Rogers Rides Momentum Into Week 2
September 07, 2021 | Football, Joel Coleman
After leading last week’s comeback, MSU’s quarterback heads into a new game on a roll.
STARKVILLE – When times get tough and adversity strikes a football team, it's a tremendous boost to have someone to rely on that doesn't blink when the chips are down.
This past Saturday, Mississippi State found itself down 20 points in the fourth quarter against Louisiana Tech. With MSU looking for someone to turn to, quarterback Will Rogers was there to answer the bell. His clutch performance earned him an accolade on Tuesday as Rogers was one of only eight quarterbacks nationally to be named as a Manning Award Star of the Week.
"Will kept his composure," MSU receiver Jamire Calvin said of Rogers' effort last weekend. "He did not fold at all. He did not shake. He stayed the same person the entire game no matter what was going on. He stayed really levelheaded, he continued to fight and his play led us to victory."
Mississippi State fans can now go to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Facebook page to vote for Rogers' performance as the top quarterback showing of last weekend (CLICK HERE TO VOTE). When voting closes on Thursday at 11 a.m. CT, the top vote-getter will be announced as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.
Meanwhile, as the Bulldogs head into Week 2 of the season hosting NC State this coming Saturday night, Rogers will try to ride last weekend's momentum right into a new contest. The sophomore signal caller certainly has a lot to build on.
One quick glimpse at Rogers' opening-week numbers shows just how instrumental he was in guiding MSU to its largest comeback win in school history. Here's just a snippet:
- Completed 39 of his 47 passes (83 percent) for 370 yards and three touchdowns
- Set a new MSU single-game completion percentage record (in games with 25 or more attempts)
- Recorded his third career 300-plus-yard passing game, a total that already stands tied for third in State history
- Tied the Mississippi State single-game record with 12 consecutive completions
As impressive as all of that was, it was Rogers' fourth quarter when he really shined. Rogers was a perfect 10-for-10 passing in the final period, racking up 128 yards and a touchdown to complete the MSU rally. It was a picture of perseverance after Rogers, along with State's offense as a whole, had battled inconsistency over the second and third quarters.
"I thought [Rogers] did a great job there at the end," MSU head coach Mike Leach said on Monday at his weekly press conference. "He had a long string without an incompletion. That was key to the comeback. As a coach, you say, 'We should have done that all day.' But that's easier said than done. We just need to try to be able to do it for a longer period of time and not wait until the end you know."
Leach's comment hits at what will surely be a primary focus of what the Bulldogs will attempt to accomplish this coming Saturday against the Wolfpack. Mississippi State will try to take last weekend's fourth quarter magic and make it last over 60 full minutes of action. Obviously at the forefront of the charge will be Rogers.
Now it bears remembering this coming Saturday is set to mark just Rogers' eighth career start. For as good as he's been, the second-year gunslinger is still growing, still learning and still maturing. Even so, Rogers continues to show early on his career that he's not only talented, but he's also a leader. The Bulldogs can count on him to be a spark. Rogers proved as much in his standout freshman season in 2020 and he put it on display again in his 2021 debut.
"I just saw a lot of energy and focus [out of Rogers last Saturday]," Calvin said. "He was very intentional on that last drive. He wanted to win and he pushed the offense to make sure we got that."
"He just settled in and did his job," Leach added.
Rogers will try to keep it up this weekend. Kickoff under the lights at Davis Wade Stadium is set for 6 p.m. CT.
