Will Rogers threw a career-high four touchdown passes as visiting Mississippi State routed Vanderbilt 45-6 in an SEC game Saturday.
Rogers completed 42 of 58 passes for 386 yards for the Bulldogs (4-3, 2-2 SEC), who bounced back from a blowout loss to Alabama last week. Rogers connected with a season-best 13 receivers and easily overcame two interceptions.
MSU has won the last five meetings with the Commodores by a combined score of 152-40.
Mike Wright, making his second consecutive start at quarterback in place of injured Ken Seals, completed 12 of 17 for 122 yards with an interception for Vanderbilt (2-6, 0-4) lost its 17th consecutive SEC game.
MSU outgained the Commodores 524-155 and had 29 first downs to just five for Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs possessed the ball for 39 minutes.
One of Rogers’ few mistakes came when he threw an interception on the Bulldogs’ first possession of the third quarter. That led to Joseph Bulovas’ 41-yard field goal that trimmed MSU’s lead to 24-6.
Rogers rebounded with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Malik Heath that gave the Bulldogs a 31-6 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Jo’quavious Marks’ 5-yard run produced MSU’s only touchdown that didn’t come on a pass, pushing the lead to 38-6 early in the fourth quarter.
Chance Lovertich replaced Rogers late in the fourth quarter and threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Rara Thomas with 51 seconds left.
MSU drove to a 9-yard touchdown pass from Rogers to Makai Polk on the first possession of the game.
Brandon Ruiz added a 36-yard field goal that increased the lead to 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Bulovas kicked a 27-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter to pull Vanderbilt within 10-3.
Rogers and Polk combined on a 31-yard touchdown pass that gave the Bulldogs a 17-3 lead.
On third-and-goal, Rogers threw a six-yard touchdown to Rufus Harvey for a 24-3 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
