NEW ORLEANS — Before I dive into this week’s decisive play, a quick programming note.
I’ll concede I’m not the offensive mind of a Joe Moorhead, nor do I possess the defensive wit of Bob Shoop, but in an unbiased, entertaining and in-depth approach, I will be dissecting one play each week that seemingly changed the course of the previous week’s game.
That said, let’s take a look at Week One’s play of the game: Austin Williams’ 12-yard fourth quarter touchdown reception.
Entering 2019, Moorhead has long harped on improving the MSU passing game. A 31-yard touchdown pass from graduate transfer quarterback Tommy Stevens to junior receiver Osirus Mitchell on Mississippi State’s opening drive offered an early glimpse of the renewed downfield passing effort.
Furthermore, it was Stevens and the suddenly competent Bulldog aerieal attack that proved the difference in Saturday’s 38-28 season opening win over Louisiana in New Orleans.
Starting at the Ragin’ Cajuns 12-yard line following a 40-yard Malik Dear punt return, Stevens lined up in the shotgun. Junior running back Kylin Hill flanked him to his right.
Stevens boasted two receivers to the left — junior JaVonta Payton on the outside and Williams in the slot, while Stephen Guidry lined up on the right in an outside position. Junior tight end Dontea Jones also joined Stevens and Hill in the backfield just off the line as a blocker on the right-hand side of the formation.
Despite preparing for a heavy dose of two-high zone looks, Moorhead said Monday Louisiana rarely, if ever, used those sets. Instead, the Ragin’ Cajuns relied heavily on one-high safeties and cover three.
Normally, the Bulldogs would have run the ball on first down just outside the 10, but Moorhead recognized the one-high, man coverage and immediately called a check from the sideline.
“We knew they were going to be in zero,” Stevens said. “It was the original play call that we thought of because that was kind of what we were getting earlier in the red zone — they were really blitzing us up down there.”
As the ball was snapped, Guidry ran a seven-yard curl, while Payton took off on a short crossing route.
Williams had an option out of the slot. Based on the leverage of the defender, he could run either a post or corner — he did the latter.
Recognizing the same zero-blitz that Moorhead saw, Stevens peered toward where Ragin’ Cajuns linebacker Jacques Boudreaux blitzed from the mike linebacker position. His eyes then fixated on Williams.
Taking three quick steps into the pocket, Stevens delivered a dime just over the head of Louisiana defender Brendan Johnson.
Whipping his head around, Williams skied up and over Johnson for the score as his left foot and knee touched down in the end zone.
“That’s how we draw it up, honestly” he said postgame. “Tommy made it easy for me.”
Following the picture-perfect snag, Williams flexed his right bicep — much to the enjoyment of the MSU faithful gathered in the lower levels of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
With the score, the Bulldogs earned themselves a three-touchdown lead — one that was diminished to just seven points with 2:45 remaining.
“It was great for him to get the opportunity he did and make an explosive play — score a touchdown,” Moorhead said.
Speaking on the three-and-out, punt return, and ensuing Williams touchdown, MSU’s bench boss characterized the five-play stretch as a microcosm of how he wants the offense, defense and special teams to work cohesively.
“I thought that was a great sequence when you talk about complimentary football,” Moorhead said, “Three phases working in concert with each other.”
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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