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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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 Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for June 17, 2026

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Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for June 17, 2026


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The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 17, 2026, results for each game:

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Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from June 17 drawing

03-06-10-13-24

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 17 drawing

Midday: 6-1-7, FB: 4

Evening: 6-4-0, FB: 5

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 17 drawing

Midday: 9-8-4-1, FB: 4

Evening: 9-1-2-3, FB: 5

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 17 drawing

Midday: 09

Evening: 11

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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.

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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

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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

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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 police shooting: How Walmart shoplifting call ended in baby’s death

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Mississippi police shooting: How Walmart shoplifting call ended in baby’s death


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The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating a shoplifting call that resulted in the death of a one-year-old child in Northwest Mississippi.

The incident, which occurred on June 14, has led the family to hire a civil rights attorney, and the officer involved is facing repercussions. Protests have also broken out in response to the city’s lack of action against the officers involved in the incident.

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Here is what to know about the situation so far.

Why were policed called to the Walmart in Senatobia?

On June 14, police were called to the Walmart on U.S. 51 in Senatobia regarding a shoplifting incident. Officers with the Senatobia Police Department and the Tate County Sheriff’s Office responded and, upon arrival, saw two subjects and a child fleeing from the store into a vehicle.

According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, officers attempted to stop the vehicle as the driver drove toward them. One officer shot into the car as the car fled the scene.

Later, the subjects arrived at the local hospital, where the child, 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, was pronounced dead and another subject had critical injuries.

What happened to the officer?

On June 16, the city of Senatobia announced the police officer who shot and killed Wiley was placed on leave.

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The announcement came shortly after police deployed tear gas on a group of protestors outside the Walmart where the incident took place. The Walmart was temporarily closed but reopened around 8:20 a.m., according to WMC Action News 5, The Commercial Appeal’s broadcast partner.

“We’re saddened by what took place at our Senatobia, MS, store,” a Walmart spokesperson told WMC. “The safety of our associates and customers is a top priority. We’re working with law enforcement as they continue investigating.”

Is the family taking legal action?

Wiley’s family retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, the attorney’s office announced on June 16.

“A 1-year-old child is dead because police officers in Mississippi opened fire on a car in a crowded Walmart parking lot,” said Crump in the statement. “Kohen Wiley was a baby. His mother, who has not been charged with any crime, says she was trying to communicate to officers that there was a baby in the car. They fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent 1-year-old. We intend to seek justice for baby Kohen and the life that was stolen from him.”

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Where is Senatobia?

Senatobia is roughly 40 miles directly south of Memphis and sits along Interstate 55 in Mississippi. According to the most recent Census, the city has a population of approximately 8,400 people.

Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com



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1-year-old child killed and 1 person injured after Mississippi police shoot at car

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1-year-old child killed and 1 person injured after Mississippi police shoot at car


A 1-year-old boy is dead and another person wounded after a Mississippi police officer shot at a vehicle while responding to a shoplifting call, according to authorities and the child’s grandfather.

The child’s mother, her friend and 1-year-old Kohen Wiley were in the vehicle during the shooting on Sunday, Marquell Bridges, a community advocate who is helping the family find legal representation, said. Wiley’s mother was physically unharmed, but her friend was seriously injured, said Bridges, the president and founder of an advocacy group called the Building Bridges Coalition.

The three had gotten into the vehicle after exiting a Walmart in Senatobia, according to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. As police tried to stop the vehicle, the driver drove toward them and almost hit an officer, according to the bureau, which is investigating the shooting. An officer then shot at the vehicle, which drove away.

The two women drove to a hospital, where Kohen was pronounced dead.

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Carlos Haynes described his grandson as a happy baby and said he was looking forward to watching him grow.

“Someone ended it all before it could even start,” Haynes said.

The Senatobia Police Department, which responded to the call, did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ inquiries.

“As the investigation progresses and facts are verified, we will share as much information as possible,” the department wrote in a Facebook post.

The Tate County Sheriff’s Office, which was also present during the shooting, declined to comment.

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Walmart said it is working with law enforcement during the investigation.

“We’re saddened by what took place at our Senatobia, MS, store,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement.

Senatobia is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Memphis, Tennessee.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.



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