Mississippi State demolishes Tigers
Five first-half TDS boost Bulldogs in 55-10 rout
STARKVILLE — Earlier in the season, a game such as Saturday’s might not have gone so routinely.
Mississippi State football played down to its opponent in the season opener against Louisiana Tech, needing a fourth-quarter comeback to avoid an upset. The Bulldogs lost to Memphis two weeks later.
But this Mississippi State team isn’t the same as it was at the onset of the season, when inconsistency plagued the squad. There was no doubting Saturday’s winner, with the Bulldogs (7-4) erupting out of the starting gate to beat Tennessee State, 55-10, pouring on five first-half touchdowns and allowing coach Mike Leach to rest his starters in the second half.
With a short week to prepare for the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss on Thursday, the tuneup against the FCS Tigers (5-6) went about as well as it could’ve gone. Here are four takeaways from the lopsided win.
Records falling fast
It took one drive for quarterback Will Rogers to break the first of Dak Prescott’s records. With a 21-yard loft to Austin Williams into the end zone, Rogers fired his 30th touchdown pass of the season, surpassing Prescott’s 29 in 2015.
And one drive later, Rogers beat Prescott’s single-season passing yards mark of 3,793 yards. Rogers had entered needing 72 yards to reach that level. He had no trouble.
Rogers has been dominant this season. He led the Bulldogs’ comeback victory against Auburn last week, throwing six touchdowns. And on Saturday, he faced no dropoff despite the weaker competition, finishing with 391 yards and five touchdowns.
The sophomore also found wide receiver Makai Polk nine times, with the final heave a 50-yard touchdown that gave Polk 88 receptions this season — tying Fred Ross’ program record set in 2015.
Suffocating defense
Even if Tennessee State quarterback Geremy Hickbottom hadn’t been injured and unavailable for Saturday’s game, the Tigers’ offense would’ve still been outclassed by Mississippi State.
As it was, Tennessee State used Chayil Garnett to start. But after he managed just 42 passing yards, coach Eddie George switched to Deveon Bryant. The results were marginally better, with Bryant throwing for 128 yards, 55 of which came on one completion to Cam Wyche to begin the fourth quarter.
But on the next play, Bryant fumbled near the goal line, and linebacker Jett
Johnson scooped up the ball for Mississippi State.
The Tigers broke the shutout later in the fourth with a 43-yard field goal from James Lowery, but the Bulldogs’ defense was smothering. Tyrus Wheat was especially disruptive, with three tackles for loss. Tennessee State managed just 44 yards in the first half and finished with 205.
The backups get a Chance
Late in the third quarter, with the game already well out of reach, Rogers took off his helmet. He shook several hands, left the huddle and walked to the
sideline.
Chance Lovertich took Rogers’ place, and one play later, running back Dillon Johnson broke a run for a 32-yard touchdown. Lovertich and the secondteam offense moved the ball well enough, already with the score line in place.
The senior from Brandon finished with 102 yards and led the Bulldogs down the field for two field goals. Several other backups made plays, including running back
Omni Wells, who took a dump-off pass 40 yards. Wide receiver Carson Banks broke up field on a hitch for a 23yard catch and run.