College Sports

Mississippi State beats Tulsa 28-26 in Armed Forces Bowl

Posted December 31, 2020 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers (2) hands the ball to running back Jo'Quavious Marks (21) against Tulsa during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert) The Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - True freshman Will Rogers scored his first rushing touchdown of the season and had a 13-yard TD pass to lead Mississippi State past No. 22 Tulsa 28-26 on Thursday in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Jo'quavious Marks scored a rushing touchdown on the game's first possession and Emmanuel Forbes returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown for the Bulldogs (4-7), who finished the season with a second straight win in a game played at TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium in steady rain and temperatures in the upper 30s.

Forbes' third-quarter touchdown was initially called back on an illegal blocking penalty, but the Big Ten Conference officiating crew reversed its ruling to a penalty on Tulsa.

Deneric Prince and Corey Taylor II scored rushing touchdowns, Zach Smith had a 15-yard TD pass to Keylon Stokes and Zack Long kicked field goals of 27 and 33 yards for Tulsa (6-3, No. 24 CFP).

Tulsa pulled to within 21-19 with 12:30 left on Taylor's 5-yard run, but Smith's two-point conversion pass intended for Stokes was broken up in the end zone. Mississippi State answered with Rogers' 13-yard throw to Lideatrick 'œTulu'ť Griffin to go ahead 28-19.

Smith's 15-yard scoring pass to Stokes came with 1:23 to play.

THE TAKEAWAY

Tulsa: A team that was picked to finish ninth in the 11-team American Athletic Conference played in the league championship game, losing to Cincinnati on a last-second field goal. The Golden Hurricane will wait to see if they finish in the final AP Top 25 of the season for the first time since 2010.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs played in their school-record 11th consecutive bowl thanks to pandemic qualification exemptions. The four wins are the Bulldogs' fewest since 2008, the last of Sylvester Croom's five seasons coaching in Starkville.

UP NEXT

Tulsa: Among the seniors who have committed to returning in 2021 are running back Shamari Brooks, fifth in program career rushing despite missing all of 2020 with an ACL injury, and free safety TieNeal Martin. Next season, the Golden Hurricane will visit Oklahoma State and Ohio State.

Mississippi State: For all of coach Mike Leach's Air Raid offenses at various stops, Rogers was his first true freshman quarterback. The Bulldogs' Southeastern Conference home schedule should include visits by Alabama and Mississippi.

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Tulsa running back Corey Taylor II (24) runs the ball against Mississippi State during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert) The Associated Press

Mississippi State running back Jo'Quavious Marks (21) runs past Tulsa safety Kendarin Ray (1) for a touchdown during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert) The Associated Press

Tulsa wide receiver JuanCarlos Santana (5) catches the ball in front of Mississippi State cornerback Martin Emerson (1) during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert) The Associated Press

Mississippi State wide receiver Austin Williams (85) runs past Tulsa safety Kendarin Ray (1) after a catch during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert) The Associated Press

Tulsa running back Deneric Prince (8) dives past the goal line for a touchdown in between Mississippi State safety Collin Duncan (19) and safety Shawn Preston Jr. (12) during the second half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert) The Associated Press

Tulsa wide receiver Cannon Montgomery (20) holds the ball as place kicker Zack Long (90) kicks a field goal against Mississippi State during the first half of the Armed Forces Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert) The Associated Press

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