Ad Disclosure
Halftime Quick Take: Mississippi State survives sloppy first half against UAB
By Ethan Levine
Published:
It wasn’t pretty, but the Mississippi State Bulldogs scrapped and clawed their way to a 26-20 lead over the UAB Blazers at halftime of their Week 2 showdown in Starkville.
The Bulldogs made some impressive plays, headlined by a spectacular one-handed interception returned for a touchdown by defensive end Preston Smith. It was the senior’s second straight game with an interception and his first touchdown of the season.
Before Smith’s pick-six, quarterback Dak Prescott hooked up with wideout Robert Johnson for a 68-yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. Tailback Josh Robinson contributed a 17-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, followed by a 20-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to Gus Walley.
The Bulldogs’ ongoing kicking battle between Westin Graves and Evan Sobiesk wages on, and both had MSU fans moaning and groaning after missing back-to-back extra points. Neither attempted a field goal for the half.
The Blazers were propelled by wide receiver Jamarcus Nelson, who returned a punt 26 yards to set up a UAB field goal early in the game. He also blew by the MSU secondary for an 88-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter.
UAB posted 20 points in the first half one week after Mississippi State shut out fellow Conference USA member Southern Miss in their Week 1 matchup.
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.
