SEC Throwback Game: Mississippi State edges Miami (OH) in 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl

After a 5-7 regular season in what was only the second losing year in Starkville under head coach Dan Mullen, the Mississippi State Bulldogs snuck their way into a bowl game at the conclusion of the 2016 campaign, where they would face the Miami (OH) RedHawks in the 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl.

Let’s take a look back at that contest between the Bulldogs and RedHawks, a game that required a blocked field goal late in the fourth quarter to preserve a narrow Mississippi State win.

SEC Throwback Game: Mississippi State edges Miami (OH) in 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl

The matchup for the 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl featured Mississippi State (5-7) and Miami (OH) (6-6), with the game played from Tropicana Field in Saint Petersburg, FL on December 26, 2016. At the time, the Bulldogs were coming off a 3-5 mark in conference play to finish tied-fifth in the SEC West, while Miami (OH) went 6-2 in conference play to finish tied-first in the MAC East.

To begin the game, Miami (OH) would receive the opening kickoff, and would march down the field in nine plays to take an early 3-0 lead due to an 18-yard field goal from kicker Nick Dowd. Across the remainder of the first quarter however, both teams would struggle offensively, which resulted in three-straight punts, as well as a fumble from the RedHawks to open the second quarter.

After a three-and-out to open the second quarter for Mississippi State, the RedHawks would go down the field in eight plays, which resulted in a six-yard touchdown pass from Gus Ragland to James Gardner, with the PAT however blocked to make the score, 9-0 Miami (OH). The Bulldogs would respond with a nine-play drive that resulted in a turnover on downs, and after a resulting three-and-out from the RedHawks, Mississippi State would finally find the scoreboard inside a minute remaining with a Nick Fitzgerald two-yard touchdown run, making the score 9-7 Miami (OH) at halftime.

To open the second half, Mississippi State would go on to punt after seven plays, with Miami (OH) going on an eight-play drive to find the end zone once again, with Ragland connecting with Ryan Smith for a one-yard touchdown pass to make the score, 16-7. Mississippi State would however respond with a nine-play drive of their own to find the end zone, with Fitzgerald eventually breaking free for a 44-yard touchdown run to make the score, 16-14, with a little over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

After a Miami (OH) interception on the ensuing drive, which also opened the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs would go down the field to take the lead with 12:03 remaining, as kicker Westin Graves drilled a 36-yard field goal to put Mississippi State up, 17-16. After drives in which both teams turned the ball over on downs, Miami (OH) would get the ball back with 3:20 remaining on the clock, setting up an entertaining finish to the 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl.

The RedHawks would eventually go on a nine-play drive down the field to set up a go-ahead 37-yard field goal from Dowd in the games final seconds, but the kick would be blocked by Nelson Adams, giving Mississippi State the narrow 17-16 win.

Statistically for Mississippi State, the Bulldogs would be out-gained in total yardage, 433-335, during the contest, but would commit only two penalties all game, while also forcing two Miami (OH) turnovers compared to none for them.

This would also be the final performance of what was an impressive breakout 2016 season for Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who was by-far the Bulldogs top rusher amassing 132 yards and two touchdowns on 18 attempts. Fitzgerald would also complete 13-of-26 passes for 136 yards.

As a result of the contest, Mississippi State would conclude the 2016 season at 6-7, which, as mentioned previously, would be only the second losing season of the Mullen era in Starkville, with the other having come back in 2009 (5-7).