Mississippi State beats Illinois in 1st game since coach Mike Leach’s death

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Massimo Biscardi made a 27-yard tiebreaking subject aim with 4 seconds left, Marcus Banks returned a fumble 60 yards for a landing on the sport’s final play and No. 24 Mississippi State rallied to beat Illinois 19-10 within the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday within the Bulldogs’ first sport since coach Mike Leach’s demise.

Banks’ rating got here on Illinois’ fifth lateral following a accomplished move after the Combating Ilini bought the ball at their very own 29. There was a scrum on the sector as the sport ended, however order was restored after a few minutes.

Will Rogers was 29 of 44 yards for 261 yards and one landing for Mississippi State (9-4, No. 22 CFP).

Tommy DeVito accomplished 23 of 34 passes for 253 yards for Illinois (8-5).

Reggie Love III rushed for 53 yards on 12 carries for Illinois. Combating Illini working again Chase Brown, the nation’s second-leading rusher within the common season with 1,643 yards, sat out to arrange for the NFL draft.

Mississippi State was held with no landing till the primary play of the fourth quarter, when Rogers linked on an eight-yard throw to Justin Robinson that tied the sport at 10.

The Bulldogs averaged 32.7 factors in the course of the common season.

Illinois, which entered permitting 12.3 factors and held six opponents to beneath 10 factors, performed with out defensive backs Devon Witherspoon and Sydney Brown. Each opted out forward of the NFL draft.

DeVito put Illinois up 7-0 on a two-yard run with 2:49 left within the second quarter.

Mississippi State responded with a 38-yard subject aim by Biscardi with 9 seconds to go within the first half.

IIlinois went up 10-3 on a 52-yard subject aim by Caleb Griffin halfway by way of the third.

Mississippi State was restricted to 50 yards on its first three possessions, whereas the following two ended on interceptions by Matthew Bailey and Kendall Smith.

Illinois tops the nation with 24 interceptions.

HONORING MIKE

Among the many tributes to Leach, who died on Dec. 12 as a consequence of problems from a coronary heart situation, was “MIKE” with a pirate emblem as a part of the “I” painted between the 20 and 30 on one section of the sector.

The Mississippi State band spelled out “LEACH” earlier than a second of silence was held earlier than the sport.

The Bulldogs had a pirate flag as an alternative of the college emblem on their helmets. Illinois’ helmet had a emblem just like what was painted on the sector.

Leach’s nickname was “The Pirate.”

UP NEXT

Mississippi State: Opens the 2023 regular-season on Sept. 2 towards Southeastern Louisiana.

Illinois: Hosts Toledo on Sept. 2.