Articles by Ben Wait
Prescott, Bulldogs happy to have played opener
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State senior quarterback Dak Prescott is glad his team’s not in LSU’s shoes.
Holloway ready to be factor at running back for MSU
STARKVILLE — Entering the Mississippi State football team’s game against Southern Mississippi, Brandon Holloway and Gabe Myles made a bold prediction.
“We were looking good on kick return,” said Holloway, a junior running back. “We talked the whole week we were going to return (one) for a touchdown. It was going to be the first.”
MSU’s defense controls USM’s ground game
HATTIESBURG – A.J. Jefferson had a feeling the Mississippi State football team’s defense was capable of shutting down an opponent’s running game.
The junior defensive end was proven right Saturday night in a 34-16 season-opening victory against Southern Mississippi, as the Bulldogs allowed 102 yards rushing and met every rusher with a hard hit.
MSU shows it still has weapons at tight end
HATTIESBURG – In the past four seasons, the Mississippi State football team’s offense grew accustomed to Malcolm Johnson making big catches at tight end.
Starkville’s defense delivers dominating effort
WEST POINT — Starkville High School defensive coordinator Brooks Oakley likes facing a one-dimensional offense.
That’s what he and his Yellow Jackets defense saw Friday night as they shut down a run-heavy West Point offense to claim a 16-0 victory at McCallister Field.
West Point focuses on stopping Brown
WEST POINT — The West Point High School football team’s defensive game plan was simple Friday night: stop A.J. Brown.
The Starkville High School senior wide receiver entered the game with 30 catches for 339 yards and one touchdown, but West Point allowed him to make only four catches for 29 yards in the Yellow Jackets’ 16-0 victory.
“We just tilted the coverage to him and doubled him the whole game,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “That caused them to throw it away from him.”
Clark helps MSU’s operations running smoothly
STARKVILLE — Many Mississippi State fans don’t know Jon Clark, but they probably have seen him on television.
The assistant athletic director of football operations doesn’t have many gameday duties, but he is on the sidelines for every game and is charged with the responsibility of attempting to restrain coach Dan Mullen when he disagrees with a decision made by an official. He will resume the duty at 9 p.m. Saturday when MSU kicks off the season against Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast the game live.
MSU defense ready to face opponent
STARKVILLE – Manny Diaz is ready to see his defensive players tackle other guys than their own teammates.
Starkville’s Brown has dominating night vs. Oxford
STARKVILLE — Opposing teams know they have to stop senior wide receiver A.J. Brown if they want to shut down the Starkville High School football team.
But that hasn’t happened in the first two weeks of the season, as Brown has made 30 catches for 339 yards and one touchdown.
“Our expectations are high for him,” Yellow Jacket wide receivers coach Willie Gillespie said. “He’s one of the better guys in the country, so everything he does doesn’t surprise us. We’re always trying to raise the bar for him, and he always meets that challenge.”
Malone, Senior look to lead MSU’s inexperienced offensive line
STARKVILLE — It’s easy to see why Justin Malone and Justin Senior are the leaders of the Mississippi State football team’s offensive line.
Malone and Senior are the only returning starters from a line that last year helped MSU climb to No. 1 and stay there for five weeks en route to a 10-3 finish (6-2 in the Southeastern Conference). Malone, a senior left guard, has 16 career starts in three seasons with the program, while Senior, a junior right tackle, has 14 starts in his two-year career.
Jefferson primed for bigger season at MSU
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State junior defensive end A.J. Jefferson will be looked to as a leader this season, but he will lead his way.
Jefferson is one of six returning lettermen on the defensive line who will try to help the Bulldogs make up for the graduation losses of Preston Smith, Kaleb Eulls, P.J. Jones, and Curtis Virges. Fans will get to see his unique leadership style at 9 p.m. Saturday, when MSU plays Southern Mississippi in the season opener for both teams in Hattiesburg. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast the game live.
Starkville overcomes adversity to beat Oxford
STARKVILLE — Adverse situations.
That’s the only thing the Starkville High School football team has seen in the first two weeks of the season. Nothing has come easy for the Yellow Jackets, who have had to overcome deficits in their first two games.
Last week, Starkville fell behind Noxubee County 20-7 before tying the game and being forced to overtime. Noxubee County earned a 26-20 victory in double overtime when Starkville senior wide receiver A.J. Brown couldn’t secure a pass that would have tied the game in the second overtime.
Brown wants to continue Starkville’s tradition at running back
STARKVILLE — Starkville High School running backs coach Carlos Kemp first saw Avery Brown as a sophomore.
Brown was a member of the scout team, but he used that opportunity to show Kemp, the other coaches, and his teammates what was to come.
“When he got in, he ran hard and I saw then he was going to be pretty good his senior year,” Kemp said. “He’s just the type of person that comes to work each day, and he’s going to give all he’s got every day.”
Clayborn ready to lead MSU’s offensive line
STARKVILLE — Jamaal Clayborn is finding the move from right guard to center to be more than just putting the ball into the quarterback’s hands.
The Mississippi State junior has taken on a leadership role at his new position. Before he snaps the ball to quarterback Dak Prescott, he has to make sure everybody is on the same page.
ESPN heading to Starkville to air ‘Little Egg Bowl’
Rashid Ghazi knew high school football had compelling story lines.
MSU’s Harris set to play bigger role after return from injury
STARKVILLE — Dez Harris isn’t like most football players.
The Mississippi State sophomore linebacker didn’t hang his head after seeing his redshirt freshman season end last year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Woods knew from early age he wanted to be a coach
STARKVILLE — Ricky Woods knew from an early age where he wanted to be on Friday nights.
His love for football came from all of the time he spent at practices and games with his father. Seeing so many games and packed stadiums on Friday nights ignited a passion in Woods that drove him to become a teacher and a coach.
Ryan Brown finds niche on defensive line at MSU
STARKVILLE – Ryan Brown’s main position while growing up in Louisiana was running back.
Howard wants to leave MSU volleyball career on high note
STARKVILLE – First-year Mississippi State volleyball coach David McFatrich sees a career in volleyball for senior Emily Howard.
