STARKVILLE — Harrison Butker and Quadry Antoine have likely never met. That’s probably not going to change at the Orange Bowl, either.
That’s because it’s unlikely Butker, Georgia Tech’s sophomore kicker and Antoine, a little-used linebacker at Mississippi State, will be on the field at the same time.
But it’s possible that neither team would have advanced to the Orange Bowl without them.
Butker and Antoine delivered season-defining plays for their teams this season. Butker’s was a 53-yard field at the end of regulation against Georgia that forced overtime and paved the way for the Yellow Jackets to win 30-24 in Athens, Georgia.
“My mind-set was it was a long field goal at the end of the game and give it all you had and no regrets,” Butker said. “I knew just had to keep it straight and it would go in.”
Antoine produced his big play in MSU’s game against then-No. 2 Auburn on Oct. 11. Streaking down the field on kick coverage with MSU leading 31-20, Antoine made a sure tackle and forced a fumble by return man Ricardo Louis to give MSU possession at Auburn’s 18-yard line. Two plays later, the Bulldogs were in the end zone for a score in an eventual to 38-20 win.
“That’s just a guy making a great play on the football,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “On special teams, sometimes guys are there that don’t play as much as the other guys, so they are trying to make plays.”
The big moments from Butker and Antoine were highlights from the special teams units of the Orange Bowl opponents. The teams combined for two special teams touchdowns all season, both by the Bulldogs. There was a 70-yard blocked field goal return by senior safety Jay Hughes in the season opener against Southern Mississippi. The Bulldogs also received a 61-yard onside kick return for a score by linebacker Christian Holmes in a 45-31 win at Kentucky.
But, as so often happens in bowl games, the kicking game could play a pivotal role. For Georgia Tech, that means Butker, who was 11 of 18 (2 of 9 from 30-39 yards) could make the difference, just like he against archrival Georgia.
MSU will counter with kicker Evan Sobiesk, who was 10 of 12. Only one of his kicks, a 45-yarder at Ole Miss, came from outside 40 yards. Sobiesk missed two extra points, including one of two MSU misses in its 47-34 victory against Alabama-Birmingham. After that, Sobiesk made nine field goals in a row.
“I’ve told everybody those guys are good in practice,” Mullen said of his kickers after Sobiesk drilled a 35-yarder against Arkansas. “Maybe everyone will start believing me.”
The kicking game wasn’t the only part of MSU’s special teams unit that had its moments. The Bulldogs blocked three kicks, two by defensive end Preston Smith. Georgia Tech had two kicks blocked against Georgia.
If punting is an issue at the Orange Bowl, the teams aren’t separated by much. Georgia Tech punter Ryan Rodwell averaged 40.8 yards per kick, 3 yards shy of the average of MSU punter Devon Bell. Bell’s long of 70 came at Ole Miss.
In the return game, MSU suffered through four-straight fumbled punt returns in four games. But since freshman Jamoral Graham, responsible for all four, was replaced by sophomore Fred Ross.
Returning punts, the Bulldogs have been sure-handed.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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