By MIKE SMITH
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla -- Two blocked kicks, one with five seconds remaining, proved to be the difference Monday as Mississippi State edged the Miami RedHawks, 17-16, in St. Petersburg Bowl action at Tropicana Field.
After holding a lead most of the game, the RedHawks found themselves trailing for the first time when MSU converted a 37-yard field goal with 12:03 left in the fourth quarter.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Some pictures below. More coming Thursday or Friday!!!)
Miami twice drove . . .
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla -- Two blocked kicks, one with five seconds remaining, proved to be the difference Monday as Mississippi State edged the Miami RedHawks, 17-16, in St. Petersburg Bowl action at Tropicana Field.
After holding a lead most of the game, the RedHawks found themselves trailing for the first time when MSU converted a 37-yard field goal with 12:03 left in the fourth quarter.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Some pictures below. More coming Thursday or Friday!!!)
Miami twice drove . . .
. . . into Mississippi State territory after that, losing it on downs the first time and setting up a possible winning field goal on the second trip. As happened on an earlier PAT attempt, the Bulldogs brought pressure up the middle and Westin Graves deflected Dowd’s kick to preserve the comeback win.
Miami QB Gus Ragland threw two TD passes while completing 71 percent of his passes with one interception. (MVSmith/MRO) It was a bitter loss for MU, which more than held its own against a Southeastern Conference opponent led by the SEC’s top player in total yards.
Sophomore Nick Fitzgerald, who was backup to Dak Prescott (now with the Dallas Cowboys) last year, rallied the Bulldogs to 10 second-half points. Seven of them came via his 44-yard sprint down the right sideline. Overall, the game MVP gained 132 yards and both MSU touchdowns on 18 carries. He also completed 13 of 26 passes for 136 yards.
Miami quarterback Gus Ragland eclipsed that 268-yard total with 314 total yards – most through the air. He completed 22 of 30 tosses for 263 yards with two TDs and his first interception of 2016. The 71.0 percent completion percentage was the highest in St. Peterburg Bowl history. He also was credited with 17 carries for 51 yards.
As a team, Miami held a 433-335 advantage in total yards and 24-18 edge in first downs. The RedHawks 6.56 yards per play was second best in St. Petersburg bowl history, just short of the 6.56 ypp put up by UCG against Ball State in 2012. Miami was also able to hold onto the ball for 35:08.
Mississippi State, however, did not commit a turnover, although RedHawk defenders dropped what appeared to be two clear interception opportunities. Miami's offense turned it over twice – one interception and one fumble. Both were costly.
Sophomore Nick Fitzgerald, who was backup to Dak Prescott (now with the Dallas Cowboys) last year, rallied the Bulldogs to 10 second-half points. Seven of them came via his 44-yard sprint down the right sideline. Overall, the game MVP gained 132 yards and both MSU touchdowns on 18 carries. He also completed 13 of 26 passes for 136 yards.
Miami quarterback Gus Ragland eclipsed that 268-yard total with 314 total yards – most through the air. He completed 22 of 30 tosses for 263 yards with two TDs and his first interception of 2016. The 71.0 percent completion percentage was the highest in St. Peterburg Bowl history. He also was credited with 17 carries for 51 yards.
As a team, Miami held a 433-335 advantage in total yards and 24-18 edge in first downs. The RedHawks 6.56 yards per play was second best in St. Petersburg bowl history, just short of the 6.56 ypp put up by UCG against Ball State in 2012. Miami was also able to hold onto the ball for 35:08.
Mississippi State, however, did not commit a turnover, although RedHawk defenders dropped what appeared to be two clear interception opportunities. Miami's offense turned it over twice – one interception and one fumble. Both were costly.
Danny Godlevske blocks Braxton Hoyett. The offensive line helped MU outgain Mississippi State by nearly 100 yards. (MVSmith/MRO) The fumble came at the end of Ragland completion to Rokeem Williams at the MSU 15 on the first play of the second quarter. Richie Brown recovered after the ball was stripped lose on the tackle. Ragland's interception also came on the first play of a new quarter (fourth), although this one started with the RedHawks facing a fourth-and-13 plays the the Bulldogs 30. Jamoral Graham returned the pick 21 yards and MSU eventually drove 51 more to set up the winning field goal.
Miami scored first in the contest, settling for an 18-yard Dowd field goal after nearly getting a touchdown pass on the previous play.
The RedHawks did manage to get a touchdown from the passing game midway through the second quarter when James Garner caught Ragland’s 6-yard pass in tight coverage. However, it remained a 9-0 tilt when MSU blocked the PAT. It was decisive on its own and an omen of an even more devastating block to come at game's end.
Miami’s defense kept the Bulldogs heeled for much of the first half. Mississippi State final broke through, however, with 22 seconds left in the second period as Fitzgerald went off left tackle for a 2-yard score. For all Miami’s success over the first 30 minutes, the RedHawks took a narrow 9-7 to the locker room.
Miami scored first in the contest, settling for an 18-yard Dowd field goal after nearly getting a touchdown pass on the previous play.
The RedHawks did manage to get a touchdown from the passing game midway through the second quarter when James Garner caught Ragland’s 6-yard pass in tight coverage. However, it remained a 9-0 tilt when MSU blocked the PAT. It was decisive on its own and an omen of an even more devastating block to come at game's end.
Miami’s defense kept the Bulldogs heeled for much of the first half. Mississippi State final broke through, however, with 22 seconds left in the second period as Fitzgerald went off left tackle for a 2-yard score. For all Miami’s success over the first 30 minutes, the RedHawks took a narrow 9-7 to the locker room.
Miami regained some momentum and room on the scoreboard when Ragland hit Ryan Smith over gthe middle for a 1-yard TD at 8:11 of the third period to go up 17-7. But Fitzgerald’s 44-yard gallop at 4:15 cut that lead to 17-14. Graves later nailed his 36-yard field goal at 12:03 of the fourth stanza for what proved to be the game’s final points.
J.T. Jones leaps over Devin Desper to help Brad Koenig stop Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. (MVSmith/MRO)
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