ATHENS, Ga. — Mississippi State redshirt freshman quarterback Dylan Favre received what he asked for Saturday afternoon — an opportunity to play.
Two weeks ago, the former Mr. Football in the state of Mississippi went to his Twitter account and pleaded for some playing time at quarterback. The tweet that made national headlines the next day is something MSU coach Dan Mullen called “a mistake” by his young quarterback.
Mullen didn’t use that same word after he was asked why he gave Favre his first action as a Division I quarterback against the University of Georgia.
Mullen’s decision is the second time this season Relf has been pulled from the game, and the third quarterback MSU has used this season. Sophomore Tyler Russell relieved Relf in the second half against LSU.
“The positive of that is Dylan has his experience” Mullen said. “He now has some playing time in case we ever need to do to him again later this season.”
After Relf gained 13 yards on a run up the middle on a designed draw play, the senior seemed to be a little shaken up. That’s when Mullen went to Favre.
“I was just standing on the sidelines and then coach (Mullen) told me to run in there,” Favre said. “It was awesome. The more experience I get will just make me better.”
MSU went to the Wildcat formation with redshirt freshman Jameon Lewis behind center and the speedster achieved a 3-yard gain. It was MSU’s first look in the Wildcat this season.
On the next play, Mullen sent Favre in, but he was sacked on that play and threw an incompletion on the next one.
Favre returned in the third quarter, but that drive also resulted in a punt. He went 0-for-2 and accounted minus-10 yards of offense when he was in the game.
“I was excited obviously (to play), and I’m sure anybody on our team would’ve felt this way,” Favre said. “I thought I got comfortable quick but just couldn’t get anything going. I learned today the chances you do get, you better make the most of them.”
Favre was the backup Saturday because Russell apparently is still recovering from a left knee injury. Mullen said Monday that Russell, who is wearing a large black brace on his knee, was active and ready to play last weekend against Louisiana Tech. After the Georgia game, Mullen suggested Russell isn’t ready for game action.
“Tyler is at the point where he’s almost healthy (but) still not 100
percent with his knee,” Mullen said.
MSU’s special teams struggles
In its first punt of the game, MSU kicked the football to Georgia athlete Brandon Boykin. The senior promptly returned it inside MSU territory to set up his team’s first touchdown.
Boykin, who entered the game leading the team with 482 all-purpose yards, finished with 88 return yards on five opportunities.
It didn’t get any better for MSU from there.
Sophomore punter Baker Swedenburg had a season-worst 11-yard punt from the end zone on his second chance of the game. He rallied to finish with a 42.3-yard per punt average that nearly matched the effort of Georgia senior punter and Ray Guy Award candidate Drew Butler.
Georgia needed just four plays to find the end zone again to take a 14-3 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter.
“Baker has been consistent for us all year but then comes out in a big
situation and has his worst punt of the year,” Mullen said. “They had dynamic returns, and I thought we had OK coverage wise but not great.”
MSU’s special teams’ play helped Georgia win the battle of field position. Georgia began drives in the first quarter at MSU’s 42-yard line, while MSU was forced to start on its 16.
Offensive line changes: Carmon at right guard and Saulsberry at center
The highly anticipated changes to MSU’s starting offensive line included moving a pair of seniors.
In his return from a knee injury, senior James Carmon slid into the right guard position. He started at left tackle in the first two games of the season. Carmon hurt his knee in the fourth quarter of the game against Auburn University and hadn’t played since being carted off the field.
With 5 minutes, 22 seconds left in the first half, Carmon went down again, but he walked off the field on his own shaking his left leg. He returned to the field on MSU’s next drive that ended in an incompletion by Relf interception deep in Georgia territory.
Senior co-captain Quentin Saulsberry moved back to his original
position — center — after playing guard in the past two games. The changes sent redshirt freshman Dillon Day back to the bench as MSU’s backup center.
“It’s frustrating at times, but you have to adjust to it and we’re not doing that,” Saulsberry said. “I never know if I’m playing center, guard, tackle, or tight end, but we have to work harder.”
The switches had mixed results as Georgia had five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and held MSU to 56 rushing yards.
“I think Georgia came out and set the tone today, and they did a really good job,” Saulsberry said. “Things like that don’t determine your season. They may determine a game but not a season.”
Mullen acknowledged after the loss the graduation losses of two starters (Derek Sherrod and J.C. Brignone) and the injury to Tobias Smith has crippled MSU’s front five.
“When you start throwing in younger guys, that’s where some separation happens,” Mullen said. “That’s not an excuse. That’s poor coaching on my part and (MSU offensive line coach) John Hevesy’s, and we’re going to make sure we get all that fixed.”
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