Written By: Garin Turner
No. 23 Mississippi State (9-4) outlasted the Louisville Cardinals (8-5) 31-27 in the 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl. The Bulldogs were without starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald who was out with an injury but freshman QB Keytaon Thompson stepped up in a big way. "I thought he (Thompson) was very tough," Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino said.
Thompson ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns to beat the Cardinals. Thompson also threw for 127 yards as he went toe to toe with Louisville QB Lamar Jackson who may have played his final collegiate game.
Jackson had an off day throwing four interceptions, and he was sacked six times. He did throw for two touchdowns and ran for another en route to 158 yards on the ground. As been the case all season, Jackson did not get enough help from his teammates. Besides Jackson, Louisville only mustered 29 yards on the ground.
Junior defensive back Mark McLaurin was all over the field for the Bulldogs. McLaurin had 11 tackles and two interceptions. Johnathan Abram and Gerri Green both had 1.5 sacks for the Bulldogs who kept after Jackson the entire game.
Mississippi State outgained Louisville 404-358. The Cardinals were just 4-16 on third down. The Bulldogs had 11 penalties for 100 yards but were able to overcome them.
Louisville had a 21-17 lead at the half and extended their lead to 24-17 entering the 4th quarter. A pair of touchdown runs by Thompson, and stellar defensive play sealed the deal for the Bulldogs. "We didn't start off the way we would've liked, but we came back and took the lead at the half," Petrino said.
Jackson looked very disappointed in the post-game press conference hanging his head low several times. He has put together a solid career, and if this is the end for him, he has set records that will be hard to break at Louisville. He became just the third quarterback in college history to have 50 rushing touchdowns and 50 passing touchdowns, joining Tim Tebow and Colin Kaepernick. "I was mad, we lost the game," Lamar Jackson said. When asked if this was the last time in a Louisville uniform Jackson did not hesitate to answer. "I have to sit down with my coaches and my family."
Mississippi State will enter the 2018 season with a new head coach. Dan Mullen left to take the head coaching job at Florida. His replacement is Joe Moorhead. The Bulldogs open up the season at home against Stephen F. Austin.
If this is indeed the last time we see Jackson at Louisville, they will have to find his replacement. They have a tough task to begin next year as they face Alabama.
Thompson ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns to beat the Cardinals. Thompson also threw for 127 yards as he went toe to toe with Louisville QB Lamar Jackson who may have played his final collegiate game.
Jackson had an off day throwing four interceptions, and he was sacked six times. He did throw for two touchdowns and ran for another en route to 158 yards on the ground. As been the case all season, Jackson did not get enough help from his teammates. Besides Jackson, Louisville only mustered 29 yards on the ground.
Junior defensive back Mark McLaurin was all over the field for the Bulldogs. McLaurin had 11 tackles and two interceptions. Johnathan Abram and Gerri Green both had 1.5 sacks for the Bulldogs who kept after Jackson the entire game.
Mississippi State outgained Louisville 404-358. The Cardinals were just 4-16 on third down. The Bulldogs had 11 penalties for 100 yards but were able to overcome them.
Louisville had a 21-17 lead at the half and extended their lead to 24-17 entering the 4th quarter. A pair of touchdown runs by Thompson, and stellar defensive play sealed the deal for the Bulldogs. "We didn't start off the way we would've liked, but we came back and took the lead at the half," Petrino said.
Jackson looked very disappointed in the post-game press conference hanging his head low several times. He has put together a solid career, and if this is the end for him, he has set records that will be hard to break at Louisville. He became just the third quarterback in college history to have 50 rushing touchdowns and 50 passing touchdowns, joining Tim Tebow and Colin Kaepernick. "I was mad, we lost the game," Lamar Jackson said. When asked if this was the last time in a Louisville uniform Jackson did not hesitate to answer. "I have to sit down with my coaches and my family."
Mississippi State will enter the 2018 season with a new head coach. Dan Mullen left to take the head coaching job at Florida. His replacement is Joe Moorhead. The Bulldogs open up the season at home against Stephen F. Austin.
If this is indeed the last time we see Jackson at Louisville, they will have to find his replacement. They have a tough task to begin next year as they face Alabama.