MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers broke his own school records for passing attempts and completions and had the 8th-best yardage in a single game in school history on Saturday against Memphis.
And still there was a sense that Rogers left a lot of plays on the field.
“I just think sometimes we get conservative on the underneath stuff,” Bulldogs coach Mike Leach said after a 31-29 loss to Memphis. “There’s times you’ve got to challenge the defense a little more.”
The sophomore finished 50 of 67 passing for 419 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. By all accounts, Rogers had a good day.
But as Leach said, there were times where the Brandon High School product could have delivered more, although whether it would have led to a Mississippi State win is hard to say.
Several times, the sophomore chose to take checkdowns rather than push the ball deep. Often, he didn’t see an open Dillon Johnson or Woody Marks in the flat until Memphis defenders had converged.
Rogers’ biggest missed opportunity came early in the fourth quarter with the Bulldogs facing third-and-11 at their own 14-yard line. The quarterback dropped back to throw, saw Cal transfer Makai Polk streaking open down the seam and let loose.
His pass sailed over Polk’s head and hit the turf. The Bulldogs punted, and four plays later, Memphis was in the end zone with the go-ahead touchdown.
In the third quarter, there was a similar play. Washington State grad transfer Jamire Calvin had two defenders beat downfield, but Rogers’ attempt was behind his target and skidded across the turf.
But make no mistake: Rogers had several strong plays to lead the Bulldogs’ scoring effort. He delivered a perfect throw to sophomore Jaden Walley for a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter and made two nice tosses to Malik Heath and Polk on a late drive to get within two points.
The sophomore, however, will surely wish for a do-over on the ensuing two-point conversion attempt to tie the game at 31-all. Rogers surveyed the field, tried to rush to the goal line and was tackled a yard short, losing the ball after he went down.
Leach acknowledged the Bulldogs should have punched the ball in, but Rogers’ teammates voiced their support in their young quarterback nonetheless.
“He’s giving it his all,” senior receiver Austin Williams said. “He’s going to want that one back, but he did all he could. It’s not just you coming up one yard short. The whole team came up one yard short. We’re all going to have to carry that on your backs collectively.”
Rogers’ numbers, of course, hint that the Bulldogs’ fate Saturday night was far from his fault. Mississippi State’s defense fell apart late in the game, and a pair of controversial calls removed any hope of a comeback.
But if the sophomore can make the strides Leach expects from him, even gaudier statistics could be in store — and more wins could follow.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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