Donald Gray caught a pass in the first half on Saturday at Gillette Stadium. He appeared to have a few bragging words about the grab toward the sidelines.

Mississippi State’s 47-35 win on Saturday over UMass was nothing to brag about, a win anything but pretty. Ugly counts toward bowl berths though, and a Jamoral Graham pick-six late in the third quarter gave Mississippi State (2-2) a 34-21 lead and was followed by Nick Fitzgerald’s touchdown pass to Farrod Green to revive what was a bleak performance through more than two-and-a-half quarters.

UMass took a 14-6 lead until a late first-half touchdown. But Fitzgerald overall stole the show with 409 total yards and 3 TD passes, and the Bulldogs scored four touchdowns three different ways in the third quarter.

What I liked: Going to Fred Ross for the lead and for the clincher. The Bulldogs have so many backs, they don’t know who to use when. (Though the stout 16-yard touchdown Aeris Williams had for a 27-21 lead in the third quarter shows what he could do given the chance). But in a passing game that also has its share of possibilities, none is greater than Ross. The senior is one of the most talented receivers in the country. He finished with 8 catches, 126 yards and 2 TDs.

Down a point in the third quarter and with the Bulldogs remaining aggressive with Fitzgerald passing the ball, he went to Ross for a 46-yard touchdown that Ross scored in a race down the sideline. It was his second touchdown. A gutsy 30-yard pass play to Ross set up Ashton Shumpert’s sealing touchdown run with 2:33 to go. The passing game looked good. Gray had a big day with 8 catches for 79 yards.

What I didn’t like: That Mississippi State struggled out of the gate to find the end zone. An SEC team at UMass has to establish its presence. The Bulldogs had 269 yards of offense in the first half, 156 passing and 113 on the ground. But they were 4-of-11 on third down and didn’t get into the end zone until there was less than 30 seconds left in the half. Even then, UMass led 14-13 going to the locker room.

The Bulldogs also struggled to keep leads. They went up 20-14 but watched UMass go 7 plays and 68 yards in less than 2 minutes to take the lead back, 21-20. Granted, Jalen Williams made a circus catch, tapping the ball to himself and catching it as he fell. But it was in double coverage against two of the Bulldogs’ top defensive backs, Lashard Durr and Brandon Bryant.

Bryant got burned again in the fourth, losing a one-on-one touchdown pass from Andrew Ford to Sadiq Palmer that cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 41-35 with 4:59 to play. That capped a 9-play 88-yard drive. UMass scored the only 14 points of the fourth quarter.

Who’s the man: Nick Fitzgerald looks like he has entrenched himself into the starting quarterback role. Fitzgerald did it all. He threw for 299 yards on 25-of-38 passing and ran for 110 yards (7.3 per carry) on 15 rushes.

Key play(s): Graham’s pick-six gave the Bulldogs a 34-21 lead and its first relaxing breath during what was building toward a repeat of the South Alabama game. It allowed the defense to loosen up. UMass’ ensuing possession went five yards backwards in three plays, and Mississippi State proceeded to cap a 28-point third quarter.

What’s next: The Bulldogs get a much-needed week off before hosting Auburn.

Brandon Speck covers Mississippi State for Saturday Down South. Follow him @brandonspeck.