STARKVILLE — The so-called hidden yards — special teams yards, kicks and returns — have been a problem for No. 21 Mississippi State. The primary culprit was punting, not that it was taking hidden yardage away but that it was keeping MSU from winning more of it.
In a game where MSU punted thrice, there wasn’t much opportunity to miss hidden yards. In a game where Louisiana Tech punted seven times and kicked off twice, there were plenty of opportunities to gain hidden yardage, and MSU rarely missed.
MSU (6-3, No. 18 College Football Playoff) got four opportunities to return, two kickoffs and two punts; only one of them went for fewer than 20 yards. The Bulldogs racked up 41 kickoff return yards and 41 punt return yards in a 45-3 win over Louisiana Tech (6-3).
“That was (special teams coordinator Joey) Jones’ No. 1 point of emphasis,” head coach Joe Moorhead said. “He thought with the way they punted the ball, the trajectory and the distance, that we would be able to get some returns set up this week and we did. Deddrick (Thomas) did a nice job, Malik (Dear) had a nice return.”
That idea manifested itself most in the punt return game, in which Thomas had returns of 27 and 14 yards; both of them set up MSU touchdown drives.
“(Moorhead) kept looking at us saying, ‘We’re going to get us one today,'” Thomas said. “Just stay to the technique and whatever call he calls, run it, execute it to the best of our ability.”
Williams held out, scored
By all accounts, former West Point standout Aeris Williams had taken his Week 2 setback in stride. He was held out of the Kansas State game as a disciplinary measure, but came back to take 11 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown his next time out.
Much to his dismay, he had to do the same thing Saturday.
Williams did not play in the first half but quickly returned in the third quarter and made his presence felt: two carries for 42 yards and a touchdown.
“There was an accountability issue during the week. That’s part of developing a championship culture, and he understood,” Moorhead said.
Empty injury report
In his Monday press conference, Moorhead mentioned three players battling minor injuries, all of them at risk of missing this game: running back Kylin Hill, wide receiver Keith Mixon and defensive tackle Braxton Hoyett. All of them played.
Hill’s return saw him collect 10 touches, five on the ground and five through the air. His five carries went for 20 yards and his five catches went for 38 and a touchdown. Mixon had one catch for 13 yards and Braxton Hoyett had one tackle.
Provided no Bulldogs got injured against Louisiana Tech, MSU will be as healthy as it has been since the beginning of the season for its trip to top-ranked Alabama next week.
Ferguson’s climb continues
MSU’s shot at the nation’s career sack leader saw him add to that total.
Louisiana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson entered the game with 38 career sacks, 10.5 this season; his pair of sacks Saturday gave him the school record for career sacks and leaves him four behind the NCAA record for sacks that belongs to Terrell Suggs.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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