Written by Adrian Beecher
St. Petersburg, FL - Nick Fitzgerald used his arm and his legs to help lead the Mississippi State Bulldogs to a 17-16 victory in the 2016 St. Pete Bowl. Fitzgerald finished with 126 yards passing and 142 yards rushing along with 2 rushing TD’s. Then Senior Defensive Tackle Nelson Adams blocked a last-minute field goal to add to the win for Miss St.
Miami of Ohio received the opening kickoff and Maurice Thomas returned it from the goal line out to his own 41-yard line to put the Red Hawks in prime field position. On the first play from scrimmage, Gus Ragland connected with Rokeem Williams for a 12-yard completion to get immediately get into Miss. St. territory. Despite the early success and getting inside the opponent's goal line, the RedHawks drive would stall out, and they had to settle for an 18-yard field goal from Nick Dowd.
The Bulldog’s first possession of the game started out at their own 16-yard line. On their first play from scrimmage, Nick Fitzgerald got things going with a 19-yard completion to Fred Ross. However, that would be all the excitement on the drive for the cowbell ringing faithful of Miss. State, as three plays later they were forced to punt.
On the RedHawks second possession of the game, they were slowed down by the Bulldogs defense as they forced them into a punt of their own. Miss St. would have to put as well on their next possession. On the ensuing RedHawks possession, they were able to get the ball inside the red zone before Rokeem Williams was stripped and the Bulldogs took over 1st and ten at their own 17-yard line.
Miss St. was unable to capitalize on the turnover and were forced into a quick 3 and out. This time when the RedHawks took over, they looked poised their entire way down the field. They picked up three 1st downs, as Gus Ragland went 4 for 4 on the drive for 33 yards, including a 6 yard TD connection with James Gardner, who snagged the catch in the air over the Bulldog's defender. After the PAT was blocked by Bulldogs defender Johnathan Calvin, it was 9-0 Miami University with 8:36 left in the 1st half.
Trying to get on the board for the first time, Miss State was able to get into RedHawks territory, but on a 4th down from the 34-yard line, they were unable to convert, and Miami took over. However as the 1st half wound down, the Bulldogs would finally get on the board. It came on a QB sneak from Nick Fitzgerald from 2 yards out to make it a 9-7 game just 22 seconds before the half.
At the half, Miami was outgaining the Bulldogs in total yards 207-141. The RedHawks were led by the passing attack of Gus Ragland with 12 of 17 passing for 122 yards and 1 TD. For State, their leader was Nick Fitzgerald, who led the team in passing and rushing with 107 total offensive yards, including the 1 TD score for the Bulldogs.
Miss. St. opened up the 2nd half with possession of the ball and were able to start their drive out with positive gain, picking up three quick first downs before getting out to the Miami 47 yard line. Then on a 3rd and three, Fitzgerald threw deep downfield to Fred Ross, putting the ball right in the breadbasket inside the red zone. However, Ross was unable to corral the catch, and this forced the Bulldogs to punt on 4th down.
Then the RedHawks took over, and they put together a prolific drive. It went 85 yards in 8 plays capped off by a 1 yard TD pass from Gus Ragland to tight end Ryan Smith to give Miami a 16-7 lead with 8:11 left in the 3rd quarter.
Mississippi State was not going to just roll over, though. They answered back with a 9 play 82-yard drive of their own, capping it off with a 44 yard TD run by QB Nick Fitzgerald. It was the longest run by a QB in St. Pete Bowl history and once again made it a 2-point game. With 4:15 left in the 3rd, Miami led 16-14.
Miami University again took over and started marching right down the field. However, after a great start to their drive, on a 4th and 13 from the Miss St. 30-yard line, Gus Ragland was intercepted by Jamoral Graham at the 9-yard line and Graham returned it to the 30-yard line. Then 51 yards and 7 plays later, the Bulldogs found themselves in the lead for the first time of the day after Westin Graves drilled a 37 yard field goal to make it 17-16 with 12:03 left in regulation.
Needing a score to regain the lead, the RedHawks got right back to work; they were able to move the ball quite easily, but once they got into Bulldog territory, their drive once again stalled. This time it came on a 4th and 1 from the Miss St. 32-yard line as the RedHawks elected to throw and were unable to convert. This gave the Bulldogs the ball with 7:01 left in the game and the lead.
This gave the Bulldogs a chance to take full command in this one. However, after getting the ball inside the RedHawks 25 yard line, Mississippi State elected to go for it on 4th down and were unable to convert, then it was Miami’s last chance.
With 3:29 left on the clock, Miami had the ball at their own 22-yard line. The RedHawks were able to put together the last drive they were looking for and had a chance with 14 seconds left to hit a 37-yard field goal. However, much to the pleasure of the cowbell ringing faithful from Mississippi State, defender Nelson Adams got penetration and was able to block the field goal attempt, sealing the Bulldogs 17-16 victory.
Preparation played a key role in Nelson Adam’s game winning field goal block, “We had noticed on film that their kicker kicks line drives, so all that was going through my head was get your hands up quick.”
After blocking several kicks during the season, in the final seconds Miss St. head coach Dan Mullen was highly confident that his defense would block the kick stating simply, “I thought we were going to block it.”
Miami of Ohio received the opening kickoff and Maurice Thomas returned it from the goal line out to his own 41-yard line to put the Red Hawks in prime field position. On the first play from scrimmage, Gus Ragland connected with Rokeem Williams for a 12-yard completion to get immediately get into Miss. St. territory. Despite the early success and getting inside the opponent's goal line, the RedHawks drive would stall out, and they had to settle for an 18-yard field goal from Nick Dowd.
The Bulldog’s first possession of the game started out at their own 16-yard line. On their first play from scrimmage, Nick Fitzgerald got things going with a 19-yard completion to Fred Ross. However, that would be all the excitement on the drive for the cowbell ringing faithful of Miss. State, as three plays later they were forced to punt.
On the RedHawks second possession of the game, they were slowed down by the Bulldogs defense as they forced them into a punt of their own. Miss St. would have to put as well on their next possession. On the ensuing RedHawks possession, they were able to get the ball inside the red zone before Rokeem Williams was stripped and the Bulldogs took over 1st and ten at their own 17-yard line.
Miss St. was unable to capitalize on the turnover and were forced into a quick 3 and out. This time when the RedHawks took over, they looked poised their entire way down the field. They picked up three 1st downs, as Gus Ragland went 4 for 4 on the drive for 33 yards, including a 6 yard TD connection with James Gardner, who snagged the catch in the air over the Bulldog's defender. After the PAT was blocked by Bulldogs defender Johnathan Calvin, it was 9-0 Miami University with 8:36 left in the 1st half.
Trying to get on the board for the first time, Miss State was able to get into RedHawks territory, but on a 4th down from the 34-yard line, they were unable to convert, and Miami took over. However as the 1st half wound down, the Bulldogs would finally get on the board. It came on a QB sneak from Nick Fitzgerald from 2 yards out to make it a 9-7 game just 22 seconds before the half.
At the half, Miami was outgaining the Bulldogs in total yards 207-141. The RedHawks were led by the passing attack of Gus Ragland with 12 of 17 passing for 122 yards and 1 TD. For State, their leader was Nick Fitzgerald, who led the team in passing and rushing with 107 total offensive yards, including the 1 TD score for the Bulldogs.
Miss. St. opened up the 2nd half with possession of the ball and were able to start their drive out with positive gain, picking up three quick first downs before getting out to the Miami 47 yard line. Then on a 3rd and three, Fitzgerald threw deep downfield to Fred Ross, putting the ball right in the breadbasket inside the red zone. However, Ross was unable to corral the catch, and this forced the Bulldogs to punt on 4th down.
Then the RedHawks took over, and they put together a prolific drive. It went 85 yards in 8 plays capped off by a 1 yard TD pass from Gus Ragland to tight end Ryan Smith to give Miami a 16-7 lead with 8:11 left in the 3rd quarter.
Mississippi State was not going to just roll over, though. They answered back with a 9 play 82-yard drive of their own, capping it off with a 44 yard TD run by QB Nick Fitzgerald. It was the longest run by a QB in St. Pete Bowl history and once again made it a 2-point game. With 4:15 left in the 3rd, Miami led 16-14.
Miami University again took over and started marching right down the field. However, after a great start to their drive, on a 4th and 13 from the Miss St. 30-yard line, Gus Ragland was intercepted by Jamoral Graham at the 9-yard line and Graham returned it to the 30-yard line. Then 51 yards and 7 plays later, the Bulldogs found themselves in the lead for the first time of the day after Westin Graves drilled a 37 yard field goal to make it 17-16 with 12:03 left in regulation.
Needing a score to regain the lead, the RedHawks got right back to work; they were able to move the ball quite easily, but once they got into Bulldog territory, their drive once again stalled. This time it came on a 4th and 1 from the Miss St. 32-yard line as the RedHawks elected to throw and were unable to convert. This gave the Bulldogs the ball with 7:01 left in the game and the lead.
This gave the Bulldogs a chance to take full command in this one. However, after getting the ball inside the RedHawks 25 yard line, Mississippi State elected to go for it on 4th down and were unable to convert, then it was Miami’s last chance.
With 3:29 left on the clock, Miami had the ball at their own 22-yard line. The RedHawks were able to put together the last drive they were looking for and had a chance with 14 seconds left to hit a 37-yard field goal. However, much to the pleasure of the cowbell ringing faithful from Mississippi State, defender Nelson Adams got penetration and was able to block the field goal attempt, sealing the Bulldogs 17-16 victory.
Preparation played a key role in Nelson Adam’s game winning field goal block, “We had noticed on film that their kicker kicks line drives, so all that was going through my head was get your hands up quick.”
After blocking several kicks during the season, in the final seconds Miss St. head coach Dan Mullen was highly confident that his defense would block the kick stating simply, “I thought we were going to block it.”