STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald left because of a right leg injury Thursday night in the first quarter of the Bulldogs' loss to rival Mississippi.
Jordan Ta'amu threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, Jordan Wilkins ran for 110 yards and two more scores and Ole Miss beat the 14th-ranked Bulldogs 31-28 to win the Egg Bowl.
Ole Miss (6-6, 3-5 SEC) is not eligible for a bowl because of a self-imposed postseason ban. But the Rebels instead ended their season on a high note by holding on to win the Egg Bowl for the third time in four seasons.
The game changed with Fitzgerald's injury. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Fitzgerald was running the ball when he was tackled and his leg bent awkwardly. He was carted off the field.
Fitzgerald came into the game leading the SEC in yards rushing for a quarterback, with 968 yards on the ground in 11 games. He also has thrown for 1,770 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Fitzgerald was replaced by freshman Keytaon Thompson, who has thrown for 66 yards and a touchdown this season. The Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4) were trailing 7-0 at the time of the injury.
Thompson completed 13 of 27 passes for 195 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He also ran 26 times for 121 yards.
Thompson scored a touchdown with 65 seconds left to get the Rebels within three points, but Mississippi recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
