Top 10 Moments of 2013, #2: Dak Prescott’s Egg Bowl

Nov 28, 2013; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) advances the ball during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs defeat the Mississippi Rebels with a score of 17-10 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

With so much hinging on the Egg Bowl, it only makes sense that something from the Egg Bowl take the number two spot.

And nothing from the Egg Bowl was more memorable than Dak Prescott’s game saving performance.

We could have gone with a lot of things. We could have used the huge stop that Chris Jones put on Robert Nkemdiche. We could have used the stop gap performance that Damian Williams gave us. We could have talked endlessly about Whitley’s strip of Wallace that will forever be known as #Wallacing. We had lots of options, but there wasn’t anything that came close to what Dak did in that game.

It’s well known the circumstances surrounding Dak Prescott’s entry into this game. Prescott was injured at the end of the Texas A&M game. He was ruled out for both Arkansas and Alabama. He was initially declared out for the Egg Bowl, but was finally given clearance to play the game on gameday. Despite Damian Williams’ best effort, the offense was completely unproductive while he was in the game. The interception that Williams threw at the beginning of the 4th quarter was the final push that Mullen needed to turn to Prescott.

It isn’t surprising that Prescott played well. What is surprising is that he played so well despite no real football action in almost three weeks. He came in virtually ice cold, and provided the team the offensive spark they needed to tie the game up, and won the game almost by himself. Considering everything that Prescott went through in November, it warmed Bulldog fans to see Dak have such a great end to his month. He lost his mother at the beginning of the month, had to sit the next two game, but led his team to victory in the most important game of the season. As soon as he stepped on the field, so many bulldog fans just felt like Mississippi State was going to find a way to win, one way or another. He certainly didn’t disappoint.

As Mississippi State takes the field at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN in two days, there are lot of reasons why Mississippi State was able to work their way into an unexpected bowl game. Dak Prescott’s performance in the Egg Bowl is certainly one of those reasons. People may argue as to what the most important moment in this season was, it’s hard to say there was one that was more memorable.