BATON ROUGE, La. — Getting off the field on third down in the first half was a problem for the Mississippi State football defense.
The LSU offense converted time and time again and that led to three touchdowns and a big lead at halftime.
The MSU defense was better on third downs in the second half, but the third down conversions were too much to overcome as MSU lost 23-20 to No. 20 LSU Saturday Night at Tiger Stadium in a Southeastern Conference game.
“Give them credit, they made some great plays on third down plays,” MSU football coach Dan Mullen said. “But guys were thinking and worrying. Their quarterback made some throws and their receivers made some spectacular catches, but you expect that. They’ve got four-, five-star players at every position.”
LSU was 6 of 10 on third downs in the first half as it took a 23-3 halftime lead. Entering, LSU was 9 of 21 (43 percent) on third downs against Wisconsin and Jacksonville State. In the first two games, MSU’s defense had been strong on third downs, holding South Alabama and South Carolina to 11 of 31 (35 percent).
In the first two games against South Alabama and South Carolina, MSU (1-2, 1-1 SEC) didn’t allow any first-half scoring.
In the second half, the Tigers (2-1, 1-0 SEC) were 1 of 6 on third downs.
“My rattling adjustment: 11 guys run to the football as hard as you can,” Mullen said. “Stop worrying about everything except going as hard you can on every single play.”
Midway through the fourth quarter and leading 23-6, LSU faced a third-and-5 from the MSU 38 yard line. Derrius Guice picked up four yards and LSU faced a fourth-and-1. The Tigers gave it to their All-American Leonard Fournette, but MSU linebacker Dez Harris forced a fumble and recovered it.
LSU had 392 yards of total offense (177 rushing and 215 passing), but 110 in the second half.
The first half third down conversions were the backbreakers.
Etling was especially dangerous on two third downs on a touchdown drive in the second quarter. Facing third-and-4, Etling hit Travin Dural on an out route for five yards to move the chains. MSU forced another third-and-4 at the LSU 35, but Etling hit Malachi Dupre for a 12-yard pass. Fournette capped off the drive with a 25-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 20-0 lead with 5 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the first half.
“I think they did a good job up front, offensive line, blocking our defensive line,” MSU senior defensive lineman A.J. Jefferson said. “They had a bunch of plays where they ran four protection, kept the backend and chipping the ends. The quarterback had a lot of time to sit back there. I put that on us up front, the defensive lineman, because we didn’t do a good job of making him uncomfortable.”
Jefferson had five tackles (0.5 for loss).
Etling, who was 19 of 30 for 215 yards and one touchdown, drew his first start for the Tigers. Brandon Harris started the first two games but was removed for Etling last week against Jacksonville State. Etling was 2-10 as a starter at Purdue before transferring.
LSU’s first touchdown came on third-and-10 in the first quarter. Etling threw to the back of the end zone and D.J. Chark ran under it for a 37-yard touchdown to give LSU a 7-0 lead with 9:28 remaining in the initial quarter. MSU cornerback Jamoral Graham was covering Chark, but he was several yards behind Chark when he caught the pass.
MSU senior safety Kivon Coman, who had seven tackles, said they made too many small mental mistakes in the first half.
“We have to tackle better, we have to adjust better to what they were giving us and just coming down and playing with effort,” Coman said.
Coman said they made a couple of adjustments at halftime and didn’t worry about the scoreboard. They worried more about their effort and getting all 11 guys to the football.
Even when the Bulldogs were able to get a stop on third downs, penalties plagued them and kept Tiger drives alive. Etling threw incomplete on third-and-4 and LSU sent out field goal kicker Colby Delahoussaye. He made a 35-yard field goal, but MSU defensive lineman Johnathan Calvin ran into him for a 5-yard penalty. Three plays later, Fournette scored a 5-yard touchdown on third-and-2 to push LSU’s lead to 14-0 with 35 seconds left in the first quarter.
Fournette had 147 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns.
Holding LSU to a 27-yard Colby Delahoussaye field goal at the end of the first half was a big confidence boost for the defense and it carried over.
“I could tell we were starting to wake up. I could sense a change,” Jefferson said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.