STARKVILLE — Mississippi State moved to 3-0 on the year with a 63-0 blowout win against Alcorn State at home on Saturday. More than 80 players touched the field in all three phases of the game as the Bulldogs pulled away early and took advantage of the opportunity to play freshmen and depth pieces.
It wasn’t the spectacle of excitement and drama that unfolded the previous week in a late win over Arizona State, but it was an important outing for the team nonetheless as players looked to make a name for themselves and earn bigger roles.
Here are some of the standouts from the win.
Standout stat: 8 different Bulldogs score TDs
Mississippi State saw a whole host of ball carriers on offense against Alcorn State. Three quarterbacks threw a pass, six running backs took carries, and eight receivers hauled in at least one catch.
It makes sense that eight different players found the end zone, and it’s a credit to the gameplan that players were switching in and out effectively early on.
For head coach Jeff Lebby and staff, the line changes deep into the game were a reward for the guys who put in work behind the starters, but it’s also a meaningful look at who can make an impact going forward. Come later in the season, if injuries pile up or guys need a rest and reset, he wants to have an idea of who he can trust in what situations, and that shows up in more than just the scoreboard from Saturday.
“It’s huge, being able to reward those guys to go play,” Lebby said. “We played 40 different guys on special teams from a substitution standpoint, and seeing those things play out the way they did was really good to see. Being able to play all those guys on teams, that creates depth later for us in who’s another guy that’s got the ability to run down a kick or block, whatever it is. That’s huge for us as we continue moving forward.”
Kamario Taylor and Luke Kromenhoek
On MSU’s third drive of the game, the Bulldogs ran out two quarterbacks, with Blake Shapen taking the shotgun snap and tossing it back toward Kamario Taylor.
Taylor rolled out to his right and fired to Brenen Thompson in the end zone, completing a 42-yard touchdown on his first pass as a college player.
Kromenhoek got a couple of drives in the second half, leading two scoring drives and running one in for his first touchdown as a Bulldog. The Florida State transfer had some experience last season, being thrown into the fire as the Seminoles tried to salvage their season, but he showed poise running the offense.
Both quarterbacks were quick with their reads, and showed the ability to scramble as well.
Taylor’s best moment was probably on a play that didn’t stand because of a penalty. He scrambled to his right on third and long, evading a missed rusher and throwing on the run to hit a receiver for the first down. It was chalked off for an ineligible player downfield penalty, but offered a glimpse of the talent for the future.
Anthony Evans
Evans had another standout week, this time largely from his production on special teams.
The receiver had two big punt returns of 41 and 43 yards, respectively, setting up two easy scoring drives for the offense. He totaled 97 return yards from three punts, and he scored a touchdown on offense, finding space over the middle to catch and run into the end zone from 22 yards out. He also led the team in receptions again with four catches.
“We saw that they got the ball out quick, as you could see towards the end of the game when they started holding onto it,” Evans said. “I knew once I was going to get the ball they were going to be far away, so I’m going to have space, and I just do what I do when I have space.”
Evans has emerged as one of the most dangerous players with the ball in his hands in the MSU offense, and his explosive speed and vision make him a threat from anywhere on the field. If the Bulldogs can continue to find him in space, they’ll continue to be a threat to make a house call from anywhere, or at least be set up with great field position.
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