, the teams became involved in a large brawl on the f ield, with players punching and kicking one another.
Tulsa coach Greg Montgomery said sophomore safety Kendarin Ray, who was helped off the field after being at the bottom of a pile during a scrum, was treated for “some sort of concussion.”
“I’m not sure what exactly caused that,” said Mississippi State coach Mike Leach, who referred to the altercation as a “mosh pit.” “It was something before the game too.”
In a video posted from Mississippi State’s locker room, Malik Heath joked about kicking a Tulsa player in the facemask.
“The one thing I’ll say is our program, our guys, we’re a team that are going to
stand up for each other and we’re going to battle,” Montgomery said.
Antonio Phillips returned an early interception 53 yards for a touchdown, Drew Plitt accounted for two scores and Ball State ( 7- 1) beat short- handed No. 22 San Jose State 34- 13 in the Arizona Bowl in Tucson. San Jose State ( 7- 1) had to play without its two coordinators and Mountain West Conference player of the year Cade Hall because of COVID- 19 and other issues. ... In Memphis, Tenn., reserve quarterback Austin Kendall threw a 20- yard touchdown pass to T. J. Simmons with 5: 10 remaining and West Virginia ( 9- 3) held off Army ( 9- 3) 24- 21 in the Liberty Bowl.
The Cal State Northridge men’s basketball program will enter a two- week pause of all team activities follow
ing a positive COVID- 19 test. Per NCAA protocol, team activities will remain on hold for at least 14 days. The Matadors’ games against UC Irvine on Friday and Saturday and at UC San Diego on Jan. 8- 9 have been canceled.
Assistant football coach Donte Williams was promoted to associate head coach, USC said after a season in which the program surged 50 spots up the national recruiting rankings and its pass defense improved significantly.
— Ryan Kartje
Quarterback D’Eriq King of Miami tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the Hurricanes’ loss this week in the Cheez- It Bowl. ... Florida quarterback Kyle Trask made his future plans official, formally announcing he’s declining an opportunity to return to school and will declare for the NFL draft.