Mississippi

Why Jeff Lebby turned to Kamario Taylor, benched Blake Shapen for Egg Bowl

Published

4 weeks ago

November 28, 2025

Why Jeff Lebby turned to Kamario Taylor, benched Blake Shapen for Egg Bowl

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby said he thought hard about the team’s quarterback situation the day after its 49-27 loss to Missouri on Nov. 15.

Then he made the decision that many fans had been wanting. He benched quarterback Blake Shapen for freshman Kamario Taylor.

The Bulldogs kept the decision under wraps until Taylor trotted onto the field as the starter in the 2025 Egg Bowl. It was his first career start as MSU (5-7, 1-7 SEC) lost 38-19 to No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1) at Davis Wade Stadium on Nov. 28.

Shapen had been Mississippi State’s quarterback in all of the other games.

“Really, really hard decision for me,” Lebby said. “As we got back from Missouri, thought about it nonstop on Sunday. For me, as hard as it was to make, the results hadn’t been what we needed. For us, I felt like things had not been great for us up front. Who’s the guy that has the ability to make a couple of plays when things aren’t perfect?

“(Taylor) had done some good things, and I felt like it was the right time. For me, it was incredibly hard because of my love for Blake, his toughness and how he has led and continued to be exactly who he’s supposed to be. For me, really hard, but beginning of last week we made that decision.”

Taylor, a former four-star recruit from Noxubee County, led MSU on an opening-drive touchdown, but the offense was inconsistent for the rest of the game until a second touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Taylor completed 15 of 31 pass attempts for 178 yards and one interception that tipped off the hands of two players. Where he was most impactful though was as a runner with 173 yards and two touchdowns.

“I was kind of nervous when he announced it,” Taylor said. “He didn’t announce it to the whole team, but he just told me. He asked me if I was nervous, and I told him nah, I wasn’t. But like, I was nervous.

“I knew that God gave me this ability to go showcase the things he allows me to do. I was pretty confident, but I was nervous, especially playing in a big game like that.”

How Blake Shapen handled getting benched for Kamario Taylor

Shapen not playing in the Egg Bowl meant the graduate senior’s career ended with a benching.

He played four seasons at Baylor before transferring to MSU in 2024. Shapen was the starter last season too, until suffering a season-ending fractured shoulder blade in Week 4.

“I’m sure really hard,” Lebby said. “Incredibly hard. Blake’s poured a lot into this and he’s been an unbelievably consistent person inside our building for two years. And he’s been through a lot.

“For him not to have the ability to go do it today is hard for him. And it’s hard for me because of who he’s been, his toughness and how he has absolutely laid it on the line for me and this university. It’s really hard for him and hate that this was the end for him.”

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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Mississippi

Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 24, 2025

Published

4 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Press Room

Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 24, 2025

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 24, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

01-09-15-24-25

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 1-8-0, FB: 3

Evening: 0-8-5, FB: 3

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 5-4-3-3, FB: 3

Evening: 3-2-5-4, FB: 3

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 11

Evening: 09

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Story continues below gallery.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.

Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:

Mississippi Lottery Corporation

P.O. Box 321462

Flowood, MS

39232

If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.

Mississippi Lottery Headquarters

1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100

Flowood, MS

39232

Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.

When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?

Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Mississippi

Mississippi man who thought he was communicating with teen girl arrested by FBI

Published

16 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Mississippi man who thought he was communicating with teen girl arrested by FBI

CARTHAGE, Miss. (WLBT) – A Carthage, Mississippi, man was arrested by the FBI unit in Jackson.

FBI Jackson released on Christmas Eve that the man was apprehended after he communicated with someone he believed to be a 15‑year‑old girl from Taylor County, Texas.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Leake County Sheriff’s Office, Choctaw Police Department, and the Carthage Police Department assisted with the arrest.

No further information was released.

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See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.

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Mississippi

Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 23, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 23, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

04-10-12-20-23

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

Midday: 5-1-5, FB: 1

Evening: 4-6-9, FB: 2

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

Midday: 0-2-8-7, FB: 1

Evening: 4-3-6-6, FB: 2

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

Midday: 13

Evening: 13

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Story continues below gallery.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.

Mississippi Lottery Corporation

P.O. Box 321462

Flowood, MS

39232

Mississippi Lottery Headquarters

1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100

Flowood, MS

39232

Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.

When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?

Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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