STARKVILLE — Damian Williams’ role as a backup didn’t last long.
The Mississippi State junior quarterback served as Nick Fitzgerald’s backup Saturday at the start of the season-opening game against South Alabama at Davis Wade Stadium, but Williams entered the game after two series and led a touchdown drive on his first series. From there, Williams played all but one series and statistically had a solid day, but he and the Bulldogs came up on the short end of a 21-20 upset.
MSU coach Dan Mullen said Fitzgerald started because he graded higher.
“Our plan was two series and two series and see where we were at,” Mullen said. “I thought Nick went in and missed a read, but then had two dropped passes. Damian scored twice, so we just kind of let him get going at that point.”
MSU didn’t have to worry about a quarterback battle the last two seasons with Dak Prescott in Starkville. After breaking 38 school records, an injury to starting quarterback Tony Romo has Prescott in position to be the starting quarterback for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
Williams, who was redshirted last season, was 5 of 5 for 48 yards on his first series. He found Deddrick Thomas for a 4-yard touchdown that gave MSU a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Williams was 2 of 2 for 16 yards on his next series. Brandon Holloway capped that drive with a 10-yard touchdown. The score was Holloway’s first rushing touchdown since 2014, and second of his career.
Williams started the day 9 of 9 for 75 yards, and finished 20 of 28 for 143 yards and one touchdown. He led the Bulldogs with 93 yards rushing on 12 carries.
“He played hard,” MSU senior wide receiver Fred Ross said. “He gave it his all. He did everything the coaches asked of him. He ran the ball good and threw the ball good.”
After a hot start, Williams cooled off in the second half. The offense struggled to move the ball. Westin Graves missed a 46-yard field goal on the first possession of the second half. MSU then had back-to-back punts.
Mullen said the plan was to use Fitzgerald in the second half, but he never played.
“Damian was moving the offense and we decided to go with him,” Mullen said. “We were able to move the ball some, so I didn’t want to mess up our rhythm we had there offensively.”
Fitzgerald was 0 of 3 and had 11 yards rushing on two carries.
Trailing 21-20 with 57 seconds remaining, Williams led MSU down the field. He found Donald Gray for a 14-yard pass and then for an 8-yard pass to put the Bulldogs at the Jaguars’ 36-yard line. Williams then broke off a 13-yard run to put MSU at the 19. After picking up 8 yards on two runs to center the ball for kicker Westin Graves, Graves missed a potential 26-yard game-winning field goal.
Williams, who didn’t speak to media during training camp, declined the request to speak to the media after the game.
Even though Williams threw only eight incompletions, Mullen rarely dialed up a long pass play. He said the Bulldogs took what the Jaguars gave them.
“If they’re going to play you way off, then we’re going to go underneath,” Mullen said. “If they’re going to play all the way up, then we’re going to go over the top. That’s more of a decision made by the defense than us.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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