For Mississippi State sophomore quarterback Will Rogers, four-touchdown games have almost become the norm.
He’s had three such games in his past four outings, including six unanswered touchdowns Saturday in a 25-point comeback win on the road against No. 17 Auburn. It was the largest comeback in the program’s history. Rogers’ six touchdowns were also a single-game record for the program.
>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<
🐶 415 Pass Yds
🐶 6 Pass TD
🐶 25-point comeback vs. AuburnWhat a day for Will Rogers. What a game for the @HailStateFB. pic.twitter.com/1hpuyxT7Hj
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 13, 2021
Sporting eye black in the shape of a cross under his left eye and a Fellowship of Christian Athletes wristband, Rogers thanked God on the field after the game.
“I gotta thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for just putting me in this position,” Rogers told the SEC Network. “I have great teammates and great coaches offensively and defensively. … I love this team. We’re never out of the fight with anything that we do. We play hard and we play through the fourth quarter.”
The 43-34 victory ensured Mississippi State (6-4) will be in a bowl game for the 12th straight year. It was also their third win against a ranked opponent this season (the Bulldogs also beat Texas A&M and Kentucky) and their third win in their last four games.
With two regular-season games left, Rogers has thrown for 29 touchdowns, eight interceptions and 3,722 yards (second most in the country) while completing 75.7 percent of his passes (best in the country). His quarterback rating is currently 148.6.
Rogers has been a primary beneficiary of Mississippi State’s offensive scheme under second-year coach Mike Leach. In only his first two years playing college football, Rogers is already vaulting up the Bulldog record books. He’s fourth in program history in both total passing yards and total touchdowns. Among regular starters, Rogers currently has the best completion percentage and the second-best quarterback rating behind only Dak Prescott.
Last week, the 20-year-old Brandon, Mississippi, native was named one of 20 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, one of the highest awards a college quarterback can receive, and his performance against Auburn earned him honors as the Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week and the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
Rogers has been vocal about his faith in Christ amid his rise to national prominence. He says he is “Saved by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” in his Instagram bio and “Saved by Jesus Christ” in his Twitter bio.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
I hope everyone has a blessed week. Take comfort in knowing that the lord is in control and wants what is best for you.— Will Rogers (@Wrogers__2) October 11, 2021
“I feel that the Good Lord is blessing me to be in the position that I’m in,” Rogers said in a 2019 article for the Mississippi Scoreboard. “I’m not in this position for my wants or my desires, but I’m in this position to serve Him and expand His Kingdom.”
As Rogers seeks to glorify God with his platform as a starting quarterback in the SEC, next up for him and his Bulldog teammates is a home game against Tennessee State (5-5) on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET.
RELATED STORIES:
– Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker authors Bible-based comic book, ‘Scripture for Athletes’
– Cowboys QB Dak Prescott tosses game-winning TD as he seeks to walk by faith
– WATCH: Liberty QB Malik Willis on listening to God amid the hype
– Mississippi St. wins College World Series, star Tanner Allen says ‘God is so good’
– SS PODCAST: Matt Wyatt – radio host, former Mississippi St. QB
