Bulldogs pull away late from pesky Minutemen
MSU shakes off slow start
MISSISSIPPI STATE 47, UMASS 35
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Dan Mullen walked off the podium deep in Gillette Stadium. Before exiting, Mississippi State’s eighth-year coach brought each of his index fingers to his mouth to create a smile after a 4735 win against UMass on Saturday.
“It’s great to get a win and put a big smile on our faces,” Mullen said. “I told everybody they better have smiles on their face.”
Mississippi State avoided a 1-3 start for the first time under Mullen, but it wasn’t the 22-point blowout Las Vegas predicted.
The first half brought back memories of MSU’s Week 1 loss to South Alabama, which was a 28-point underdog. With less than two minutes until halftime, UMass led 14-6.
The Bulldogs (2-2) didn’t create separation from the Minutemen (1-3) until late in the third quarter when they scored three touchdowns in 4 minutes, 28 seconds.
“That’s how young a team we are,” Mullen said. “Are we supposed to smile? But I made a mistake. Yeah, we won a game. Enjoy it.”
Nick Fitzgerald rushed for 96 yards and completed 17 of 26 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown in the first half. MSU outgained UMass 309-166. Yet, the Minutemen led 14-13. The Bulldogs’ lone first-half touchdown came in a drive at the end of the half that lasted 1:20 after UMass had increased its lead to 14-6.
“It was huge,” Fitzgerald said. “I think that was more of a confidence boost more than anything going into halftime.”
UMass had the lead but only one first down in the first quarter. It didn’t pick up its second until midway through the second quarter. Of its 166 first-half yards, 83 came on Marquis Young’s first-quarter touchdown.
Mississippi State’s play picked up with 9:33 remaining in the third quarter. Fitzgerald completed a 46-yard strike to Fred Ross to give MSU its first lead since 3-0. UMass responded, but the Bulldogs threw a knockout punch with 21 consecutive points.
Aeris Williams put the Bulldogs up for good with a 16-yard touchdown run. Jamoral Graham returned an interception 38 yards, and Fitzgerald capped it with a 13-yard strike to Farrod Green to make it 41-21.
The momentum didn’t carry into the fourth quarter. UMass opened the final 15 minutes with two touchdowns to pull to within 41-35 with less than five minutes remaining. Fitzgerald guided the Bulldogs to another TD and finished with 299 yards passing with three touchdowns and 110 yards rushing.
“After all the momentum, young guys, they’ve gotta learn, you’ve gotta keep going,” Mullen said. “It’s the next play. That’s all the matters. Not even the next, it’s this play.”