STARKVILLE — Hey! A win!
Those still count even if you play Vanderbilt. They also still count if you nearly blow a 17-point lead to Vanderbilt!
If nothing else, the four-game losing streak is over, and the bleeding is stopped. But oh man, that offense. Under 300 yards of total offense for the fourth straight week.
Something needs to change. But, a win’s a win.
As always, for those that are new to Bulldog Bullets, The Commercial Dispatch will bring you an instant reaction blog of Mississippi State football games posted immediately after the final gun filled with short observations and commentary.
To the Bulldog Bullets:
— Kobe Jones leading the team out of the tunnel holding the new state flag high to a roar from the crowd is just really damn cool.
— The Flying M helmets get two thumbs way, way up. I always have a soft spot for throwback uniforms and these are by far my favorite MSU has, especially considering the ties the university had to the United States space program back in those days.
— Vanderbilt only had 58 scholarship players available for this game. The Southeastern Conference mandate to play a game is 53 available scholarship players. As rough as this season has been for MSU, it’s been so much worse for Vanderbilt. I’m not going to stop you if you want to celebrate this win, but one close game against a lousy opponent doesn’t erase what’s now become an offensive stench lasting five straight games.
— Point totals from Vanderbilt’s opponents in the previous three weeks: 41 twice against South Carolina and LSU, 54 against Ole Miss. MSU scoring 24 seems a little unfulfilling, especially considering 14 of them came on short fields after takeaways.
A standing ovation to the defense after creating five takeaways and carrying the Bulldogs to a win by the hair of their chinny chin chin.
— Collin Duncan, what a one-handed interception.
— Will Rogers was 35 of 46 passing for 226 yards, so one way of looking at the true freshman’s first start is to call it moderately efficient. Yet, most of Rogers’ game was of the dink and dunk variety. Not too many attempts to attack the deep third. It’s probably fair to expect Leach to have the training wheels on for a bit, but defenses don’t take long at all to adjust in game.
— Rogers’ touchdown pass to Osirus Mitchell on the Bulldogs’ opening drive was the first offensive touchdown MSU scored since 11:11 remained in the fourth quarter against Texas A&M. That was 71 minutes and 11 seconds worth of game time between touchdowns. That’s a lot!
— Aaron Brule has been a freak of nature leading MSU’s defense this year. From stuffing running backs on goal line stands to arriving at his fits perfectly, he’s been a pleasure to watch this year.
— For as many times MSU has been on the receiving end of scoring 0 points on a red zone attempt this year, I’m sure it must have been nice to finally have been on the other end of those for once after Erroll Thompson’s interception in the end zone. It also proved to make a huge difference in the outcome!
— Yardage total when Vanderbilt scored a touchdown with 4:27 left in the third quarter: Vanderbilt 277, MSU 196.
— MSU punted seven straight times after Brandon Ruiz’s field goal in the second quarter. Not a great way to close out a game.
— I know Leach has little to no interest in ever running the ball, but seven attempts by actual running backs? Man. The Bulldogs did not run the ball the entire third quarter and didn’t have a rushing attempt (by a running back) until less than 4 minutes remaining in the fourth.
— If Marquiss Spencer doesn’t make that interception and Tyrus Wheat doesn’t get a strip sack in the fourth quarter… who knows?
Next two opponents: Auburn and Georgia. Good luck against those defenses, Bulldogs.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
