Nick Andrews | 5 hours in the past
So, I used to be incorrect. Nicely, I wasn’t, after which I used to be. Final week I predicted that MSU simply wasn’t on the identical web page as Auburn.
I used to be incorrect.
Mississippi State got here again from down 28-3 on the highway on Saturday towards a ranked Auburn group for, by far, the very best Bulldogs victory of the season.
The Bulldogs scored 40 unanswered factors to defeat No. 17 Auburn 43-34.
That was the one win that both Ole Miss or Mississippi State will earn over one of many SEC Alabama groups within the 2021 season.
The important thing factor to notice is that this recreation appeared to embody each facet of Bulldog soccer we’ve seen in 2021, 12 months 2 underneath head coach Mike Leach.
The Tigers gave up massive performs and quite a lot of factors earlier than rallying and outscoring the Tigers 20-6 within the fourth quarter to win.
Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers II performed out of his thoughts with a efficiency that, if replicated in 2022 or later, will lead him to Manhattan for the Hesiman Trophy presentation.
Rogers threw for 415 yards on 55 makes an attempt for six touchdowns and no interceptions. There have been in all probability a number of throws and/or choices he wish to have again, however these statistics are as near good as you will get.
Rogers accomplished passes to 10 completely different receivers, 9 of whom caught no less than two balls and seven of whom caught no less than 4. That’s the form of distribution that may maintain a protection off steadiness and result in a waterfall of factors prefer it did on Saturday.
As soon as once more, Rogers confirmed endurance in his decision-making. Even with MSU down by greater than 3 TDs, he by no means compelled the ball into significantly harmful conditions and took what the protection gave him.
His longest completion of the afternoon was simply 31 yards.
I concentrate on the offense as a result of the protection is, at this level, the least shocking factor in regards to the Bulldogs, no less than to anybody who has been paying consideration.
The Tigers scored with 3:37 remaining within the first half to go up 28-3. From that time, the Bulldogs scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions, excluding the 12-second possession that they had proper earlier than halftime.
Whereas that was occurring, the protection held the Tigers scoreless on 5 straight possessions.
There have been a number of bits of fine luck, together with a controversial focusing on name on the Tigers that was upheld. Auburn additionally missed 2 discipline objectives, one in every of which MSU blocked.
At this level, I actually don’t know what to say in regards to the Bulldogs aside from that, with just a little extra focus early within the season and perhaps some higher luck, this might very simply be a 1-loss or 2-loss group nonetheless within the combine to win the SEC West.
Leach and his employees will hope that video games like this assist recruits perceive Mississippi State’s inventory is rising shortly.
At this level, the Egg Bowl feels likes an explosive strategy to finish Thanksgiving between two groups with extra on the road than most imagined heading into this season.
The sport towards Mississippi will characteristic two defenses which might be shocking individuals, two of probably the most attention-grabbing and polarizing head coaches in the whole nation, and two of the highest quarterbacks within the convention.
We must always in all probability begin speaking about this recreation quickly. However for now, the Bulldogs can bask of their outstanding win at Auburn. The group is for actual.
