Piper realizes life-long dream in athletics at MSU

STARKVILLE — Andrew Piper wanted to get involved in sports marketing.

Starkville prepares for North State title match

STARKVILLE — Maleke Bell and Starkville High School were ready to compete for a state championship last season.

Prescott, seniors want to go out with win at home

STARKVILLE — Dak Prescott could have gone to LSU.

The Haughton, Louisiana, native grew up around people who were big LSU fans, including his late mother, Peggy. But Mississippi State offered Prescott a scholarship early in the recruiting process and he committed to the Bulldogs. LSU offered him late, but he decided to stick with his commitment.

Five years later, he’s happy he did.

MSU eager to reclaim Egg Bowl trophy

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen was all over the jumbotron at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2012.

After the Mississippi State football team beat Ole Miss 31-23 in 2010 in Oxford, Mullen told his players in the locker room, “We’re never losing to this team again.”

MSU backed up their coach’s statement in 2011, but Ole Miss earned a 41-24 victory in Oxford the following year to hand Mullen his first loss in the rivalry.

Avery Brown keeps Starkville High’s tradition at RB going

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School running back Avery Brown had lofty expectations to live up to this season.

Matt Fuller rushed for 1,000 yards last season, while Jacquez Horsley was close to breaking the 1,000-yard mark but was bothered by injuries. Preston Baker, Brown’s cousin, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2012.

Brown knows all about the running backs who have come before him. He has used their contributions as motivation to help prepare him for his opportunity.

MSU builds momentum for Ole Miss game

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team didn’t want to enter rivalry week on a two-game losing streak.

Coming off a 31-6 loss to Alabama on Nov. 14 at Davis Wade Stadium, MSU hoped to get back on track against an Arkansas team that entered the game riding a four-game winning streak.

Thanks to a record-breaking performance by Dak Prescott and a game-saving blocked field goal in the final minute by Beniquez Brown, MSU escaped Fayetteville, Arkansas, with a 51-50 victory.

MSU wanted to score late when it had chance

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With the Mississippi State football team’s defense not having much success against Arkansas in the second half, the Bulldogs were thinking about taking their time.

Trailing 50-44, MSU took possession of the football with 5 minutes, 33 seconds remaining in the game. It marched down the field and into the red zone, but there was still enough time for the Razorbacks to get a chance on offense. Even so, MSU wanted to score and decided to take whatever opportunity presented itself to score.

Quarterbacks have career nights in shootout

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott and Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen tried to outdo each other Saturday night.

Prescott and Allen traded touchdowns and kept trying to put their team in a position to win with fabulous plays in an offensive struggle. They combined for 914 passing yards.

Blocked kick saves MSU

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Beniquez Brown wasn’t supposed to be on the field for the final defensive play Saturday.

The Mississippi State junior linebacker wanted to be on the field, though, so he went to defensive line coach David Turner and made his case. The assistant coach decided to put him in as Arkansas was about to attempt a field goal. With everything that had happened to the defense, Brown was ready.

“I kind of wanted the game to be on my shoulders when it got late,” Brown said. “That’s the part of being a leader, and that’s what I needed to do. I just took it upon myself to go.”

Turner’s decision proved to be the right one because Brown blocked a 29-yard Cole Hedlund field goal attempt with 39 seconds left to help MSU hold on to beat Arkansas 51-50 at Razorback Stadium.

5 Things to Watch for in Mississippi State-Arkansas

STARKVILLE –Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen has a winning record in every month except August and November.

The seventh-year Bulldog coach is 1-1 in August and 11-15 in November. A victory against Missouri and a loss to No. 3 Alabama has MSU 1-1 in November this season.

MSU (7-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) will try to improve that mark at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) when it takes on Arkansas (6-4, 4-2) at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Starkville will face different Clinton with Akers

STARKVILLE — You could argue Starkville High School defensive coordinator Brooks Oakley didn’t have any reason to watch the film of his team’s game against Clinton earlier this season.

Without starting quarterback Cam Akers, the Arrows lost to the Yellow Jackets 45-7 on Nov. 6 in the regular-season finale at Yellow Jacket Stadium. Akers, who was out with an injury, watched from the sideline as Clinton’s offense struggled.

MSU men’s basketball looks to get better on road trip

STARKVILLE — Ben Howland sees room for a lot of improvement.

Coleman makes most of football-playing opportunity at MSU

STARKVILLE — Will Coleman could have gone and played immediately at a handful of other schools.

Bulldogs set for first-ever appearance in Cross Country championships

STARKVILLE — It has been a long time coming for Houston Franks and the Mississippi State women’s cross country program.

MSU baseball releases challenging 2016 schedule

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball won’t have to look far for a good game during the 2016 season.

Myles maintains upbeat spirit for Bulldogs football program

STARKVILLE — Gabe Myles always has a smile on his face.

MSU will try to stop Arkansas’ winning streak

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen believes Arkansas is one of the nation’s hottest teams.

Mullen has seen Arkansas win four-straight games, including a double overtime victory against Auburn, an overtime thriller against Ole Miss, and a 31-14 drumming of LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Razorbacks’ offense has been a big reason for the success.

Newman makes debut in MSU’s loss to Southern

STARKVILLE — Malik Newman hasn’t seen a lot of action in the last three weeks.

The Mississippi State men’s basketball team’s freshman guard has been suffering from a turf toe injury on his left foot that has limited his practice time. He practiced Sunday for the first time since the injury, but his rhythm was off. That was evident Monday night.

Battered, bruised Bulldogs look to regroup

STARKVILLE — Dak Prescott is optimistic about the Mississippi State football team’s final two weeks of the regular season.

The senior quarterback was sacked nine times Saturday in a 31-6 loss to No. 3 Alabama at Davis Wade Stadium. He said there are plenty of things MSU (7-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) can improve on before it faces Arkansas (6-4, 4-2) at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) at Razorback Stadium, and that it remains focused on winning out.

No. 3 Alabama sacks No. 20 MSU

STARKVILLE — Dak Prescott will probably have dreams about the Alabama defensive front.

The Mississippi Sate quarterback was sacked twice — including on the first play from scrimmage — on the opening series against Alabama on Saturday afternoon. He ran the ball three more times on the drive and took a beating. In fact, he took a beating the entire game. He said never has been hit that much.