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Report Card: Mississippi State offense shines in rout out UT Martin
By Ethan Levine
Published:
OFFENSE: B+
The Bulldogs amassed 520 yards of total offense and maintained impeccable balance on that side of the ball in their 45-point performance Saturday. Mississippi State ran the ball 32 times for 254 yards, and threw the ball 27 times for 266 yards. Nine players caught a pass for the Bulldogs, and five different Mississippi State rushers accumulated at least 30 yards for the game. Dak Prescott had two touchdown passes — including a 55-yard touchdown strike to Joe Morrow — and added a 48-yard run in the victory. His 260 total yards made him the first player in Mississippi State history to clear 3,000 total yards in a single season. Had Mississippi State started the game faster (the score was 7-3 through one quarter), it would have earned an A, but a B+ will have to do.
DEFENSE: B-
The Mississippi State defense allowed UT Martin to score 16 points on Saturday, but the final 13 points came in the fourth quarter when the game was already decided and the Bulldogs were playing primarily backups on defense. The Skyhawks maintained a 13-minute edge in time of possession but still lost by 29, a testament to the Bulldogs’ bend-but-don’t-break mentality on the defensive side of the ball. However, Mississippi State also failed to record a turnover on the day, which allowed UTM to be more productive with the football than many expected. The Bulldogs were good but not great on defense, earning a modest B- as a result.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Mississippi State has endured its fair share of special teams woes this season, but the Bulldogs special teams put forth their best performance of the season in Saturday’s victory. Kicker Evan Sobiesk drilled his only field goal attempt of the day. The Bulldogs didn’t commit a turnover on the kickoff or punt return units, something MSU fans have come to appreciate this season. Punter Devon Bell averaged more than 43 yards per punt, and completed an awesome jump pass on a fake punt, eventually leading to points for MSU. All in all, the special teams couldn’t have played much better, thus earning an A for the game.
COACHING: A
Mississippi State didn’t begin Saturday’s game with the energy Dan Mullen would have liked, but he managed MSU perfectly in a difficult situation facing an underwhelming opponent in UTM. Mullen had to ensure Mississippi State kept its stars healthy for next week’s game against Alabama, but also had to let MSU build a safe lead before removing those star players. With the score at 7-3 through one quarter, Mullen’s task was tougher than anticipated. However, he gave his starters plenty of reps and plenty of rest in the second half, and his team eventually built up a 29-point lead without putting any of its best players at risk. The Bulldogs’ head coach deserves credit for the way he managed his team on Saturday, earning the MSU coaching staff an A.
OVERALL: B
The Bulldogs held an edge in every facet of Saturday’s game, but they didn’t appear as dominant in their win over UTM as most expected entering Week 11. Mississippi State won big, but it didn’t necessarily win in impressive fashion. One win counts as one win no matter how it’s achieved, but the Bulldogs could have won some style points in the process. Mississippi State earns a B for the game, but what’s most important is it earned a W (as in a win) to remain unbeaten before taking on Alabama next week.
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.