STARKVILLE — Mississippi State answered Florida’s first touchdown with one of its own late in the first quarter, then followed that up with a rare big play on defense.

On the first play of the second quarter, Bulldogs safety Isaac Smith knocked the ball out of Gators running back Montrell Johnson Jr.’s hands, and cornerback Kelley Jones was right there to make the recovery. Just like that, MSU had a chance to take its first lead since Week 1 against Eastern Kentucky.=

Starting just shy of midfield, quarterback Blake Shapen rolled to his left on first down and scrambled for a four-yard gain. But left tackle Makylan Pounders was penalized for holding, backing the Bulldogs up to first-and-20 on their own 38-yard line.

MSU’s next three plays resulted in two incomplete passes and a three-yard run by Johnnie Daniels, forcing a punt. Florida proceeded to drive 65 yards in seven plays to take the lead for good in a 45-28 Gators victory.

“We had some huge missed opportunities in the first half in the run game, early on some drives where we had some things that had a chance to be really good,” Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby said. “Offensively, we can’t start the way we started. The penalties and some of the negative plays in the first couple series were absolute killers.”

Defense can’t get off the field with Florida backed up

With MSU (1-3, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) down 21-7 later in the second quarter, the Bulldogs picked up three first downs and moved the ball to the Gators’ 26 before more of those negative plays reared their ugly heads. Jack Pyburn stuffed Keyvone Lee in the backfield for a four-yard loss on first down, and then tight end Justin Ball was called for holding on an outside block on a screen pass to set up a second-and-23.

MSU ultimately punted after taking a delay of game penalty, but Nick Barr-Mira managed to pin Florida inside its own 10. A strong open-field tackle from linebacker Stone Blanton put the Gators at third-and-9, but the Bulldogs just could not make a stop. Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway took off to his right on a designed run, and no defender could touch him until he had gained 13 yards and picked up a first down.

From there, Florida (2-2, 1-1) moved the ball with ease, completing a 91-yard touchdown drive that put the visitors up three scores late in the first half.

“They were huge momentum plays for us and frustrating in the moment,” Lebby said. “Things we’re going to have to clean up.”

Botched option play ends comeback in its tracks

Trailing 35-21 as the third quarter turned into the fourth, MSU was on the verge of scoring a touchdown on its third straight possession, taking advantage of two pass interference penalties to reach the doorstep of the end zone. The Bulldogs stayed in the shotgun as Daniels had no room to run up the middle on second down and Davon Booth didn’t either on third down.

On fourth-and-goal, MSU decided to go to the outside, with Shapen — who by then had sustained the shoulder injury that would ultimately end his season — taking off to the left before pitching the ball to Booth on a speed option. Booth had blockers on the outside and appeared to have a clear path to the end zone, only he wasn’t able to corral the ball, and Gators linebacker Grayson Howard fell on it for the turnover.

That turned out to be Shapen’s last play of the season, as freshman Michael Van Buren took over behind center the next time the Bulldogs had the ball.

“When you look at the third down call there, we’re motioning, we’re in a heavy personnel group, felt good about that run,” Lebby said. “Frustrating for me. Blake was dinged at that point, and he felt good in the huddle. He had the ability to keep the football (on fourth down) on a read scheme for us. I truly believed in him in that moment. With things that were going on physically, he doesn’t end up keeping the ball. I wish I would have put him in a better situation.”