Mississippi State kicks off the 2021 football season Saturday in Starkville.
The Bulldogs host Louisiana Tech at Davis Wade Stadium beginning at 3 p.m. Second-year head coach Mike Leach and MSU are hoping to build on a 4-7 season in 2020 in front of full stadiums a year later.
Follow along for live updates from Saturday’s season opener.
6:51 p.m. — Final: Mississippi State 35, Louisiana Tech 34. LA Tech’s 46-yard field goal is short, and MSU pulls off the 20-point comeback win.
6:28 p.m. — Touchdown, Mississippi State. Jaden Walley hauls in a 15-yard pass from Will Rogers to give Mississippi State the lead. MSU 35, LA Tech 34, 3:37 left in the fourth quarter.
6:18 p.m. — Touchdown, Mississippi State. A 40-yard catch by Jamire Calvin sets up Woody Marks for a 5-yard touchdown run. It’s a one-score game again. LA Tech 34, MSU 28, 7:24 left in the fourth quarter.
6:05 p.m. — Touchdown, Mississippi State. Woody Marks scores on a 1-yard run after a long kickoff return by Tulu Griffin. LA Tech 34, MSU 21, 12:01 left in the fourth quarter.
6 p.m. — Louisiana Tech’s Jacob Barnes hits a 33-yard field goal. LA Tech 34, MSU 14, 13:11 left in the fourth quarter.
5:53 p.m. — End of the third quarter. LA Tech 31, Mississippi State 14.
5:45 p.m. — Touchdown, Louisiana Tech. Will Rogers makes a brutal mistake, throwing a late, ill-advised pass toward the right sideline. Trey Baldwin takes it 35 yards for a pick-six. LA Tech 31, Mississippi State 14, 1:50 left in the third quarter.
5:40 p.m. — MSU’s defense holds after a third-and-7, and a 20-yard field goal by Louisiana Tech’s Jacob Barnes is good. LA Tech 24, Mississippi State 14, 3:06 left in the third quarter.
5:34 p.m. — Moments after a 30-yard reception, Austin Williams fumbles on a pass from Will Rogers. Louisiana Tech grabs it at the MSU 40-yard line.
5:15 p.m. — Will Rogers is stripped by Louisiana Tech at the MSU 21. It was ruled a fumble on the field but overturned on replay to an incomplete pass. Still, the Bulldogs had to punt.
5:03 p.m. — The second half is underway. Louisiana Tech will start with the ball at the 25.
4:41 p.m. — Halftime: Louisiana Tech 21, Mississippi State 14. Not the first half MSU wanted in its first game of the season.
4:31 p.m. — Will Rogers is hit from behind and fumbles. Louisiana Tech grabs the ball at the 39.
4:26 p.m. — Touchdown, Louisiana Tech. Smoke Harris grabs a 24-yard touchdown pass from Austin Kendall. PAT good. LA Tech 21, MSU 14, 3:06 left in the second quarter.
4:07 p.m. — The Bulldogs turn it over as Dillon Johnson fumbles on a short pass from Will Rogers. After review, the call stands as Louisiana Tech takes over at the 39.
3:57 p.m. — Touchdown, Louisiana Tech. Quarterback Austin Kendall keeps the ball on third-and-1 from the 41 and runs up the middle for a 59-yard touchdown. MSU 14, LA Tech 14, 11:55 left in the second quarter.
3:41 p.m. — Touchdown, Louisiana Tech. With just seconds left in the first quarter, Austin Kendall finds Bub Means down the left sideline for a 72-yard touchdown pass to put LA Tech on the board. Mississippi State 14, LA Tech 7, end of the first quarter.
3:38 p.m. — Touchdown, Mississippi State. Will Rogers finds Jamire Calvin for a 20-yard touchdown on a screen pass. MSU 14, LA Tech 0.
3:34 p.m. — Aaron Odom pounces on a fumble by LA Tech running back Marcus Williams Jr. MSU ball at the LA Tech 33.
3:14 p.m. — Touchdown, Mississippi State. Jo’quavious Marks catches a 1-yard touchdown pass from Will Rogers. Brandon Ruiz’s PAT is good. MSU 7, LA Tech 0.
3:08 p.m. — MSU’s Tyrus Wheat picks off LA Tech’s Austin Kendall.
3:06 p.m. — A holding penalty derails the series, and Brandon Ruiz misses a 52-yard field goal.
3:02 p.m. — Louisiana Tech kicks off, Tulu Griffin takes the ball to the 43, and MSU is in business.
2:57 p.m. — Mississippi State and Louisiana Tech take the field.
2:27 p.m. — Mississippi State announces its starters on defense, offense and special teams.
DL: Randy Charlton, Cameron Young, Jaden Crumedy
LB: Tyrus Wheat, Nathaniel Watson, Aaron Brule
DB: Martin Emerson, Collin Duncan, Jalen Green, Fred Peters, Emmanuel Forbes
OL: Charles Cross, Kameron Jones, LaQuinston Sharp, Kwatrivous “Dollar Bill” Johnson, Scott Lashley
WR: Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin, Jamire Calvin, Austin Williams, Makai Polk.
RB: Jo’quavious Marks
QB: Will Rogers
LS: Hayes Hammond
P: Tucker Day
K: Brandon Ruiz
2:20 p.m. — Senior wide receiver Malik Heath is not warming up with the rest of Mississippi State’s wideouts. This is likely connected to Heath’s role in the fight between the Bulldogs and Tulsa at the end of last year’s Armed Forces Bowl.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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