BATON ROUGE, La. — Even before a trusted veteran made the night’s biggest mistake, things were starting to go wrong for Mississippi State.
LSU had cut a 13-0 MSU lead to just six points at 16-10. The Bulldogs were missing opportunities left and right to build on their advantage. The crowd at Tiger Stadium was getting into the game.
Then Austin Williams muffed a punt at the Mississippi State 9-yard line, sending the Bulldogs into a death spiral in Death Valley in an eventual 31-16 loss.
MSU (2-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) allowed 21 consecutive points as LSU (2-1, 1-0 SEC) roared past the Bulldogs on Saturday night in Baton Rouge.
“We’ve got to be consistent, and especially against a team like that,” Mississippi State coach Mike Leach said.
LSU scored three straight fourth-quarter touchdowns, capitalizing off Williams’ mistake and scoring on its next two drives, to hand MSU its first loss.
Mississippi State’s last points came on a field goal with 6:31 left in the third quarter.
Jayden Daniels put LSU ahead with a 3-yard touchdown run early in the fourth. Josh Williams added a 7-yard rushing score, and Armoni Goodwin put the Tigers up by two possessions with a 47-yard touchdown on the ground.
Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers tossed an interception near the goal line on the Bulldogs’ ensuing drive, sealing the win for LSU.
Rogers, who was 24 of 42 for 214 yards, credited the Tigers’ game plan Saturday and said the Bulldogs began fading toward the end.
“I think they did a really good job,” he said. “I think they had a really good plan. I think we just kind of wore down.”
Mississippi State totaled only 105 yards and recorded just five first downs after the halftime break.
The Bulldogs went just 3 for 14 on third down in the game and finished 1 of 4 on fourth down.
Mississippi State converted its first fourth-down run of the contest but was stuffed on two consecutive fourth-and-1 run plays.
In the third quarter, Rogers’ pass to Williams on fourth-and-2 into double coverage was knocked away.
Leach said the numbers bore out his decisions to go for it on fourth down but that his play selection was lacking.
“Statistically, it suggested to do it, but the thing is, I don’t think I selected very good plays on three of them,” he said.
LSU managed just one first down on the drive after the Bulldogs failed again on fourth down, punting the ball deep into Mississippi State territory. Williams signaled for a fair catch and stumbled forward, seeking the football, but it glanced off his hands; LSU’s Slade Roy jumped on it inside the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line.
Rogers and linebacker Jett Johnson picked up their teammate and defended his consistency, but their head coach — postgame, at least — was far more blunt.
“Catch the ball — either that or get away from it, one of the two,” Leach said.
LSU took advantage of the veteran’s rookie mistake. Facing third down themselves, the Tigers had no trouble as Daniels ran for a 3-yard score to put LSU in the lead for the first time all night.
Daniels ran 16 times for 93 yards, finding scramble holes all over the Bulldogs’ defense. He was 22 of 37 passing for 210 yards and a touchdown.
“He can scoot for sure, and he’s a slippery guy,” Johnson said. “He did a good job tonight. Credit to him.”
It wasn’t only Daniels who gashed Mississippi State on the ground Saturday. LSU ran for 206 yards on 38 carries, an average of 5.4 yards per attempt. Goodwin totaled 75 yards on just nine attempts, and Josh Williams’ lone carry went for a fourth-quarter score.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ offense ground to a halt. Mississippi State’s six second-half possessions resulted in three punts, an interception, a field goal and a turnover on downs.
MSU failed to record a first down in its two drives prior to Rogers’ pick.
“It’s extremely critical that we put drives together,” Rogers said. “Even if you don’t score on a drive, you need to move the ball and get a couple first downs. The defense needs to get over there and decompress a little bit. Three-and-outs, that can’t happen with us.”
Mississippi State intends to fix those issues by Saturday’s game against Bowling Green (1-2) at 11 a.m. at Davis Wade Stadium.
Apparently, the Bulldogs are trying.
In the final minutes, Rogers went up to each of his offensive teammates on the sideline. To every player, he repeated the same message.
“Come ready to work this week. We’ve got a big one.”
LSU 31, Mississippi State 16
Mississippi State (2-1) 6 7 3 0 — 16
LSU (2-1) 0 7 3 21 — 31
First quarter
MS — Jo’quavious Marks 37 run (kick failed), clock 7:30
Second quarter
MS — Rara Thomas 13 pass from Will Rogers (Ben Raybon kick), clock 2:14
LS — Jaray Jenkins 8 pass from Jayden Daniels (Damian Ramos kick), clock 0:50
Third quarter
LS — Ramos 35 FG, clock 10:56
MS — Raybon 45 FG, clock 6:31
Fourth quarter
LS — Daniels 3 run (Ramos kick), clock 14:11
LS — Josh Williams 7 run (Ramos kick), clock 6:53
LS — Armoni Goodwin 47 run (Ramos kick), clock 4:50
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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