Postgame Notes: Mississippi State at Ole Miss

GENERAL

Ole Miss won the coin toss and deferred, MSU received the opening kickoff. 
MSU's game captain was LB Erroll Thompson. 
Today's attendance was 16,218. 
S Landon Guidry made his first career start against Ole Miss, bringing the Bulldogs' season total to 21 first-time starters in 2020.

EGG BOWL RECORDS

QB Will Rogers threw for an Egg Bowl-record 440 yards.
- Previous: 340 by Kevin Fant, MSU (2002). 
- First MSU freshman to throw for 250 or more yards in the Egg Bowl.
- MSU's ninth 250-yard passing game in the rivalry. 
Rogers also attempted an Egg Bowl-record 61 passes. 
- Previous: 45 by Tony Shell, MSU (1988). 
WR Jaden Walley became the second MSU freshman to record 100 or more receiving yards in the Egg Bowl, joining Mardye McDole in 1977. 
- Finished with 176 receiving yards, which ranks second in MSU's Egg Bowl history. 
  - The Egg Bowl record is 194 yards by David Smith, MSU (1969). 
- MSU's 13th 100-yard receiving game in the rivalry.

OFFENSE

State broke eight plays of 20-plus yards, all passes, which is the Bulldogs' most in a game since the season opener at LSU (15). 
The Bulldogs' 93-yard touchdown drive at the end of the first half was their longest scoring drive of the season in terms of yards. 
MSU has now completed 303 passes in 2020, which ranks second on State's single-season leaderboard.  
- The school record is 331 completions in 2015. 
Completed 45 passes, which is a school record. 
- Six of MSU's top seven single-game completion marks have come in 2020 and the school record has been broken twice. 
Went 3-of-3 on fourth down.

DEFENSE

Forced turnovers on downs on two drives that extended inside the MSU 10-yard line. 
- Stopped Ole Miss on fourth down three times.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

QB Will Rogers

Threw for 440 yards, which is an MSU freshman record. 
- Previous: 421 by Wesley Carroll, vs. Arkansas (2007). 
- Ranks sixth in school history. 
Completed an MSU single-game-record 45 passes. 
- Second in SEC history. 
  - SEC Record: 47 by Tim Couch, Kentucky vs. Arkansas, 1998 
First Bulldog quarterback to complete 30 or more passes in three consecutive games. 
- Three career 30-completion games ranks second in program history behind Dak Prescott (5, 2012-15) 
Broke MSU freshman record for completions with his 135th of the season on a 22-yard pass in the first quarter. 
- Finished the day at 169 for the season, which is seventh in MSU single-season history. 
First MSU freshman to throw for 300 or more yards in multiple games. 
- Ninth Bulldog in program history with multiple 300-yard passing games in his career. 
First MSU freshman to throw for 250 or more yards in the Egg Bowl. 
Responsible for a career-high three passing touchdowns, one shy of the MSU freshman record (4) set by Tyler Russell (2010) and Wesley Carroll (2007). 
Has now gone 167 consecutive passing attempts without an interception.

WR Jaden Walley

Posted career highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (176). 
Broke MSU freshman record for receiving yards. 
- Previous: 148 by Mardye McDole, at Auburn, Nov. 5, 1977. 
Second freshman in program history to record two 100-yard receiving games in the same season (Mardye McDole, 1977). 
- Also had 115 yards on seven catches at Georgia on Nov. 21. 
- McDole had 148 yards at Auburn on Nov. 5 and 126 yards vs. Ole Miss on Nov. 19. 
- Only two MSU freshmen with 100 or more receiving yards in the Egg Bowl.

WR Malik Heath

Caught a career-high two touchdown passes.

WR Austin Williams

Caught his second touchdown pass of the season.

WR Geor'quarius Spivey

Posted career highs in receptions (5) and receiving yards (97).

OL Kameron Jones

Caught a batted pass for his first career reception and a 5-yard gain.

S Collin Duncan

Made a career-high nine tackles and matched his career high with 1.0 tackle for loss. 
Broke up a pass in the end zone to force a turnover on downs late in the second quarter.

S Shawn Preston Jr.

Made a career-high 12 tackles to lead the team.

LB Erroll Thompson

Finished with double-digit tackles (11) for the fifth time this season.

LB Aaron Brule

Picked up a sack for a loss of three on third-and-goal in the fourth quarter to force a field goal.

DE Marquiss Spencer

Made a tackle for loss on a second-and-goal from the 1-yard line to open the fourth quarter. 
- Now boasts 22.5 career tackles for loss.

LB Nathaniel Watson

Made a career-high eight tackles, including seven solo stops.

DT Cameron Young

Made the first sack of his career for a loss of seven yards. 
Matched his career high with three tackles.

P Reed Bowman

Boomed two 50-plus-yard punts and now has six such kicks this season. 
- Kicked a 50-yard punt in the first quarter. 
- Added a 51-yarder in the second quarter.

K Brandon Ruiz

Boasts an active streak of 110 consecutive extra points made in his career. 
- Made the 108th, 109th, 110th today.

Mississippi State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Reed Bowman

Aaron Brule

Collin Duncan

Landon Guidry

Malik Heath

Kameron Jones

Shawn Preston Jr.

Will Rogers

Brandon Ruiz

Marquiss Spencer

Geor'quarius Spivey

Erroll Thompson

Jaden Walley

Nathaniel Watson

Austin Williams

Cameron Young

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