Here are some quick thoughts on LSU’S 21-19 win over Mississippi State in the SEC West opener for both teams.
What it means: LSU’s season is (finally) off to a nice start. The Tigers looked dominant early and ended up doing just enough to knock off a ranked conference foe in hostile territory. It’s a bit of a step back for Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs can gain some confidence from the way they played in the second half.
What I liked: Two things: LSU’s ability to run the ball and Dak Prescott’s second-half showing. The Tigers offensive line looked stout, especially early and late. And Prescott showed the poise, even in defeat, that will make the Bulldogs a tough opponent for every team they face.
What I didn’t like: LSU kept the training wheels on sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris. It worked to some degree. The sophomore making his second career start didn’t make any costly mistakes, and the Tigers got the win, but the conservative playcalling allowed Mississippi State to load up to stop the run during the game’s middle portion.
Who’s the man: Leonard Fournette. The sophomore showed why he’s been billed as one of the best backs in the country with a trio of highlight-worthy touchdown runs, and topping the 100-yard mark for the third straight time going back to last season.
Key play: The would-be game-winning field goal seems like the obvious pick here, but there were any number of momentum-swinging plays in the second half for both sides. Perhaps none were as important as Mississippi State’s failed two-point conversion that left the Bulldogs trailing by two in the fourth quarter..
What’s next: Mississippi State (1-1, 0-1 SEC) hosts Northwestern State (0-2) while LSU (1-0, 1-0) hosts Auburn (2-0, 0-0).
Brent Holloway is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia, LSU and Mississippi State.
