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Mississippi State Bulldogs

5 biggest takeaways: Mississippi State rushing attack shows depth in win

Ethan Levine

By Ethan Levine

Published:

Here are five takeaways from Mississippi State’s 45-16 win over UT Martin:

1. Dak Prescott is the best offensive player in Mississippi State history. Prescott added 260 total yards and three total touchdowns in Saturday’s victory, including a 48-yard rushing touchdown and a 55-yard touchdown pass to Joe Morrow. He set the school record for total offense in a single season in the win, and became the first player in MSU history to amass more than 3,000 yards in one season (he’s at 3,044 with three games remaining). Mississippi State is enjoying unprecedented success this season, and it’s thanks to its unprecedented talent at quarterback.

2. There’s more to the Mississippi State rushing attack than just Dakman and Robinson. The Bulldogs ran for 254 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday, but Prescott and tailback Josh Robinson combined to run for just 87 of those yards. Meanwhile, Ashton Shumpert ran for 82 yards and Brandon Holloway ran for 70 more, proving the Bulldogs have more depth in their rushing attack then just their two superstar players. The more threats Mississippi State can establish down the stretch, the more dangerous its offense becomes come playoff time.

3. The Bulldogs are beginning to incorporate more weapons into their passing attack. Senior Jameon Lewis missed his fourth game of the season, and No. 1 wideout De’Runnya Wilson was held without a catch against UT Martin, but the Bulldogs still had nine receivers catch a pass in the victory. Prescott continues to incorporate more and more players into the passing game, and as a result the offense continues to round into form in the final stretch of the season.

4. Mississippi State had its best special teams performance of the season. The Bulldogs special teams have been dictated by muffed kicks and missed field goals in 2014, but neither occurred on Saturday. Instead, Mississippi State drilled its only field goal attempt of the game, successfully fielded every kickoff and punt and even executed a brilliant fake punt that eventually led to points. Not only did the special teams not hold MSU back, but they elevated the Bulldogs’ play in their victory over the Skyhawks.

5. The Mississippi State defense remains vulnerable against the big play. The Bulldogs only allowed 16 points on Saturday, 13 of which came against backups in garbage time, but they still showed their defense is susceptible to allowing big plays to any offense, even UT Martin’s. The Skyhawks scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass, and amassed three plays of at least 20 yards in defeat. The Bulldogs had allowed more 30-yard completions than any team in the SEC entering Week 11, and that will remain the same following the game against the Skyhawks.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.

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