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STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has run some variation of the spread offense since he arrived at the school eight years ago.This years version could be described in two words: Nick Fitzgerald.The 6-foot-5, 230-pound sophomore has been a one-man show for much of the season, including last Saturday when he threw for 417 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs 56-41 victory over Samford .The numbers are undeniably impressive. Even Dak Prescott -- the Bulldogs former quarterback who is now an NFL phenom with the Dallas Cowboys -- never had a college game with more than 400 yards passing and 100 yards rushing. There are only two QBs in SEC history who have accomplished that feat: Johnny Manziel and Archie Manning.But it remains to be seen whether Fitzgeralds version of hero ball can lead the Bulldogs to a Southeastern Conference victory during a difficult November that includes games against Texas A&M, Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi.Mississippi State (3-5, 1/3 SEC) hosts No. 7 Texas A&M (7-1, 4-1) on Saturday. IIf your quarterback is playing really well, youve got a chance to win, Mullen said. You go watch football on Friday night, Saturday or Sunday and its going to be the exact some deal.Fitzgerald -- a first-year starter -- has been a pleasant surprise for the Bulldogs in an otherwise lackluster season. Hes fourth in the SEC in total offense and leads all of the leagues quarterbacks with 657 yards rushing.Hes been a little inconsistent in the passing game, completing 56 percent of his passes for 1,496 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but his performance against Samford was an encouraging sign.Guys were getting open and I was just able to find a way to get it to them and they did the rest, Fitzgerald said on Saturday.The problem for Mississippi State is if Fitzgerald isnt putting up record-breaking numbers, the offense isnt very successful. Auburn, LSU and Kentucky were all able to hold Fitzgerald to reasonable numbers and the Bulldogs lost all three games.Texas A&Ms defense figures to be a tough challenge for Fitzgerald. The Aggies have some of the leagues most talented defensive linemen, including Daeshon Hall and Myles Garrett, who have combined for 19 tackles for loss this season.That means Fitzgerald will need some help. Where it comes from is uncertain.Receiver Donald Gray had a breakout performance against Samford, catching four passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. But a crowded backfield that includes Ashton Shumpert, Brandon Holloway, Keith Mixon, Nick Gibson and Aeris Williams hasnt produced a consistent performer.Fitzgeralds 657 yards rushing this season are more than the teams top three running backs -- Shumpert (231), Holloway (208) and Williams (206) -- combined.Mullen knows one thing: Since Texas A&M is second in the SEC with 38.4 points per game, the Bulldogs probably arent going to get locked into a defensive showdown. Fitzgerald -- and hopefully some other offensive players -- will have to produce.Obviously, when youre playing a team as explosive as Texas A&M, in the back of your mind, youre thinking youre going to have to score a lot of points, Mullen said.-----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP .---More AP College Football: www.collegefootball.ap.org . 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MINNEAPOLIS -- With their stagnant offense struggling the way it is, the Houston Astros cant afford the sort of defensive mistakes center fielder Carlos Gomez made Monday night.Tyler Duffey pitched six effective innings and Minnesota took advantage of two misplays by Gomez in a three-run fifth that sent the Twins to a 3-1 victory over Houston.Gomez, the former Twins outfielder, let Jorge Polancos single skip by him for a two-base error that allowed one run to score. Then he lost a fly ball off Juan Centenos bat, turning it into an RBI triple.Danny Santana followed with a run-scoring single, and Minnesota won for the seventh time in nine games.The first one was hit really hard and I missed (it) in my glove, and the second one, I (didnt) know where the ball was, Gomez said. We lost the game because of that. I feel worse than anyone in this clubhouse.Collin McHugh (7-9) gave up three runs and 10 hits in seven innings, losing his third straight start. Meanwhile, the Astros have dropped 10 of their past 13 games and are averaging 2.28 runs during that stretch.We didnt lose because of defensive blunders, McHugh said. We lost because I gave up 11 hits, 10 hits, something like that. They strung some hits together, put guys on base and scored more runs that we did. One or two plays isnt deciding the game tonight, thats for sure.Duffey (7-8) permitted one run on four hits and struck out eight. Three relievers combined for three hitless innings, and Brandon Kintzler finished for his 10th save in 11 chances.Eddie Rosario had three hits for Minnesota, which has come around after a dreadful first half of the season.Minnesota finished the first half as the worst team in the American League. But since July 2, the Twins have gone 21-12 and lead the majors in runs, hits, doubles and triples.With 50 games, weve got to keep playing. Kind of enjoying what were doing right now, for the most part, manager Paul Molitor said. I think theres a lot of energy, guys are having fun, a lot of joking going around, which is good as long as the focus is where it needs to be.Polanco, called up from the minors when the Twins traded All-Star infielder Eduardo Nunez to San Francisco, has hit .378 with six RBI in nine games since being recalled.Those guys are picking us up, Molitor said of Polanco, Rosario and Santana. Cant say enough about Polanco so far, just the quality of at-bats and what hes doing for us.ddddddddddddGOMEZS FUTUREGomez was 0 for 3, dropping his batting average to .210. Hinch wasnt sure about Gomezs playing time going forward and said the outfielder wouldnt be in the lineup on Tuesday.Obviously, Ill take a look at it and see how it goes, Hinch said. Weve been pretty beat up in a lot of ways and you keep trying to hang in there with guys. You want to encourage, more than anything. Clearly, its been a rough patch for him for a while.GURRIEL GOING UPHouston moved infielder Yulieski Gurriel to Double-A as he accelerates though the minors. Gurriel, a highly coveted Cuban free agent who signed with the Astros on July 16, is expected to make his way to the Astros this season.Gurriel was 6 for 14 (.429) with a home run and nine RBI in four games at Class A Lancaster.Hes definitely graduated past A-ball, Hinch said. He dominated that level. I think hes in spring training mode. Theres no way to train for this game other than to play it every day. His body seems to be on the uptick. I know his bat speed is good. The reports have been very favorable of how he moves around the field defensively.Hinch said Gurriel would stay at third base in the minors. When Gurriel is ready, Hinch said rookie third baseman Alex Bregman could be a moved around to utilize his versatility.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: 2B Jose Altuve was given the night off, snapping the longest active streak in the majors at 202 consecutive games played. ... Right-handed reliever Luke Gregerson (left oblique strain) was scheduled to throw off a mound, and Hinch said Gregerson is progressing nicely. Hinch expects Gregerson to throw a few more times before being activated from the DL and said a rehab assignment likely wont be needed. ... INF Luis Valbuena (right hamstring) is back in Houston and has done some increased running, Hinch said.Twins: Trevor Plouffe returned to the lineup after missing 32 games with a broken rib. Plouffe started at third base and went 1 for 4.UP NEXTHector Santiago (10-5, 4.37 ERA) makes his first home start for the Twins on Tuesday night after the left-hander was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline. Houston counters with RHP Mike Fiers (7-5, 4.34). ' ' '