UMass Minutemen vs Mississippi State Bulldogs Match Player Stats On Nov 04, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Nov 4, 2017

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns as No. 16 Mississippi State fought back from a seven-point halftime deficit to beat Massachusetts 34-23 on Saturday.

UMass (2-7) intercepted three passes in the game, one going for a touchdown, and put up 350 yards of offense on MSU's top 25 defensive unit.

Trailing 20-13 to start the second half, the Bulldogs (7-2) scored on back-to-back offensive drives as Fitzgerald had 8- and 10-yard touchdown runs. That didn't stop the Minutemen from staying in the game.

With the Bulldogs in control and moving the ball on offense, they tried a trick play, with a pass downfield from wide receiver Reggie Todd. The throw was intercepted, giving UMass new life.

The Minutemen drove inside the 10-yard line but managed only a field goal to make the score 27-23 with 8:11 left in the game. Mississippi State's defense came up with a stop on UMass' next possession, and then punt returner Deddrick Thomas helped put the game away with an 83-yard return for a touchdown with 5:00 left.

MSU had 393 yards of total offense, with 254 coming on the ground. Aeris Williams rushed for 114 yards as he and Fitzgerald went for 100 yards in the same game for the third time this year. Fitzgerald added 139 yards on 14-of-25 passing with two interceptions.

For UMass, first-time starting quarterback Ross Comis created issues for MSU with his 223 yards passing and touchdown. Marquis Young rushed for 91 yards on 11 carries and Andy Isabella shredded MSU's defense for 158 yards on seven catches with a touchdown.

After surviving the scare on Saturday, Mississippi State has to take on No. 1 Alabama at home next week. UMass looks to get back on track with a home game against Maine next week.

NOTES: The 23 points scored by Massachusetts were the most scored on Mississippi State in five games at Davis Wade Stadium this season. ... Bulldogs QB Nick Fitzgerald moved up two spots in SEC history for rushing yards by a quarterback, now carrying the ball for 2,168 in his career. The junior is third all-time in MSU history with 34 rushing touchdowns.