Call it the Tulu Griffin game.
From electrifying kickoff returns to catching the game-sealing touchdown, the true freshman did it all in Mississippi State’s 28-26 Armed Forces Bowl victory over Tulsa Thursday.
This officially puts a bow on MSU’s first season under Mike Leach, that began with uncertainty it would even be played in the summer, kicked off with a bang after upsetting LSU, saw a lot of opt outs and subpar play for five weeks, then finished with a stretch that leaves plenty of room for optimism if you’re a fan of the maroon and white.
Every touchdown MSU scored in the bowl was from a true freshman. Factoring in that detail, it’s easier to see why Leach and his staff are optimistic about 2021 and beyond. But the margin for forgiveness for growing pains will be much thinner.
As a quick aside, I want to thank all of you for following along with Bulldog Bullets, however many times you read, in this wild, wacky football season. This year was unlike anything we’ve ever seen, and in some semblance I’m thankful we were able to cover 11 football games. Even though the losses outweighed the wins, I hope you enjoyed watching the season as much as we enjoyed covering it, even if most of you weren’t allowed into Davis Wade Stadium.
OK moving on to the Bulldog Bullets:
– Have to lead with how awesome Tulu Griffin was on kickoff return Thursday. On one hand, holy cow does MSU have a rising star in the making. On the other, Tulsa’s special teams coordinator has some explaining to do why his team gave Griffin chance after chance so he doesn’t get a pink slip. The electric freshman set up MSU’s opening drive touchdown with a big return to midfield, had two other returns past midfield later and would have had a fourth on the day if a holding penalty didn’t wipe it out. Griffin has looked flat out dynamic when he’s been given the ball this year. Heck, he even caught a touchdown as a receiver Thursday. It’ll be interesting to see if his role as a wide receiver expands next season.
– Didn’t get to see any of the postgame brawl in person, only what was shown on television, but regardless of how it started, what a damn shame the story nationally in this game will be a fight after the final snap instead of highlights on the field. Between a Tulsa player having to be helped off the field and Malik Heath literally kicking someone while he’s down, it’s a terrible look for both schools, period.
– Because of the low number of available players for the latter half of the season, the Bulldogs’ defense has often had to rely on unsung heroes. Jay Jimison and Sherman Timbs, both of whom saved touchdowns, got to play that role Thursday. The fact that MSU keeps plugging in guys defensively with success says a lot about its depth, and a lot about defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s scheme.
– The first half was just the epitome of MSU’s defense. Bend, don’t break, allow big chunks of yardage at times but not a backbreaking play. It’s why the Bulldogs led 7-6 at halftime despite being outgained 229-129.
– Part of the initial appeal of drawing Tulsa in a bowl game was getting to see linebacker Zaven Collins. Collins, a likely future first round NFL draft pick, opted out of the bowl to prepare for his professional career. Can’t help but think Tulsa missed him Thursday. Also worth mentioning Tulsa was missing its starting right tackle.
– Interesting stat from Yahoo Sports: the 2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs will join Mike Leach’s 2012 Washington State Cougars as the only Leach-coached teams to finish outside the top 100 in points scored per game.
– Jo’quavious Marks taking his first carry 28 yards for a rushing touchdown, just like we all expected. A rare rushing touchdown aside, that 28-yard carry was the longest run Marks had this season.
– Counting Thursday, Tulsa had been outscored 63-12 by opponents in first quarters.
– First two drives for MSU defense: three sacks.
– The Bulldogs had twice as many rushing yards as they did passing yards in the first quarter. What alternate universe are we living in?
– MSU’s offensive line allowed two sacks when the opposition was rushing three defenders. While that unit got better as the year progressed, it’s going to need to be much better in 2021.
– Normally, MSU passes more than 80 percent of the time offensively, which is of course the highest run-pass disparity by far in the FBS. I think the balance the Bulldogs showed against Missouri (38 passes, 28 runs) and Tulsa (30 passes, 30 runs) really worked toward their advantage. Will be interesting to see if Leach’s run-pass disparity changes at all in 2021.
– Let’s just say Shawn Preston did not have his best day defensively. I don’t know if players have to do film study on the last game of the season or not, but his tackling will not have a very high grade.
– Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes capped off a hell of a freshman season with his fifth interception and third pick-six (a MSU record for most returned interceptions for a touchdown in a season). Although, it’s not very often you see an official flip flop which team a penalty is called on a minute later, but that meant Forbes’ touchdown stood so all’s well that ends well, I suppose.
– I tried to put Tucker Day’s 0-yard punt (yes, you read that correctly), into proper context with words at least three times before publication of this article, and failed. Did he slip? Was it the poor weather conditions? Did he accidentally kick the ground? Did he just naturally have a terrible punt? Who knows. You just have to search for it on YouTube and guess for yourself.
– One key narrative for 2021 worth watching starting in spring ball is how much of a stranglehold Will Rogers has on the starting gig. Sawyer Robertson and Jack Abraham are going to make the quarterback room very interesting.
– As grateful as I am that we got a football season in, I really hope we’ve made enough progress by next August to have 62,000 screaming fans allowed at Davis Wade Stadium. The sport just isn’t the same without that atmosphere.
– Cheers to 2021, we survived 2020, y’all.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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