Kevin Fant enjoys his MSU return

By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Sept. 16, 2002
STARKVILLE The Mississippi State fans had been waiting the entire offseason to see quarterback Kevin Fant take the field and on Saturday in Starkville. The fans were not disappointed.
The junior from Moss Point returned from a one-game suspension and proved that his performances at the end of last season were no fluke.
Fant threw for 336 yards to lead the Bulldogs to a 51-13 win over the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State on Saturday night.
Fant finished the game with some very big stats, but the first couple of series were not at all impressive. He missed a couple of wide open receivers to start the game and seemed to hold onto the ball too long. The early mistakes made Fant 0-for-5 in the first quarter.
He seemed to start settling down in the second quarter. Fant found Terrell Grindle on a long 50-yard touchdown pass in the quarter and also hit Grindle with another pass later in the half. Grindle took the pass and broke a few tackles on his way to another 50-yard gain.
Fant went into half 8-for-17 with 202 yards passing. He also had two touchdowns at this point in the game after hitting Fred Reid with a touchdown pass later in the half.
The third quarter was just as impressive for the junior. He was 4-for-4 in the quarter and passed for another 100 yards. The big play of the quarter was an 89-yard touchdown pass to Ray Ray Bivines. The completion set an MSU record as the longest completion in the history of the program.
Fant played a little longer in the fourth quarter before giving way to backup Kyle York, but finished the night with some very big numbers. He was 15-for-26 for 336 yards and three touchdowns on the night. Not a bad game for someone that didn't complete a pass in the first quarter.
He will need another good performance when the Tigers come to town on Thursday night.