In football, as with any high-level sport, winning fixes a lot of problems. An under-fire coach can win over fans again. A struggling program or franchise can reignite communal hope. A player who was booed one week can be a hero the next.
For Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen, enduring losses introduced plenty of external speculation about whether he is the best man for the job. Those questions persisted even through a remarkable comeback win over Arkansas on Saturday, but the internal belief in him was repaid in full with a remarkable fourth quarter and a game-winning touchdown in the final minute.
“I feel like the biggest thing was all the plays made before we got down there,” Shapen said, reflecting on the final drive. “Brenen (Thompson) making a heck of a catch down the sideline was huge for us on fourth down. Gotta have it. A couple drives before that, to put us in a position to put points on the board, that was (Anthony Evans) on third down over the middle… Then, the last play, being able to get in the right play call, was great. We had man-to-man in that situation, and (Evans) made a great decision after the catch, was great to go win the game.”
Shapen’s evaluation wasn’t centered on himself, but rather his teammates and playmakers to whom he gets the ball. He gave his game ball – the one from his first SEC win as a starter – to true freshman Kamario Taylor, whose third-quarter heroics revived a struggling offense.
Shapen was taken out of the game to go into concussion protocol on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. Taylor came in and wowed the crowd with two touchdowns on three drives, sparking what could have easily devolved into a quarterback conversation.
Taylor didn’t show anything new, certainly not for those locally who followed his high school career. He has always processed plays well, acted decisively and found ways to hurt defenses when the first and second options don’t materialize. He has always been able to take over a game.
In the third quarter in Fayetteville, it looked as though Taylor was going to take control of the game. Already, fans online, and even those of us from the beat in the press box, were speculating what such a performance could mean at quarterback going forward.
When Shapen returned, it wasn’t just a surprise because of the apparent injury concern. In three drives with Taylor, the MSU offense looked as efficient as it had all season. Why change it?
It may have been a straightforward decision, but the possibility of interrupting the flow of a suddenly revived attacking unit seemed like a risk, and even more so after the interception.
But Shapen showed not only that he was healthy, but that he was more than capable of keeping things rolling.
“When that happened, I knew we had to go win this game,” Shapen said of the pick.
His reflection on Monday demonstrated his awareness of what completing the comeback would mean to him, but also for the entire team after the close calls and near misses in each of the four prior games.
“I wanted that for myself, I wanted that for the team, because we’d been in that situation before and weren’t able to close it out,” he continued. “We all knew it was that time, and we knew there was probably a good chance of us being in that situation again. I don’t think there was an exact moment, but when (the interception) happened it created a spark, not just for me, but for the receivers to go do their job, the offensive line, and everyone else.”
Head coach Jeff Lebby had high praise for his quarterback both after the game and again on Monday after watching film, and highlighted his leadership and grit throughout some heartbreaking losses in recent weeks.
Shapen didn’t let the moment get too big for him or his team. He led a 14-point comeback in the fourth quarter with a team that had lacked the composure to finish games all season, proving that both he and his team have what it takes.
Shapen may not be one to say it himself, but he earned that moment, and his coaches and teammates recognize that.
“The toughness that this guy plays with… he will die for the people inside of these walls,” Lebby said of Shapen. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a guy play as tough as he plays, and the way he’s gotten hit this year, to continue to get up and battle and put us in position to go win games, it’s special. I love coaching him, I think he’s great for the room, for (Taylor), for the team.”
Colin Damms covers Mississippi State athletics for The Dispatch.
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