One week removed from a 35-34 comeback win over Louisiana Tech, the Mississippi State football team is hoping for an easier win Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.
But it will have to come against a much tougher opponent.
NC State (1-0) will battle the Bulldogs (1-0) beginning at 6 p.m. in Starkville. The Dispatch will have live updates from the contest as it progresses.
9:40 p.m. — Final: Mississippi State 24, NC State 10.
9:33 p.m. — Touchdown, NC State. Thayer Thomas catches a 4-yard touchdown pass from Devin Leary. MSU 24, NC State 10, 1:06 left in the game.
9:21 p.m. — Emmanuel Forbes contributes a fourth-down sack to keep NC State out of the end zone with 6:13 remaining.
8:56 p.m. — Nolan McCord with a 32-yard field goal. Mississippi State 24, NC State 3, 12:30 left in the game.
8:41 p.m. — Mississippi State 21, NC State 3, end of the the third quarter. The Bulldogs are in control.
8:07 p.m. — Touchdown, Mississippi State. Will Rogers finds Jaden Walley over the middle for a 4-yard touchdown play. Nolan McCord, not Brandon Ruiz, hit the PAT. MSU 21, NC State 3, 8:59 left in the third quarter.
8:01 p.m. — NC State running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight fumbles the ball at the MSU 46.
7:59 p.m. — The second-half kickoff is a touchback, and NC State starts the third quarter with the ball.
7:36 p.m. — Halftime. Mississippi State leads NC State 14-3. The Bulldogs didn’t play well for much of the half, but they started and closed it strong to take a two-score lead into the break.
7:28 p.m. — Touchdown, Mississippi State. Malik Heath hauls in a 21-yard pass from Will Rogers. MSU 14, NC State 3, 1:09 left in the second quarter.
7:26 p.m. — Mississippi State converts fourth-and-7 at the NC State 39. A back-shoulder throw from Will Rogers to Makai Polk is right on target.
7:06 p.m. — Jo’quavious Marks is tackled short on a swing pass on fourth-and-1 from the NC State 30. The Wolfpack take over at their own 32. MSU 7, NC State 3, 6:18 left in the second quarter.
6:50 p.m. — Field goal, NC State. The Wolfpack’s Christopher Dunn nails a 45-yard field goal. MSU 7, NC State 3, 12:46 left in the second quarter.
6:41 p.m. — At the end of the first quarter, it’s Mississippi State 7, NC State 0. It’s been all Tulu Griffin’s kickoff return for the Bulldogs thus far.
6:34 p.m. — A 48-yard field goal attempt by NC State’s Christopher Dunn is wide left. MSU 7, NC State 0, 4:48 left in the first quarter.
6:21 p.m. — On third-and-goal from the 5-yard line, NC State tries a jump pass. Running back Ricky Person’s throw is picked off in the end zone by MSU safety Jalen Green.
6:18 p.m. — NC State and Mississippi State trade punts. The Wolfpack have possession in MSU territory.
6:05 p.m. — Touchdown, Mississippi State. Tulu Griffin gives the home crowd an electric moment, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Mississippi State 7, NC State 0, 14:47 left in the first quarter.
6:02 p.m. — Mississippi State won the coin toss and elected to receive. The Bulldogs will start with the ball.
6 p.m. — Defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy, who blocked LA Tech’s winning field goal attempt last week, carries the Mississippi flag onto the field for the Bulldogs.
5:35 p.m. — Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin is announced as the starter over Malik Heath at X receiver. MSU coach Mike Leach said Heath would be back for Saturday’s game after a “personal issue” kept him out last week against Louisiana Tech. Austin Williams and Makai Polk are the other starters at wide receiver with Will Rogers at quarterback.
5:33 p.m. — Kwatrivous “Dollar Bill” Johnson is announced as Mississippi State’s starting right guard. Johnson was arrested Monday by the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office and charged with “malicious mischief.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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