STARKVILLE — Happy Monday, folks.
As has become our weekly tradition, it’s time for another edition of Portnoy’s Playbook.
While the past two weeks have featured, offensive plays, and as a product, MSU wins, I’m dipping into the bag of tricks for this week’s play.
That said, let’s take a deep dive into Kansas State receiver Malik Knowles’ fourth quarter 100-yard touchdown return.
After two weeks of rather productive special teams play, Saturday was disastrous. From blocked punts, muffed returns, and, ultimately this coverage breakdown, special teams coach Joey Jones likely had some choice words for his group postgame.
Just seconds after MSU had extended its lead to seven off a Jace Christmann 47-yard field goal, kick off specialist Scott Goodman lined up to boot the ball away.
Squaring and kicking, Goodman sent the ball in between the right hash and sideline as Knowles fielded it at the goal line.
Taking a quick hesitation step, Knowles began his meandering path toward the MSU end zone.
From the start, Bulldog defenders were out of their respective lanes. Having been instructed to drive Knowles toward the sideline, the ensuing coverage failed to do so.
As Knowles hit the Kansas State 10-yard line a hole began to form through the middle. Six MSU defenders were caught between the two hash marks — running upfield and away from the returner.
Recognizing the busted coverage, Knowles took the return and swung his route up through the middle of the field.
On the right side of the hole, freshman linebacker Aaron Brule had a chance at a play. Instead of making a direct line to the returner, Brule peeled around an engaged De’Monte Russell and was taken out by a falling Goodman — who had fallen victim to a crushing block from Kansas State running back Harry Trotter to spring Knowles free.
Hitting a gap wider than the Red Sea, Knowles took off.
Behind the play, senior safety Jaquarius Landrews and backup cornerback Jay Jimison gave chase. Landrews came closest to closing in but his angle toward the ball carrier was slightly off stymied as he dodged Goodman and Kansas State receiver Dalton Schoen.
Crossing the MSU 30-yard line, Knowles had broken the misplayed coverage. He was gone.
“Into the open field, Malik Knowles!” ESPN play-by-play commentator Bob Wischusen said. “Can he be tracked down from behind? They won’t catch him! 100 yards. Touchdown!”
While the play didn’t immediately grant Kansas State the lead, there was a palpable buzz amongst the MSU faithful that was almost instantly wiped from Davis Wade Stadium.
Postgame Moorhead conceded the play was a massive momentum shifter in the midst of a back-and-forth affair.
Further, on an afternoon in which Day’s average punt distance drop from 49.8 yards against Southern Mississippi to 40.3 yards per kick and Malik Dear nearly lost possession on a dropped punt, the return capped off a wholly disastrous special teams performance.
Moorhead has long preached that MSU can’t afford to beat itself with unforced miscues. Saturday, the Bulldogs did just that.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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