Postgame Notes: Missouri at Mississippi State
December 19, 2020 | Football
GENERAL
- Missouri won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
- MSU's game captain was LB Erroll Thompson.
- Today's attendance was 11,748.
- One Bulldog made his first career start against Missouri, bringing the Bulldogs' season total to 26 first-time starters in 2020 (DE Aaron Odom).
- Three Bulldogs made their Mississippi State debut against Missouri, bringing the Bulldogs' season total to 27 in 2020 (WR Jay Banks, DT Allen Love, S Cody Swanson).
- Today's game marked the latest regular-season SEC contest in program history.
- Latest regular season SEC games:
- December 19, 2020 vs. Missouri (W, 51-32
- December 7, 2020 vs. Auburn (L, 10-24)
- December 7, 1918 at Ole Miss (W, 13-0)
- December 5, 1964 at Ole Miss (W, 20-17)
- December 5, 1936 at Florida (W, 7-0)
- Latest regular season SEC games:
- Today's victory marked MSU's first regular-season win in December in 56 years.
- Last: W, 20-17 at Ole Miss on December 5, 1964.
- MSU improved to 6-2 since 2009 when wearing black, with four of those victories coming against SEC opponents.
OFFENSE
- Scored 51 points, MSU's highest scoring output in a game since a 54-24 victory at Arkansas on Nov. 2, 2019.
- Scored 27 points in the first half, the Bulldogs' most first-half points this season.
- Most points in a first half since scoring 38 in the opening 30 minutes at Arkansas in 2019.
- Tied with the second half at LSU (Sept. 26) for State's highest scoring total in a half this season.
- Including scoring on a punt, the Bulldogs scored on each of their first seven possessions.
- Posted a season-high 151 rushing yards.
- Did not have a negative rushing play on seven carries (46 yards) in the first half.
- WR Jaden Walley gave State it's seventh 100-yard receiving game of the season, tying the school record set in 2015.
- Improved the single-season team completion record with 354 this season.
- Previous: 331 in 2015.
DEFENSE
- MSU has at least one takeaway in 32 of its last 39 games.
- State intercepted three passes and recovered a fumble.
- The Bulldogs have collected 64 takeaways in the 39-game span dating back to Nov. 18, 2017 at Arkansas.
- State has now forced multiple turnovers in 11 games since the start of 2019.
- The turnovers ended a three-game takeaway drought for State.
- MSU has intercepted a pass in 23 of the last 36 games with 30 total picks in that span.
- MSU has recorded multiple interceptions in three games this season.
- Allowed a touchdown on the opening drive for the first time this season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
QB Will Rogers
- Has completed 220 passes this season, which is fourth in MSU single-season history.
- Improved his MSU freshman-record marks in passing yards (1,828), passing attempts (316) and completions (220).
- Turned in his fifth game with 200 or more passing yards this season, which is tied for seventh-most in a single year in program history.
- Five 200-yard passing games is the most in a season since Nick Fitzgerald threw for 200 or more yards in five games in 2016.
- Tied his career high with three passing touchdowns.
- Broke a career-long run of 18 yards on the second play of the game.
- Stands as MSU's second-longest running play of the season.
- Now ranks eighth in MSU single-season history with 316 pass attempts this season.
WR Jaden Walley
- Increased his MSU freshman-record receiving yards total to 691 this season.
- Became the first true freshman in program history to record four 100-yard receiving games in the same season (129 yards on five receptions tonight).
- Previous Games:
- 115 yards on seven catches at Georgia (Nov. 21).
- 176 yards on nine catches at Ole Miss (Nov. 28).
- 100 yards on eight catches vs. Auburn (Dec. 12).
- Four 100-yard receiving games is tied for fourth-most in MSU single-season history and tied for ninth in Bulldog career history.
- The last Bulldog with four consecutive 100-yard receiving games was Fred Ross in 2015 (Four straight: at Missouri, Alabama, at Arkansas, Ole Miss).
- Previous Games:
- Caught his second career touchdown pass in the first quarter.
- Made the 14th touchdown reception of his career to move into a tie for sixth in program history with Bill Buckley (1971-73).
- Passed Buckley (102) for sole possession of 11th in program history with 106 career receptions.
- Three catches shy of the MSU career top 10 (Chris Smith, 2009-12 - 109).
- Rushed for a career-high 70 yards.
- Scored his second career touchdown on a 1-yard carry.
- Has now caught a team-leading 56 passes this season.
- Two catches shy of the MSU single-season top 10 (Chad Bumphis, 2012 - 58).
WR Brad Cumbest
- Caught his first career touchdown pass on a 10-yard strike.
- Marked his fifth career reception.
- Intercepted two passes, including one returned 29 yards for a touchdown.
- Now leads the team with four interceptions this season.
- Mark McLaurin was the last Bulldog with multiple interceptions in a game, making three in the 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl vs. Louisville.
- Has returned two interceptions for touchdowns in 2020.
- Added two pass breakups.
LB Tyrus Wheat
- Picked up a sack for a loss of eight yards and now boasts a team-high 4.5 sacks on the year.
- Added his second career pass breakup in the second quarter.
- Made his second career interception in the third quarter.
- Added a pass breakup in the fourth quarter.
- Made a career-high and team-leading 13 tackles.
- Made a career-high eight tackles.
- Recovered a muffed punt for his first career touchdown in the first quarter.
- Marked his second career fumble recovery and first since Sept. 14, 2019, against Kansas State.
- Also downed a punt at the 4-yard line in the fourth quarter.
- Took sole possession of the MSU career record for points by a kicker with his extra point in the fourth quarter.
- Has scored 219 points (32 field goals, 123 extra points).
- Broke tie with Brian Hazelwood, 1995-98 (48 field goals, 67 extra points).
- Tied his career high with 14 points in tonight's game.
- Boasts an active streak of 116 consecutive extra points made in his career.
- Made five today.
- Downed a punt at the 4-yard line, marking the fourth of his career inside the 10-yard line.
Players Mentioned
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