STARKVILLE — For the sake of his team, Will Rogers committed a brave, selfless and agonizing act.
He reviewed game film of Mississippi State’s 24-2 loss to Kentucky on Oct. 10, 2020.
“It’s kind of painful to watch, but I went back and watched that game a couple times this past week,” Rogers said.
As a true freshman, Rogers entered the game late and threw two interceptions. Starter K.J. Costello threw four as the Bulldogs left Lexington without a single offensive point.
What a difference a year can make.
On Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. Rogers was a far cry from the inexperienced new passer thrown under center for the first time, shredding the defense of the 12th-ranked Wildcats in a game full of records for the sophomore.
Rogers completed 36 of 39 passes for 344 yards and a touchdown, did not turn the ball over and set the Southeastern Conference single-game completion percentage record in the process as he helped the Bulldogs to a 31-17 win.
“I thought he played well,” Mississippi State coach Mike Leach said. “I thought he really did a good job seeing the field.”
Neither Leach nor Rogers knew initially about the quarterback’s new record. Rogers found out on his way off Scott Field. Leach found out in the press room.
“Oh, he did, huh? Well, good,” the second-year Bulldogs coach said. “We try to get as many of those as we can.”
Rogers set another mark Saturday when he passed Dak Prescott for the most completions in a single season in Mississippi State history by virtue of a third-quarter touchdown pass to Rara Thomas. There are four regular-season games to play and a lot more passes to be thrown by the nation’s overwhelming leader in attempts.
But when Rogers is slinging the football as he did Saturday night, it’s easy to see why he throws the ball more than 54 times per game. The sophomore not only hit on the short, quick routes he typically executes well; he challenged the Kentucky defense vertically and came out the victor on almost every occasion.
Rogers downplayed his performance and talked up the showings of his teammates, who had good games — although it was easy to see they were led by their young quarterback.
“I was just trying to do my job one play at a time,” Rogers said. “Everybody else around me was doing their job really well.”
Running backs Woody Marks and Dillon Johnson had strong games, and they were among the 12 receivers to catch a pass from Rogers on the night.
Naturally, only Thomas — the freshman who had a touchdown catch last week from Chance Lovertich — was the recipient of a scoring pass from Rogers.
Rogers said his hard work, particularly over the offseason, has led him to the success he’s enjoyed this season. He called himself the hardest worker on the team, and that drive has led to an aggressive mindset not often seen in prior weeks.
“That is the expectation here: Every time we get in the huddle, we’re not just trying to get a first down,” Rogers said. “We’re trying to score every time we get the ball.”
The Bulldogs practically did Saturday. After a punt on their first drive, they scored on three straight possessions before another punt, then regained the ball with just nine seconds to go until halftime.
Three consecutive drives resulted in points to open the second half before another punt, but when MSU got the ball back with 7:51 to go, they never gave it up. The Bulldogs ran out the clock, getting as far as the Wildcats’ 20-yard line before the final horn blew.
“We just ran the same offense that we’d been running all night,” Rogers said. “We really wanted to score, but we didn’t.”
This time, it didn’t matter. Mississippi State had more than enough points to handle the Wildcats, quite a difference from last year’s lethargy in Lexington.
Wide receiver Jaden Walley, who led the Bulldogs with 95 receiving yards, was a freshman for that game, too. Walley said he knows what made the difference for his quarterback.
“I think it’s just all confidence,” Walley said.
Now, Rogers has some. And more games like Saturday’s could be on the horizon.
“I think he’s grown a lot, and he’ll continue to improve,” Leach said.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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