Simmons, Sweat tough tandem up front for Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — On second down on Massachusetts’ first drive, the Mississippi State football team had defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons directly over the center, Montez Sweat as the end to Simmons’ right, Braxton Hoyett as the tackle to his left and Gerri Green outside of him. Prior to the snap, Simmons shuffled to his right.

Ground game has helped MSU establish identity

STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team has established an identity.

With the addition of several junior college players on defense and new offensive linemen, running backs, and position coaches, MSU needed time to learn about itself.

Mullen looks to add big win to list of accomplishments

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen isn’t Mississippi State’s winningest football coach yet, but his accomplishments at the school have cemented his place in school history.

Focus key for No. 18 MSU vs. No. 1 Alabama

STARKVILLE — Dez Harris doesn’t concern himself with what it means to play Alabama.

The Mississippi State football team’s senior linebacker and leading tackler has never played Alabama when it wasn’t in the thick of the national championship race. His most recent experience was his worst, a 51-3 loss last season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Mullen settles Bulldogs at halftime

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen had the grounds to rip off one for the highlight reel at halftime.

Mississippi State’s football coach could have given his offense a halftime speech for the ages after watching it gain 4.2 yards per play, commit two turnovers, and convert 25 percent of its a third downs against Massachusetts in the first 30 minutes. Those woes were the primary reason for MSU’s seven-point deficit to UMass.

Starkville beats Clinton to clinch district title

STARKVILLE — Sometimes you have to create your luck.

If the Starkville High School football team was going to have any Friday night, it had to do it for itself — the first three quarters proved that. Starkville coach Chris Jones chose a fake punt on fourth-and-6 with less than nine minutes in the game to create that luck.

Thomas’ return sparks Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Fred Ross’ absence at punt returner was a big one for the Mississippi State football team to fill at the start of the season.

No. 21 MSU running more in red zone

STARKVILLE — If bye weeks are a time to address problems, the Mississippi State football team had more than enough to address, as evidenced by losses of 28 and 39 points entering that off week.

MSU men show depth at guard in exhibition win

STARKVILLE — Minutes will come in many ways for the guards on the 2017-18 Mississippi State men’s basketball team.

Injuries give MSU’s Jackson chance to make most of opportunities

STARKVILLE — Gabe Myles went down with a foot injury two weeks into the season and didn’t play for a month.

Donald Gray suffered a groin injury during the Texas A&M game and remains questionable for the Mississippi State football team’s game against Massachusetts at 11 a.m. Saturday (SEC Network) at Davis Wade Stadium.

Starkville’s Hines emerges in Jones’ system

STARKVILLE — Starkville High School wide receiver Cameron Hines has “an epic night” in his immediate future: Senior Night.

The evening will serve as part of a culmination of what he said has been “a great year, a blessed year.”

But Hines and the rest of the Yellow Jackets hope their regular-season finale against Clinton at 7 p.m. Friday is only the beginning of another journey.

Ado brings intensity to MSU basketball program

STARKVILLE — Abdul Ado’s intensity doesn’t stay on the basketball court. Some of his classmates have seen it firsthand — others have been the victims.

Cannizaro likes what he sees in MSU’s scrimmages in Jackson

STARKVILLE — Jared Liebelt went to Jackson last weekend full of curiosity.

The junior college transfer wanted to see how his fastball and his slider fared against Southeastern Conference hitters in his first true intrasquad scrimmage.

Gibson’s first TD earns him new piece of ‘jewelry’

STARKVILLE — Nick Gibson’s first career touchdown in the Mississippi State football team’s 35-14 victory against Texas A&M on Saturday came with a celebration.

Special teams help Volunteers win playoff opener

STARKVILLE — Special teams mean more at Starkville Academy.

“We start practicing special teams in June,” Starkville Academy football coach Chase Nicholson said. “We believe in special teams, and we take pride in that.”

On Friday night, that dedication paid off.

West Lowndes beats Ethel to end losing skid

As members of the West Lowndes High School football team walked downhill back to the field after halftime, a circle formed around Phillip Blair as he danced.

Quinshawn Lucious, now sans shoulder pads, leaned on the fence and talked to spectators. After the game, Symetrious Pippins did back flips at midfield.

For the first time in more than two months, there was a celebration at the West Lowndes football field.

MSU baseball team set for scrimmages in Jackson

STARKVILLE — Elijah MacNamee played in the outfield, Trey Jolly pitched, and Hunter Vansau spent more time as a designated hitter than anywhere else, yet all three lived the same truth.

Going from a junior college to playing baseball in the Southeastern Conference is hard. In all three cases, it took several weeks for the Bulldogs to figure it all out before producing well in spurts near the end of the season.

Versatile TEs bolster MSU offense

STARKVILLE — Dan Mullen looked at his tight end group in the preseason and saw seven capable players.

Mullen realized he had too many to put on the field at the same time, but the depth at the position suggested increased usage of tight ends in the 2017 offense. The only question Mullen had to answer was who was going to emerge to play a key role.

Starkville adjusting to zone-blocking scheme

STARKVILLE — William Stewart was brought to Starkville High School in March to do one job: install the zone blocking schemes used almost exclusively in football coach Chris Jones’ system.

There’s much more nuance to the task than the installation process.

Jenkins maturing at center for Bulldogs

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald could see he had a clear path to the end zone as he took the snap and shuffled to his right against BYU.

The giveaway was Fitzgerald could see his lead blocker downfield looking for someone to hit.