Mississippi State quarterback Chris Relf took the snap on Auburn’s 2-yard line Sept. 10 with his team trailing by seven points and nine seconds left on the clock.
Relf had three options on the play. He could throw it, he could pitch it or he could run it himself. He chose to keep it, ran left and met an Auburn defender, who kept him inches from the goal line.
That tackle held the Bulldogs from victory despite Relf’s best efforts — he threw for 195 yards and ran for 106 more.
“I thought he played well, with a lot of confidence,” said Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen after the game. “He made the call on the last play. He had three options, and he chose the run. I like that. I liked the confidence in Chris. Chris said he felt great about the run call, and the kid made a heck of an open field game.”
Those expectations surrounding the Mississippi State program have changed in large part due to the offensive spark Relf provides.
The 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior keeps defenses off balance with his ability to run and pass on any given play. Although he’s built a reputation as a run-first quarterback, LSU coach Les Miles said his passing ability has improved significantly.
“Chris Relf is an all-around quarterback,” Miles said. “He throws the ball better. He certainly is the field general you want. He’s a very physical runner. He handles the ball well and does everything that you need to have happen at the quarterback game.”
Relf still possesses the threat to scramble from the pocket, drawing comparisons to Heisman Trophy winners Cam Newton and Tim Tebow. Sophomore defensive tackle Michael Brockers said Relf’s running ability has served as a big portion of the defense’s game plan.
“When you got a guy that can run and throw, we just got to box him in,” Brockers said. “We got to make him throw. If we box him in, we stop the run and make him have to throw.
That’s why we have quick safeties and attack.”
 
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Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]