Following a 51-10 drubbing at the hands of Texas A&M last week, Mississippi State fired head coach Zach Arnett and named senior offensive analyst Greg Knox interim head coach. But the Bulldogs (4-6) still have games to play, and they are back home Saturday to take on Southern Miss (3-7). The game will kick off at 11 a.m. on ESPN+ and SEC Network Plus. Here are five keys to victory for MSU.
Take some shots down the field
This is a bit tricky considering the Bulldogs have three quarterbacks who could potentially start Saturday, but the Golden Eagles have been ravaged by injuries in the secondary, forcing two offensive players to move to cornerback midseason. This game could be a good chance for MSU to open up the offense for the first time in a while and stretch the field with the likes of Zavion Thomas, Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin and Justin Robinson. If Will Rogers returns behind center, those downfield shots are that much more likely to connect.
Run the ball, run the clock
The strength of the Southern Miss defense is up front — last week in an overtime win at Louisiana, the Golden Eagles made two goal-line stands. Bulldogs lead running back Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks may or may not return Saturday, but Seth Davis and Jeffery Pittman are more than capable of picking up chunk yardage. As the favorite and the home team, MSU will want to keep its defense on the sidelines as much as possible, and running the ball effectively is a good way to do just that.
Limit Frank Gore Jr.’s production
This has been far easier said than done of late — the son of five-time Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore Sr. has rushed for 637 yards and five touchdowns in his last three games. Those games came against Sun Belt Conference teams, though, and even a below-average Southeastern Conference defense represents a step up in difficulty for Gore and company. It will fall on the shoulders of linebackers Jett Johnson and Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson to prevent Gore from getting into the secondary for big plays.
Make the quarterback uncomfortable
Like the Bulldogs, Southern Miss has not named a starting quarterback for Saturday. Billy Wiles has started all 10 games for the Golden Eagles, but true freshman Ethan Crawford saw his first significant action last week, completing six of 11 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. No matter who starts, MSU would be wise to bring pressure early and often, which could also help against the run. Crawford can make plays with his legs as well, and the Bulldogs have struggled against several mobile quarterbacks this season.
Avoid the dreaded slow start
MSU has scored a combined 10 first-quarter points in its last four games, and seven of them came on an opening-kickoff return for a touchdown by Thomas last week. In their last three losses, the Bulldogs have spent a total of three minutes with the lead. If they are unable to start fast against Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles will begin to smell an upset. A first-quarter touchdown would help put MSU at ease after a tumultuous week in Starkville.
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