STARKVILLE — Chris Relf said he”s isn”t worried about playing a college football game close to his hometown of Montgomery, Ala.
The Mississippi State fifth-year senior quarterback has more important things on his mind.
“There”s no pressure,” Relf said. “I”ve been playing the game of college football for five years, so I”m just going to go out there and execute.”
Relf, who has said the past two Southeastern Conference Media Days he gets most excited to play against the University of Alabama, not Auburn, said he isn”t worried about getting friends and family tickets for No. 16 MSU”s game at 11:21 a.m. Saturday (WCBI) at Auburn University”s Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“I guess not all of them are going to get to come, I only get four tickets,” Relf said. “I”m just worried about winning.”
Relf was 13-for-21 for 202 yards and two touchdowns in a season-opening 59-14 victory at the University of Memphis on Sept. 1. MSU coach Dan Mullen said he likes the fact his team has a veteran quarterback going into a hostile Southeastern Conference environment.
“It”s good having experience and having guys that have been in the situation before that know how to handle the frenzy that is game day in the SEC,” Mullen said.
Mullen isn”t concerned Relf is going to be less than 60 miles from home Saturday because he played at Auburn as a sophomore and felt those nerves in a 49-24 loss. Relf was 5 of 11 for 77 yards with two interceptions.
“When you get to be a senior, you know how to block all that stuff out,” Mullen said.
Auburn coach Gene Chizik said his defensive staff is focused on Relf”s ability as a runner, senior tailback Vick Ballard, and versatile athlete LaDarius Perkins.
“Chris is incredibly different, incredibly confident, and very poised,” Chizik said. “They”ve had a lot of success since we played them. The difference in this offense at this point in time versus this point in time last year is night and day.”
LB Ducksworth is MSU”s newest commitment
Lelland Ducksworth became the 18th member of MSU”s 2012 recruiting class when he gave his verbal commitment to the Bulldogs coaches
The three-star linebacker from North Forrest attended MSU”s Big Dawg
Camp in July and had offers from the University of Mississippi, Southern Mississippi, Memphis, and Louisiana Tech.
“It”s a nice campus and all the coaches make you feel at home,” Ducksworth said before leaving the camp. “That makes for a happy heart when it comes to being in this stuff.”
North Forrest coach Matt Caldwell confirmed the news of Ducksworth”s commitment to The Dispatch via text message Wednesday evening.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker is averaging six tackles per game this season. He led the Eagles last season with 537 rushing yards and 6.37 yards per carry. Rivals.com rates Ducksworth the 13th-best player in the state of Mississippi this season.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.