\STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football is 4-0 for the first time since 2014 after a 38-10 win over Northern Illinois at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday. It wasn’t quite as comfortable of a win as the scoreline would suggest, and came with several frustrating setbacks on special teams and offense, but the team rallied in the second half to score 24 unanswered points and shut out the visiting Huskies.
The offense needed a bit of time to get in gear and get the ball moving consistently, but they were afforded that time by the defense, which stood tall to keep NIU’s offense off the scoreboard in the second half.
Here’s a look at the moments that mattered in MSU’s win.
Onside kick
Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock made his first gamble early. The Huskies had just scored a touchdown after a bad punt by MSU set them up on the edge of the red zone.
It took just two plays for the score, giving NIU a 10-7 lead at the start of the second quarter.
Hammock opted to try and steal a possession to give his team a chance to really put the pressure on the hosts, calling a surprise onside kick on the ensuing kickoff.
MSU’s special teams recovered, perhaps fortunately considering the kick bounced their way and the number of special teams errors that occurred in the game, but the job was done, and MSU had the ball at midfield.
The Bulldogs still had a lot of work to do after that, and the offense needed a reset in the second half, but the momentum could have shifted dramatically in favor of the Huskies in that moment. Instead, it was the first of several breaks the Bulldogs created for themselves under pressure.
Isaac Smith INT
The Huskies had another chance to get right back in the game after MSU’s opening drive touchdown to start the second half. Quarterback Josh Holst led a drive into the red zone with a couple of explosive plays and big third downs to move the ball. The drive stalled out at the MSU 20-yard line, and Hammock opted to take a shot on third-and-10.
Holst’s pass toward the corner of the end zone was read perfectly by Isaac Smith, who pounced and snagged an interception while falling out of bounds.
The ball may not have been on target, but even with a miss, the Huskies could have made it a one-score game with a field goal. Creating a turnover and setting the offense up to add to the lead.
The Bulldogs went on four straight scoring drives to start the second half, and the defense continued to hold firm against a stout NIU offense.
Fourth down stop in 4th quarter
The Bulldog defense was rejuvenated after a bend-but-don’t-break third quarter, and the Huskies continued to move the ball and put the Bulldogs to the test. A drive at the end of the third quarter was stopped just short of the red zone on fourth down as Holst hit a receiver near the sticks, but he stepped out of bounds just short of the marker. The spot was reviewed and upheld, and the Bulldogs took over.
One last drive early in the fourth quarter had a similar result. At the 43-yard line, NIU kept its offense on the field for one last desperate move, trailing 31-10. By this point, the game seemed all but decided, but the MSU defense put it all out there to get another stop on fourth down and set up the offense for another touchdown drive.
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