STARKVILLE — As Joe Moorhead slouched behind the podium in the underbelly of Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night, there was audible frustration in his voice.
Having just seen his team run off the field by the No. 7 Tigers 56-23, Moorhead irritably fielded questions, stopping every few seconds to bite his tongue or adjust his visor.
Most notably, it was a third-quarter unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he received that had him peeved.
“I saw what happened right in front of my face and thought it was a target and didn’t see the flag thrown,” Moorhead said. “I asked ‘Where’s the flag?’ and apparently he didn’t like how I asked — the delivery of it.”
“I’m guessing there aren’t many other coaches in the league that would be called on with that language, but that’s just me,” he added.
Just one of a number of mental lapses, Saturday’s thrashing was a case study in MSU’s recent inability to stay disciplined in losses.
Through five games this year, the Bulldogs currently rank as the second-least penalized team in the SEC, averaging just 49.6 penalty yards per game — an upgrade from last season’s 57.5-yard average.
But more pressing is MSU’s propensity for penalties in defeat. In losses to Auburn and Kansas State, the Bulldogs compiled a combined 16 penalties for 153 yards, good for an average of eight penalties for 76.5 penalty yards per game.
Conversely, MSU averaged just four flags and 31.7 resulting yards in wins over Louisiana, Southern Miss and Kentucky this year.
It’s also worth noting the Bulldogs’ inability to stay disciplined away from home. In last year’s road defeats at Kentucky, Florida and Alabama, MSU averaged 9.3 penalties for 78 yards — both of which eclipsed its average numbers for home losses.
“The first and biggest thumb goes back to me,” Moorhead said. “Myself and our coaches got to make sure we’re putting kids in position to be successful with the calls; we’ve got to make sure we’re out there making plays.”
At present, Saturday’s loss at Auburn proved consistent with MSU’s penalty-prone road trips of seasons past.
In all, the Bulldogs were tagged for nine penalties that accounted for 70 yards. And while those numbers aren’t entirely abysmal, MSU found a knack for finding flags in key moments.
Junior safety C.J. Morgan, who helped the Bulldogs record five penalties before earning a first down, picked up a personal foul for an egregiously late hit out of bounds on Auburn’s second drive.
Later in the second quarter, junior linebacker Erroll Thompson was ejected after earning a targeting foul for lowering the crown of his helmet on Auburn receiver Seth Williams, extending the Tigers’ drive after having notched a third-down stop.
Auburn scored touchdowns on both drives.
And though MSU’s defense accounted for 46 of the team’s 70 total penalty yards, the offense was far from innocent.
The unit picked up two delay of game penalties on its opening drive alone. The first occurred on MSU’s first play from scrimmage.
Senior right guard Dareuan Parker was also tabbed with a false start inside the Tigers’ 1-yard line as MSU had a chance to cut the Auburn lead to 17 heading into halftime.
Backed up four yards, freshman quarterback Garrett Shrader then fumbled his ensuing carry, leaving the Bulldogs without points and with little chance of a comeback.
“I think ‘DP’ thought I was going to go on one, but I went on two,” senior center Darryl Williams conceded postgame. “I really went on two, but I take the blame for Dareuan Parker jumping offsides.”
Miffed at the officiating postgame, Moorhead noticeably held back while addressing the media following his team’s flag-ridden night on The Plains.
Yet, in all reality, Saturday was simply another data point exhibiting MSU’s startling penchant for penalties both in losses and on the road, a trend that will continue to hamper the Bulldogs whether Moorhead thinks the refereeing is fair or not.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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