CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mississippi State was looking to not repeat last year’s late season struggles.
The Bulldogs lost three of four games down the stretch, including a 49-34 loss to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl. MSU lost to Alabama and Ole Miss this season in the month of November, but wanted to finish the right way and not lose the bowl game. MSU coach Dan Mullen said he challenged his team during Tuesday’s practice.
“I got after them because I just wanted to make sure that we understood the transition happening in being game ready,” Mullen said. “We had already done all the preparation in Starkville and then we come here and we repeat it again. I wanted to make sure we were ready. I jumped everybody.”
The Bulldogs seemed more than eager in practice this past week to finish the season with a win. They were energetic during practice and seemed to be enjoying themselves at the bowl site. They showed that on the field. MSU beat North Carolina State 51-28 Wednesday afternoon in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. It is the most points scored by a team in the history of the Belk Bowl.
It was the sixth-straight bowl appearance for the Bulldogs (9-4) under coach Dan Mullen and the seventh-year coach improves to 4-2 in bowl games. It is the first time MSU has won nine games in two consecutive seasons. The Bulldogs won 10 a season ago.
A 31-6 loss to Alabama and a 38-27 loss to Ole Miss were demoralizing for the Bulldogs as they were primed for victories in both this season, but MSU shook off the loss to the Crimson Tide and beat Arkansas 51-50 on the road Nov. 21.
But the Bulldogs wanted to make sure they had something positive to fall back on when spring practice starts in a couple of months. This could be another building block for Mullen within the program.
“We have a very young football team and we have a lot of guys coming back for us next year,” Mullen said. “You look at what they could accomplish moving forward could be very, very special. Winning our ninth game of the season, that will kind of put a big smile on your face and give you a lot of confidence for the next nine months until we play again.”
The Bulldogs, who started slow last year against the Yellow Jackets in the bowl game, started this game on a furious pace. On the first play from scrimmage, redshirt freshman Gerri Green (who got first-career start) intercepted NC State’s Jacoby Brissett. Prescott found Fred Ross for a 14-yard touchdown and an early 7-0 lead to convert the turnover into points
After a Brandon Bryant interception, Prescott found De’Runnya Wilson for a 28-yard touchdown to give MSU a 14-0 lead with 3 minutes, 31 seconds remaining in the first quarter. A turnover on downs by NC State (7-6) turned into a 33-yard Ross touchdown and a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
“You’ve got to respond quick and it just demoralizes the other team when they have a turnover and you can respond right back with a touchdown,” Prescott said. “It gives us momentum and allows us to keep going.”
The Wolfpack scored two straight touchdowns to cut the lead to 21-14, but MSU scored the final 10 points of the first half to lead 31-14 at halftime. Justin Malone recovered a Prescott fumble in the end zone for a touchdown and Westin Graves made a 39-yard field goal.
“I think we have a lot of veterans and we’ve been in those situations,” Mullen said of taking back the momentum before half. “We knew we were here for four quarters. The key is for your guys to know there is no panic.”
Brissett scored a 3-yard touchdown to open the second half to cut the lead to 31-21, but MSU scored 20-straight points (two Prescott to Brandon Holloway touchdowns and a 33-yard touchdown by West Point native Aeris Williams) before a 1-yard touchdown by NC State’s Jaylen Samuels late in the fourth quarter. Holloway rushed for 41 yards and caught four passes for 78 yards and the two touchdowns.
The Bulldogs finished with 569 yards of total offense and only allowed 424.
Prescott, who was named Most Valuable Player for the bowl game with 427 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, played in his final game as a Bulldog and he will be long remembered by Bulldog fans. Going out on a winning note was important to him and his teammates were able to accomplish that.
“It was my last game, so I wanted to make sure I finished off with a win, especially after last year losing the last three of four,” Prescott said. “The last time wearing this maroon and white, I wanted people to remember me as a winner.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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