|
|
MISSST |
LATECH |
Mississippi State easily handles Louisiana Tech 57-21
RUSTON, La. (AP) Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen took a long look at a sheet of statistics that included three blocked extra points, one blocked punt and an 87-yard fumble, and came to the same conclusion as thousands of other college football fans.
''It was a strange game at times, wasn't it,'' Mullen said.
It undeniably was. But it was also an enjoyable one for Mississippi State, which fought through some of those offbeat plays to easily beat Louisiana Tech 57-21 on Saturday night in an entertaining and sometimes bizarre non-conference win.
Mississippi State's Nick Fitzgerald threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more in some of the game's more conventional moments.
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was one who handled a few of the spectacular moments. He scored two touchdowns, one after blocking a punt and recovering the ball in the end zone, and another after recovering a fumble and running 90 yards for the touchdown. It was the first time a Mississippi State defensive player scored two touchdowns in a game since Johnthan Banks in 2009.
''The defense did my job about half the night for me,'' Fitzgerald said.
Mississippi State's relatively carefree evening of football didn't start out so well.
Louisiana Tech jumped out to a 9-0 lead, partly thanks to an errant Fitzgerald throw that was intercepted by Amik Robertson and returned to Mississippi State's 2-yard line. Two plays later Kam McKnight ran for a 1-yard touchdown.
That's where the good news ended for Louisiana Tech. Mississippi State (2-0) scored the next 36 points to push ahead 36-14 at halftime. Fitzgerald scored on a 44-yard run just 33 seconds into the second half to stretch the advantage to 43-14 and erase any doubt about the outcome.
''The defense really buckled down and completely shut them down,'' Mullen said. ''Then we started rolling on offense and hit some big, explosive plays and played well for the most part.''
The strangest play of the night happened early in the fourth quarter when Mississippi State already had a 57-14 lead. Louisiana Tech was driving down the field and at the Mississippi State 6-yard line when a bad snap set off a wild scrum for the football.
Multiple Mississippi State players tried to pick up the football, but instead kicked it farther down field. Louisiana Tech's Cee Jay Powell finally fell on the ball at the Bulldogs' own 6-yard line.
The final tally: An 87-yard loss that left Louisiana Tech facing a third-and-93 at their own 7. Not surprisingly, the Bulldogs couldn't convert.
''I hate the mistakes that we made,'' Louisiana Tech Skip Holtz said. ''The things we did - we shoot ourselves in the foot, which makes it very difficult to beat a very talented SEC team like Mississippi State.''
Fitzgerald threw for 124 yards and ran for 111 yards. Aeris Williams needed just nine carries for 107 yards rushing.
Louisiana Tech (1-1) was led by Boston Scott, who ran for 96 yards on 13 carries. J'Mar Smith completed 10 of 23 passes for 140 yards and an interception.
THE TAKEAWAY
Mississippi State: It was a rough start for the Bulldogs but they recovered in a hurry. The defense and special teams were outstanding while erasing the early 9-0 deficit and then the offense eventually found its footing. A much tougher task awaits next Saturday against LSU.
Louisiana Tech: A great start faded quickly for Louisiana Tech, which couldn't regain the momentum once it was lost on Saturday night. The Bulldogs struggled to throw the ball after some early success and once they became one-dimensional the Mississippi State defense was dominant.
UP NEXT
Mississippi State hosts No. 12 LSU in its Southeastern Conference opener next Saturday.
Louisiana Tech travels to face Western Kentucky in its Conference USA opener next Saturday.
-----
More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 .
Copyright 2017 by STATS. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
N. FitzgeraldĀ
7 QB
|
N. Fitzgerald | 12/18 | 124 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. ThompsonĀ
10 QB
|
K. Thompson | 1/2 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
N. FitzgeraldĀ
7 QB
|
N. Fitzgerald | 10 | 111 | 2 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ae. WilliamsĀ
22 RB
|
Ae. Williams | 9 | 107 | 0 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. HillĀ
8 RB
|
K. Hill | 10 | 62 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. GibsonĀ
21 RB
|
N. Gibson | 5 | 15 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. LeeĀ
28 RB
|
D. Lee | 2 | 15 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. ThompsonĀ
10 QB
|
K. Thompson | 2 | 11 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. ThomasĀ
18 WR
|
D. Thomas | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
Ae. WilliamsĀ
22 RB
|
Ae. Williams | 0 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. ThomasĀ
83 TE
|
J. Thomas | 0 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
G. MylesĀ
5 WR
|
G. Myles | 0 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. ThomasĀ
18 WR
|
D. Thomas | 0 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. GrayĀ
6 WR
|
D. Gray | 0 | 4 | 19 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Je. JacksonĀ
86 WR
|
Je. Jackson | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ju. JohnsonĀ
81 TE
|
Ju. Johnson | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. CouchĀ
17 WR
|
J. Couch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
F. GreenĀ
82 TE
|
F. Green | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. MixonĀ
23 WR
|
K. Mixon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
M. McLaurinĀ
41 DB
|
M. McLaurin | 8-2 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. GreenĀ
4 LB
|
G. Green | 5-2 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. HarrisĀ
11 LB
|
D. Harris | 5-1 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. BrownĀ
96 DL
|
T. Brown | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. SimmonsĀ
94 DL
|
J. Simmons | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. MorganĀ
29 DB
|
C. Morgan | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. ThompsonĀ
40 LB
|
E. Thompson | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. SweatĀ
9 LB
|
M. Sweat | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. AdegokeĀ
49 LB
|
S. Adegoke | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. WashingtonĀ
50 LB
|
T. Washington | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. GrayĀ
12 DB
|
J. Gray | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. AdamsĀ
43 DL
|
F. Adams | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ko. JonesĀ
52 DL
|
Ko. Jones | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. LewisĀ
10 LB
|
L. Lewis | 1-2 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ke. JonesĀ
92 DL
|
Ke. Jones | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. BryantĀ
1 DB
|
B. Bryant | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. SpencerĀ
42 LB
|
M. Spencer | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. GayĀ
6 LB
|
W. Gay | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. HarrisĀ
90 DL
|
G. Harris | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. JungĀ
3 LB
|
T. Jung | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. PetersĀ
2 DB
|
J. Peters | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. RayfordĀ
24 DB
|
C. Rayford | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
T. DayĀ
42 K
|
T. Day | 1/1 | 36 | 3/5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
J. ChristmannĀ
47 K
|
J. Christmann | 0/0 | 0 | 3/3 | 3 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
L. CookeĀ
43 P
|
L. Cooke | 3 | 47.7 | 1 | 55 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
G. MylesĀ 5 WR
|
G. Myles | 2 | -2.0 | 5 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
J. SmithĀ
8 QB
|
J. Smith | 10/23 | 140 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
W. ElliottĀ
10 QB
|
W. Elliott | 3/6 | 23 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
B. ScottĀ
6 RB
|
B. Scott | 13 | 96 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. CraftĀ
3 RB
|
J. Craft | 18 | 81 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. DancyĀ
23 RB
|
J. Dancy | 7 | 45 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. TuckerĀ
22 RB
|
I. Tucker | 3 | 25 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. McKnightĀ
15 WR
|
K. McKnight | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. SmithĀ
8 QB
|
J. Smith | 7 | -9 | 0 | 11 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. GainesĀ
16 WR
|
M. Gaines | 0 | 3 | 104 | 0 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. VealĀ
9 WR
|
T. Veal | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. PowellĀ
81 WR
|
C. Powell | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. McKnightĀ
15 WR
|
K. McKnight | 0 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. CousarĀ
88 TE
|
Z. Cousar | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. ScottĀ
6 RB
|
B. Scott | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. WilsonĀ
82 WR
|
I. Wilson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. BonnetteĀ
86 WR
|
R. Bonnette | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. OliverĀ
17 WR
|
D. Oliver | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. WattsĀ
13 WR
|
M. Watts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. CraftĀ
3 RB
|
J. Craft | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
B. DurmanĀ
44 LB
|
B. Durman | 8-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. RobertsonĀ
21 DB
|
A. Robertson | 4-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. CantyĀ
50 DE
|
D. Canty | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. MasonĀ
96 DL
|
K. Mason | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. FarrisĀ
31 LB
|
R. Farris | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. CooperĀ
2 S
|
S. Cooper | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. JohnsonĀ
91 DT
|
C. Johnson | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. FergusonĀ
45 DE
|
J. Ferguson | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. SamĀ
5 DB
|
M. Sam | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. SpencerĀ
32 CB
|
T. Spencer | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. KingĀ
8 S
|
D. King | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. WashingtonĀ
33 LB
|
D. Washington | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. LewisĀ
38 DB
|
D. Lewis | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. BlankenshipĀ
49 DB
|
E. Blankenship | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. YdarragaĀ
95 DE
|
M. Ydarraga | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. BradfordĀ
94 DT
|
J. Bradford | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. KendziorĀ
47 DE
|
E. Kendzior | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. GarnerĀ
99 DL
|
K. Garner | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. BaldwinĀ
28 DB
|
J. Baldwin | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. RobersonĀ
30 CB
|
A. Roberson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. ScottĀ
35 LB
|
C. Scott | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. BarnesĀ
10 K
|
J. Barnes | 2/2 | 45 | 1/2 | 7 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. FarlowĀ
40 K
|
B. Farlow | 7 | 39.0 | 1 | 47 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |