Mississippi State Bulldogs vs BYU Cougars Match Player Stats On Oct 14, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 15, 2016

Senior quarterback Taysom Hill passed for three touchdowns, including the decisive score to junior tight end Tanner Balderree, as Brigham Young posted a 28-21 double-overtime victory over Mississippi State on Friday night in Provo, Utah.

Hill's 25-yard scoring pass to Balderree came on the first play of the Cougars' second overtime possession. Mississippi State was unable to match the touchdown on its final possession.

Hill passed for 165 yards and senior receiver Nick Kurtz had seven receptions for 62 yards for the Cougars (4-3). BYU senior running back Jamaal Williams was limited to 76 yards on 26 carries but raised his career total to 3,468, surpassing the school career rushing record set by Harvey Unga (3,455, 2006-09).

Mississippi State sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald passed for 214 yards and accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) but was intercepted twice. Redshirt freshman wideout Keith Mixon caught a 44-yard touchdown pass and sophomore running back Aeris Williams rushed for 82 yards for the Bulldogs (2-4).

The score was tied 14-14 after regulation before Mississippi State scored on its first overtime possession as Fitzgerald leaped over BYU junior linebacker Fred Warner to cap a 2-yard scoring run. The Cougars took over and tied the score on Hill's 1-yard plunge.

BYU took the lead when Hill hit Balderree in the right flat and Balderree took it all the way for the score in the second OT. Mississippi State found itself facing fourth-and-9 from the Cougars' 12-yard line to keep the game alive, but Fitzgerald's throw into the end zone was broken up by Warner.

The Cougars trailed by seven at halftime and caught the Bulldogs at 14 when Hill threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Moroni Laulu-Pututau with 13:15 left.

Fitzgerald passed for 169 yards and accounted for both touchdowns as Mississippi State led 14-7 at halftime.

Fitzgerald teamed with Mixon on the long touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 9:13 left in the first quarter. BYU tied the score when Hill hit sophomore tight end Hunter Marshall on a fourth-and-goal throw from the 1 with 48 seconds left in the quarter.

Mississippi State regained the lead when Fitzgerald scored on a 1-yard run with 3:54 left in the half.