Mississippi State did not get off to a good start on Saturday against Louisiana Tech, and despite a frantic comeback, the home Bulldogs couldn’t avoid a terrible start to the season.

A last-second field goal from La Tech was partially blocked and MSU pulled off the largest comeback in school history, 20 points in the fourth quarter to survive 35-34.

MSU allowed 21 unanswered points to the visiting Bulldogs to tail by 7 points at halftime even though La Tech only had 4 first downs. MSU had a nearly 11-minute edge in time of possession by halftime, and even outgained La Tech. What appeared to be one of the biggest struggles for MSU was the offensive line, and La Tech’s Levi Bell shined with several pass rushes that disrupted the MSU play sequence.

Bell led a defense that brought back a considerable amount of experience. La Tech returned 10 of its 11 defensive starters and had 15 of its top 16 tacklers coming back.

Still, MSU made its own mistakes, including a Pick 6 late in the third quarter that followed 10 penalties for 75 yards by that point, and a missed field goal attempt. Early in the fourth quarter, it appeared that MSU might have some life back when Lideatrick Griffin delivered a big return, bringing Mississippi State out past the 40-yard line.

It was a game of runs as MSU started out 14-0, but then La Tech reeled off 34 straight points before the Bulldogs from Starkville responded with 21 straight again. Jaden Walley helped MSU pull ahead late in the fourth quarter with a 15-yard touchdown catch from Will Rogers.

La Tech then converted a fourth down and 10 with less than a minute to go with a 13-yard pass to setup the field goal attempt.

Earlier in the game, La Tech capitalized on big plays as all 3 first-half touchdowns went for at least 24 yards. On the final play of the first half, Austin Kendall found Bub Means for a 72-yard scoring play. Kendall then ran 59 yards for a score early in the second quarter as the former Oklahoma and West Virginia QB showed he could play at this level.

However, what really slowed MSU in the first half was 8 penalties for 55 yards in the first half. Will Rogers got off to a great start by going 23-for-26 passing for 178 yds and 2 TDs, and Jo’quavious Marks had 50 yards rushing, and 27 yds receiving with a TD.

It appeared early on that MSU would get off to a great start on the season. Washington State transfer Jamire Calvin showed again why he loves to play in the Air Raid offense as he caught a 20-yard touchdown pass to put State up 14-0 with 35 seconds left in the first quarter.

Entering Saturday, MSU was 11-3 all-time against Tech and owned a 5-game winning streak in the series. State was also 10-2 at home against LA Tech. The visiting Bulldogs had not won in Starkville since 1996, and were 8-78-2 all-time against SEC opponents.