LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Mississippi State drew some inspiration Saturday from some players that suited up and found themselves less than 100 percent healthy.
In the Bulldogs’ 24-17 overtime win over Arkansas, the spotlight was on fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler Russell piling up a season-high 263 yards while dealing with a severely injured shoulder. Russell only participated in half of a Thursday practice to prepare for playing Saturday in a environment where MSU (5-6, 2-5 in Southeastern Conference) had never won in school history.
In the final drive of regulation that ended with a missed 42-yard field goal by Devon Bell, Russell took a violent shot from a Arkansas pass rusher that left him down on his stomach and unable to move the right side of his body. After the hit, Russell was forced to signal to the MSU training staff with his left hand only to come attend to him immediately.
Russell was less than 100 percent healthy after suffering a right shoulder injury trying to make a tackle late in the loss last week to No. 1 Alabama. He left the War Memorial Stadium locker room with his right arm in a sling as he stepped on the team bus.
“When you go 18 for 28 with 263 (yards) and two touchdown on half of a practice just shows…the type of kid he is,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said. “It shows how far he’s come, what he is and what he has meant to this program and what he gives to this program is pretty special.”
Mullen had no new information Sunday in his media teleconference on the injuries of his either Russell or sophomore Dak Prescott, who has been out for two games with a severely pinched nerve in his left arm affecting his neck.
However, Russell wasn’t the only co-captain on the team that was on the turf for a significant amount of time. After scoring on a 30-yard pass from Russell, senior tailback LaDarius Perkins was treated by the MSU training staff after he crossed the goal line. Perkins, who ended the afternoon with 70 total yards in two quarters, was hit hard by two Arkansas defenders that caused his body to helicopter into the end zone.
“He took a shot in the ribs there and (the training staff) was worried about him,” Mullen said. “But we trust the other guys.”
Mullen said Perkins was not severely injured and was told by the team doctors that he “could’ve gone back in the game” but decided to use a fresh and healthy Robinson in the second half.
Robinson came back from missing the first few days of practice last week to lead MSU in rushing with 101 yards on just 17 carries. The sophomore was one of many MSU players Mullen mentioned early that week that was suffering from flu-like symptoms and was being held out of practice for precautionary reasons.
“I had the flu at the beginning of the week, and I didn’t practice one day,” Robinson said. “So I guess that took a toll.”
Robinson managed to lead block for freshman quarterback Damian Williams’ 25-yard touchdown run on the first play of overtime. It was the first career college touchdown for Williams and after a four-down stop by MSU’s defense, proved to be the game winning score.
“I see my running back on the ground, that’s my brother. I’m (ticked) off,” Robinson said. “I’m going to go in the game. I mean, I’m going to give you the same and tell you that you just hit my teammate.”
P.J. Jones has gotten used to the walking boot he’s been wearing since MSU’s season opening loss to Oklahoma State in Houston. The junior defensive tackle easily shook off his nagging foot injury, which may require him to have the injury medically looked at when the 2013 season is over, to get four tackles and create a massive push for the defensive front all afternoon.
“We just came out with a defensive mindset to refuse to lose and I’m not sure how exactly, but we found a way to get the win,” Jones said as he shook his head in disbelief. “Sometimes you got to play hurt.”
Jones said he was inspired by the return of senior linebacker Deontae Skinner after he made it back to the starting lineup following a stinger injury that affected his spine. Skinner missed the Bulldogs losses to Texas A&M and Alabama while being held out by the MSU medical staff due to the pinched nerve causing slight swelling near his spine and neck area.
“That’s the warrior mentality we all have in the offseason that we can help the team, we all try our best to get out on the field with our teammates,” Jones said. “It’s not a special thing if everybody buys in and does it but you look back and realized how much certain people sacrificed.”
With less than five days to recover for the 2013 version of the Egg Bowl rivalry game with Ole Miss (6:30 p.m. Thursday, ESPN), MSU coaches are hoping these players can be rested and healthy enough to contribute as the Bulldogs look to earn bowl eligibility with one more win.
“This coaching staff will enjoy this game for about 10 minutes, I’m sure the kids will enjoy longer but we have to turn our attention to Thursday night don’t we?,” Mullen said after the victory.
Follow Matt Stevens on Twitter @matthewcstevens.
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