Russell delivers for MSU

Sports

Related Photos

Josh Taylor / Sports Columnist

Discussion

September 6, 2010

By Josh Taylor / Sports Columnist The Meridian Star The Meridian Star Mon Sep 06, 2010, 06:00 AM CDT

STARKVILLE —     Playing quarterback at the collegiate level is tough. Playing quarterback well at the collegiate level is even tougher. Lighting up the scoreboard with 256 passing yards and four touchdowns in your first collegiate game is nearly impossible. For Mississippi State’s Tyler Russell, it was just another day on the gridiron.

   “It felt like high school out there,” said Russell after Saturday night's season opener at Davis Wade Stadium. “This is what I wanted to do.”

   The former Wildcat standout brought home a state championship for the Wildcats in his senior year at Meridian High. After watching from the sidelines for a season at MSU, Russell is poised to take his place as the face of the Bulldog program.

   The final numbers are impressive in Russel’s first game action as a Bulldog. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns. The four touchdowns ties a school record. His longest pass of the night was a 57-yard touchdown toss to Chad Bumphis midway through the third quarter. Needless to say, Mississippi State won the game game against Memphis 49-7.

   What makes these numbers even more impressive is that Russell was sharing time with starting quarterback Chris Relf. Most guys would be happy with 256 yards and four touchdowns over the course of a single game. In essence, Russell did it over the course of about half a game.

   One game is not a career and Russell will definitely have a tougher test Thursday night in his first SEC competition against visiting Auburn. That being said, you can expect ‘Russell to Bumphis for a touchdown’ to be heard often on gamedays at Davis Wade Stadium for years to come.

Trojan On The Field

   Some of our loyal readers might remember a kid named Maurice Langston. The former Northeast Lauderdale Trojan is now prowling the backfield in a maroon and white jersey. Langston pulled down two interceptions in Saturday's win for the Bulldogs.

   The first pick came in the second quarter off a pass from Memphis quarterback Ryan Williams. Langston pulled it down and added a 13-yard return.

   The second pick came in the third quarter off a short toss from Williams. Langston finished with a short 2-yard return.

The Front Line

   Mississippi State racked up 569 yards of total offense in Saturday’s win. This speaks as much to the offensive line as it does to the skill players. The Bulldog front five were literally pushing people around all night while only giving up one sack.

   This an experienced bunch out front for the Bulldogs. Center J.C. Brignone and left tackle Derek Sherrod are both seniors and leaders on this team.

Defensive Stance

   Mississippi State’s defense had a stellar night only giving up 237 yards of total offense to Memphis. That’s less yards than Russell alone threw for, not counting starter Chris Relf’s passing yards and all of MSU’s rushing yards. They held Memphis scoreless for the first 58 minutes and 39 seconds of the game. Memphis only managed nine first downs compared to MSU’s 28.

The Cowbell Question

   State’s Saturday contest versus Memphis was not an SEC game, therefore the SEC’s new ‘cowbell policy’ did not apply. However, I thought it might be interesting to get the opinions of everyday fans on the ‘cowbell policy’ at Davis Wade.

   “I like it legal, but it’s really no different than Tennessee playing ‘Rocky Top’ or the rooster crowing at South Carolina,” said Jonathan from Florence. “All schools have noise. We’re a small stadium anyway. They should just let us do it.”

   The general consensus seemed to be a laissez faire attitude toward the policy.

   “I’m indifferent,” said Brian from Ripley, Tenn. “It won’t stop anything.”

   “I don’t feel like its going to do a whole lot,” said Clay from Corinth.

   To be fair, I included a few Memphis fans in my survey.

   “Can I tell you how I feel about the policy after the game,” said James from Memphis.

   The real test will come Thursday night when MSU hosts Auburn in its first SEC action of the season.

Maroon Nation

   The final attendance count at Saturday’s Mississippi State home game versus Memphis came in at 56,032. Davis Wade Stadium officially holds 55,082.

   “I give our fans a lot of credit,” said MSU coach Dan Mullen. “I thank all the fans.”

   It was the largest opening day crowd ever recorded at Davis Wade for a non-conference opener.

Text Only

Sports

Rockets defused by Yellowjackets
Neshoba Central's Victoria Stewart got the inbound pass with 12 seconds. The Starkville defender pressed her toward the sideline, but Stewart would have none of it. The senior raced up the middle of the floor, studdered and headed right toward the basket. The senior jumped and layed the ball off of the backboard. The roar of the crowd told her what she needed to know - the shot went in and overtime loomed.

February 10, 2012
Area Roundup: KA girls keep rolling
February 10, 2012
Knights advance to title round
The West Lauderdale Lady Knights survived a scare against the Laurel Tornadoes beating them 54-51. The Lady Knights came back from a first half 13 point deficit to ultimately claim their spot in the 5-4A division title game. “I am so proud of our girls,” said Lady Knights coach Amy Fairchild. “This is by far the best game that we have ever had since I have been the WL coach here.”

February 10, 2012
Choctaw, SEL advance to title game
As expected, Choctaw Central and Southeast Lauderdale will meet tonight for the Division 5-3A Tournament girls’ championship.
But the old rivals advanced to the tourney finals in very different fashion here Thursday night.

February 10, 2012
Kemper survives Southeast Lauderdale in OT
Southeast Lauderdale’s boys were hoping to ride the momentum of one of their most impressive victories of the season.
Kemper County was simply looking to survive and advance. In the end, the Wildcats did so – barely.

February 10, 2012
All-American
Kemper County High School basketball standout Devonta Pollard made his desire to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game no secret – mentioning it as a goal on more than one occasion during the last couple of seasons.
Thursday afternoon, that goal became a reality.

February 10, 2012
Clarkdale downs Puckett at buzzer
Crystal Clay barely beat the final horn, but her shot in the lane carried Clarkdale to a 48-46 MHSAA Division 6-2A semifinal win over Puckett on Thursday.

February 10, 2012
Young Eagles expect some growing pains in 2012
The 2012 edition of the Meridian Community fast-pitch team will sport a multitude of new faces when it hits the field Friday for its season opener. The Eagles lost seven sophomores from last year as well as two returning freshmen.

February 9, 2012
Meridian splits with Southern Shreveport
The Meridian Community College Eagles won its second straight Miss-Lou Conference game by defeating Southern Shreveport by a final score of 68-66.

February 9, 2012
Back in the spotlight
SCOOBA – Sporting a current 12-game winning streak, the East Mississippi Community College men’s basketball team has re-entered the NJCAA Division I Top 20 tied for 19th nationally in this week’s poll. Head coach Mark White’s 15-2 EMCC Lions tipped off the current season ranked seventh nationally on the strength of back-to-back NJCAA National Tournament appearances in Hutchinson, Kan.

February 9, 2012
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Russell delivers for MSU

Site Map

Contact Us