STARKVILLE — When asked Sunday about his team’s opponent in the Orange Bowl, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson wasted little time in bringing up Mississippi State’s most indispensable player.
”Everybody knows about Dak Prescott and what he’s done,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said. “Tremendous team, some outstanding individual players and a lot of respect for what they’ve done there.”
MSU coach Dan Mullen returned the compliment and quickly put the spotlight on Georgia Tech’s most valuable player.
“Great team, great offense, and they have a quarterback who knows how what to do,” said Mullen of sophomore Justin Thomas. “He does a great job, really makes that offense click.”
Such is the challenge for each coach entering the Orange Bowl, which will pit two of the country’s top offenses and quarterbacks against each other.
Prescott, MSU’s all-everything junior, led the Bulldogs to a 10-2 regular season and the school’s first No. 1 ranking on the way to earning first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors. The Haughton, Louisiana, native scored touchdowns passing, rushing and receiving this season, and accounted for 64 percent of MSU’s total offense and 38 of its 56 offensive touchdowns.
Thomas was just as critical for the Yellow Jackets (10-3). He is responsible for 41 percent of Georgia Tech’s yardage and has scored 22 touchdowns in the triple-option offense. The attack produced 4,337 rushing yards, including 965 by Thomas, which was No. 2 nationally. Thomas also threw for 1,594 yards and 17 scores.
Strength vs. strength
While Prescott has better passing numbers, the quarterbacks have posted nearly identical rushing numbers, even though they couldn’t be more different in their approach.
At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Prescott is a classic grinder, a physical force who exerts his will on defenses to gain yards. The Haughton, Louisiana, native has rushed 195 times for 939 yards. Many of those yards have come up the middle.
Thomas relies on shiftiness, agility and the design of the triple option to carve up defenses.
At 5-11, 179, Thomas was a coveted recruit out of Prattville High in Prattville, Alabama. But other schools, like Florida State, wanted him to change positions, so he landed in Atlanta. The result was a 10-win regular season and an offense that scores 37 points per game.
Thomas has 176 carries for 965 yards. His average of 5.5 yards per carry dwarfs Prescott’s average of 4.8. He also thrives on creating the big play, as he has six runs of more than 40 yards this season.
Airing it out
Prescott and the Bulldogs have an advantage, but the difference isn’t as stark as it would seem. While Thomas has attempted 175 passes, which is half of Prescott’s attempts, he has 17 touchdowns and averages nearly 12 yards per completion. He completes 50 percent of his throws and averages 122.6 yards per game.
Prescott made gigantic strides as a passer this season and set MSU records for completion percentage (61.2) and touchdowns (24). He averaged 249 yards per game. He needs 4 yards for 3,000 on the season.
Biggest win
Prescott led MSU to consecutive victories against top-10 teams LSU, Texas A&M, and Auburn in September and October. The marquee win likely was the victory at then-No. 8 LSU. Prescott had 352 yards and three touchdowns to lead MSU to its first win in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, since 1991. The victory propelled MSU into The Associated Press Top 25, and the Bulldogs haven’t dropped out since.
Thomas led Georgia Tech to a 28-6 home victory against then-No. 19 Clemson in November, but his biggest win came in the next game, a 30-24 overtime victory against Georgia in Athens, Georgia.
Thomas led an attack that rushed for 399 yards in the win. He added six completions and a touchdown.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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