Nick Fitzgerald breaks SEC rushing record as Mississippi State tramples Auburn
Mississippi State rediscovered its running game in a 23-9 win over Auburn, and Nick Fitzgerald broke an SEC rushing record.
Nick Fitzgerald breaks SEC rushing record as Mississippi State tramples Auburn Mississippi State rediscovered its running game in a 23-9 win over Auburn, and Nick Fitzgerald broke an SEC rushing record. Check out this story on clarionledger.com: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/10/06/nick-fitzgerald-breaks-sec-rushing-record-msu-runs-over-auburn/1551861002/
Wilson Alexander, Mississippi Clarion Ledger Published 10:16 p.m. CT Oct. 6, 2018 | Updated 2:26 p.m. CT Oct. 7, 2018
Saturday QB Nick Fitzgerald broke Tim Tebow's record for career rushing yards by an SEC quarterback as he led MSU to a 23-9 win over No. 9 Auburn. Mackenzie Salmon, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) breaks free from Auburn's Jeremiah Dinson (20). Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville.(Photo: Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger)Buy Photo
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald needed 144 yards to set the SEC's record for rushing yards by a quarterback when the Bulldogs began their 23-9 win over Auburn on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.
Fitzgerald had rushed for a combined 52 yards the past two weeks in losses to Kentucky and Florida. Mississippi State's offense had looked dormant and dysfunctional, its running game shut down in both games.
"We was fed up," right guard Deion Calhoun said, "because we knew what we were capable of doing."
No. 9 Auburn seemed the least likely team for Fitzgerald to break Tim Tebow's record against, or for Mississippi State (4-2, 1-2 SEC West) to revitalize a run-focused offense.
The Tigers (4-2, 1-2) entered the game allowing 93 rushing yards per game — eighth in the country. They had allowed less than three yards per carry. They had given up one rushing touchdown this season.
With the Bulldogs leading by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, Fitzgerald kept the ball on a read-option, split the Auburn defense, juked a defender and sprinted for a 39-yard gain.
Fitzgerald's run not only broke the record — he now has 2,999 career rushing yards — it was the longest run for Mississippi State in a game in which the Bulldogs rediscovered their success on the ground.
Leaning on its running game, Mississippi State scored as many points in the first half (13) as it had the past two weeks combined.
"I took my coaching pills this week," head coach Joe Moorhead said. "I forgot them the last two weeks."
Gallery: Auburn at Mississippi State football
Mississippi State's Gerri Green (4) runs to the end zone after picking up a loose ball. The play was ruled dead. Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) eludes Auburn's Jeremiah Dinson (20) in the first quarter. Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) breaks free from Auburn's Jeremiah Dinson (20). Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State's Kylin Hill (8) carries for a gain in the first half. Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) releases a pass in the second quarter. Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
Auburn's Javaris Davis (13) tackles Auburn's JaTarvious Whitlow (28). Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) makes a move on Auburn's Jeremiah Dinson (20) in the second quarter. Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) celebrates after he apparently scored a touchdown in the second quarter. The play was overturned. Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) is congratulated after a play late in the second quarter that was ruled a touchdown on the field, but overturned on review. Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald (7) and Mississippi State's Deion Calhoun (61) lie on the ground after Fitzgerald scored a touchdown. Mississippi State and Auburn played in an SEC college football game on Saturday, October 6, 2018, in Starkville. Keith Warren/For Clarion Ledger
After Auburn took a 3-0 lead, Mississippi State drove 67 yards to tie the game. Kylin Hill rushed twice. Fitzgerald ran once. So did Aeris Williams. Then Fitzgerald ripped off a 29-yard run. Four plays later, Jace Christmann kicked a 25-yard field goal.
Mississippi State did not attempt a pass on the nine-play drive.
Instead of stretching the defense downfield, Mississippi State ran straight at the Tigers' vaunted defensive front. When Fitzgerald did throw, he often dumped the ball into the flats.
Though Fitzgerald completed just over 50 percent of his passes (9-of-17) and threw an interception, he ran the ball as well as he has all season.
Fitzgerald ended the game with a game-leading 28 carries for 195 yards. He had not surpassed 100 yards rushing in three weeks. Hill added 126 yards.
The Bulldogs ran the ball well to start the year, but their running game disappeared during their two losses this season; Mississippi State rushed for 56 yards against Kentucky and 104 yards against Florida.
Against Auburn, the Bulldogs rushed 57 times for 349 yards. They ate up clock, picked up first downs and never abandoned the run. Only six of their runs, including the game's final kneel, resulted in negative yardage.
Leading by a touchdown with two minutes to play, Mississippi State ran the ball again.
On third-and-1 at Auburn's 21-yard line, Fitzgerald kept the ball on a read-option. He cut through the line of scrimmage and ran untouched into the end zone, jumping as he crossed the goal line, another positive run in a game full of them.
"I could've put my armpit in the rim," Fitzgerald said of his jump.
After the game, Moorhead indicated Mississippi State's offense will continue to lean on the running game. He wants to build a program capable of stretching the defense downfield, but right now, he knows he has to build a scheme to match his personnel, not force his players into an offense.
"People know we're going to run the ball," Fitzgerald said. "But it's damn hard to stop it when we get going."
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