STARKVILLE — Well, at least the game was fun for a quarter and a half, right?
After that, Mississippi State flat out got pushed around by a much better team.
The final score read No. 2 LSU 36, MSU 13.
Not a fun point differential, but really, did anyone expect any different?
A quick programming note for those who are new here: Bulldog Bullets will be a weekly recurring article filled with short observations and commentary written throughout Mississippi State football games that posts shortly after the final gun.
To the Bulldog Bullets:
– Joe Burrow is the real deal, folks. The LSU passer is just so methodical and precise. Tigers fans are pretty lucky to watch this guy week in and week out. Final stats: 25 of 32 passing, 327 yards, four touchdowns.
– There were some flashes in the first half, but it’s pretty amazing how stagnant MSU’s offense is week in and week out. LSU is great, but I mean, Vanderbilt scored 38 points against this defense.
– A very noticeable L-S-U chant breaking out with seven minutes remaining on your own home field after three straight penalties back your offense up to their own 1-yard line has to be one of the most deflating feelings possible.
– MSU’s first series ended because the Bulldogs can’t get one yard on third and fourth down. It’s still pretty puzzling to me how there’s no plays in MSU’s playbook that involve the quarterback going under center. Garrett Shrader is more than capable of falling forward one yard.
– Making a goal-line stand three series in a row against one of the best offenses in the country is pretty impressive, Bulldog defense.
– First quarter total yardage: MSU 65, LSU 61.
– CJ Morgan had himself a heck of a quarter and a half in pass coverage. He saved at least one touchdown.
– Shrader’s second-quarter touchdown drive was surgical. He was 3 of 4 for 46 yards through the air with a strong 12-yard touchdown run to cap it off. Davis Wade was rocking.
– And a few seconds later, all the momentum was sapped. A defensive breakdown led to LSU’s Racey McMath catching a 60-yard touchdown with no MSU defender within 10 yards of him.
– The play before Shrader’s interception in the second quarter, it was pretty clear pass interference should have been called on K’Lavon Chaisson, who was guarding Kylin Hill. Alas, that’s life.
– It seemed a little disappointing for MSU to have the ball at its own 35 down 15 with 30 seconds left before halftime and elect to let the clock run out. Especially considering LSU started the second half with the ball.
– Burrow at halftime: 14 of 19, 201 yards, two touchdowns. Considering he took quite a few hits, very impressive stuff.
– LSU tidbit: Burrow tied the Tigers’ single-season passing touchdown record with 28 on his 37-yard touchdown strike to Derrick Dillon in the third quarter then broke the record by earning his 29th pass on the next series. There’s five games left.
– Mississippi State had one of the best Salute to Service moments I’ve seen. A four-year veteran in a wheelchair rolled out onto the field and later ditched the wheelchair and walked off with his two prosthetic legs. Not even going to lie, my tear ducts were almost put to good use.
– No idea what next week will look like. You’d like to think Texas A&M is a beatable team, but MSU hasn’t exactly shown confidence it can beat anyone on the road.
– A quick comment on the whole Moorhead to Rutgers speculation that exploded on Twitter and the Paul Finebaum show Friday: Even if the job would take Moorhead closer to home, it just doesn’t seem like a smart career move to leave Mississippi State for arguably the biggest mess in Power Five football. Unless, he sees the writing on the wall at MSU and wants to leave on his own terms. I have no idea how long MSU athletic director John Cohen is going to stand behind Moorhead, but if the Bulldogs don’t make a bowl, things could turn ugly. The short answer here is there’s no clear answer on what’s going to happen and the rumors will probably not cease until Moorhead issues a flat out denial (he hasn’t done so in two opportunities now) or Rutgers makes a hire.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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