STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football knew it was coming into Thursday’s Egg Bowl rivalry game against Ole Miss facing a team with a dangerous rushing attack.
Led by freshman Quinshon Judkins and TCU transfer Zach Evans, the Rebels put up gaudy numbers on the ground all season. The prior week, they ran for 335 yards despite a loss to Arkansas.
But MSU held the Ole Miss run game in check, and it’s the main reason the Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) emerged with a 24-22 win over the Rebels (8-4, 4-4 SEC).
Judkins, who had run for 1,387 yards on 230 carries heading into the game — over 6 yards per carry — was held to 87 yards on 21 attempts Thursday.
Even more striking was Evans’ stat line: five carries for exactly zero yards. His longest run was just 4 yards, and he was tackled for a loss three times.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart is also a significant rushing threat for the Rebels, but he was held to eight carries for 17 yards, not including sacks.
It was a fantastic performance from an MSU run defense that rates out as middle of the pack.
The Bulldogs are 68th among 131 FBS teams in yards allowed per attempt and 58th in rushing yards given up per game.
There were ups — 29 yards allowed on 27 carries at Alabama — and downs this season. The Bulldogs allowed 230 or more rushing yards against Arkansas, Kentucky and Auburn.
But when MSU needed it most in the biggest game of the year, its run defense came through.
Bulldogs run more than ever to beat Rebels
Mike Leach’s Air Raid scheme is heavy on passing and light on running.
But Leach realized that balance had to change Thursday if Mississippi State was going to leave Vaught-Hemingway Stadium with the Golden Egg Trophy in tow.
Including four sacks, MSU had 37 rushing attempts, its highest total of the year.
The Bulldogs were far from efficient, averaging 2.6 yards per carry, but that number soars to 4.6 if sacks are taken out of the equation. Take out three kneeldowns at the end as well, and MSU averaged 5.7 yards per rush.
Both Jo’quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson had strong games for MSU. Marks ran for 76 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Johnson — battling multiple injuries — had 73 yards on 12 attempts.
With quarterback Will Rogers under constant pressure and struggling to make plays, the Bulldogs’ rushing offense delivered — just like its run defense did.
And it could be a trend going forward when MSU needs more offensive balance.
“We just need to run the ball,” Johnson said after the game. “That’s just what it comes down to.”
Georgopoulos shines in Egg Bowl after late-season struggles
George Georgopoulos had struggled for weeks.
Mississippi State’s graduate transfer punter shanked a 4-yard punt Oct. 15 against Kentucky. He averaged just 35.7 yards per punt against Auburn three weeks later and just 36.4 yards against Georgia on Nov. 12.
To make matters worse, Georgopoulos had his first punt against East Tennessee State the following week blocked and returned for a touchdown.
But it didn’t stop him from having a big — and quite important — performance Thursday.
Georgopoulos’ first punt in Oxford was a 56-yard boot to flip the field in the first quarter. He punted four times for 197 yards — an average of 49.25 yards per kick. No FBS punter averaged more than 49 yards per punt this season.
Despite his struggles, Georgopoulos saved his very best for the final game of the regular season, and he played a role in Mississippi State’s victory.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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