STARKVILLE – Donald Gray is more than capable of changing a game on the offensive side of the ball, but it was a special teams play Saturday that set the tone.
The Mississippi State sophomore wide receiver shifted all the momentum to his team’s side after blocking a Louisiana Tech punt in the first half. That led to an MSU touchdown and the first lead of the game, a lead the home Bulldogs never relinquished in a 45-20 victory on a Homecoming Saturday afternoon at Davis Wade Stadium.
“Coach (Dan) Mullen was kind of fired up, so we fed off him,” Gray said. “It just kind of rubbed off on us. We saw the same exact thing we worked on. We worked on it all week, the shielding move and the tackle didn’t move. No one touched us, so we knew we were going to be free. We just took it.”
With the game tied at 17, MSU’s defense forced a three-and-out and Louisiana Tech (4-3) was forced to bring on the punting unit. Gerald Shouse took the snap, but several MSU (5-2) defenders were in the backfield and Gray dove to knock the ball back. Brandon Bryant, who returned an interception for 73 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, pounced on it to give MSU the ball at the 2-yard line.
One play later, and the home Bulldogs were in the end zone as quarterback Dak Prescott rushed for a 2-yard touchdown and MSU took a 24-17 lead with 57 seconds remaining in the first half.
MSU had already captured the momentum, but it shifted permanently to the home side after the series of plays to put MSU in the lead.
“We had some big plays out there, especially with the blocked kick,” Mullen said.
The punt team was challenged this week by Mullen to come up with a block and they made their coach proud. MSU had just one blocked punt for the season entering the ballgame. Beniquez Brown blocked a punt against Southern Mississippi in the season opener.
Gray had dropped a couple of passes on offense and wanted to make amends for those drops. When he stepped on the field, he felt like it was going to happen.
“(Wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales) told me right before I went out to kind of forget about the drop because there was going to be more opportunities to have,” Gray said. “I seized my moment. I saw it and I just took it.”
After falling behind 14-0, MSU fought back and went on a 45-6 run. Former West Point standout Aeris Williams had a 2-yard touchdown to put MSU on the board. Westin Graves, who is now 8 of 8 for the season, made a 26-yard field goal.
Louisiana Tech answered with a a 33-yard Johnthan Barnes field goal, but Prescott found De’Runnya Wilson for a 5-yard touchdown to tie things up.
“I think it happened almost before that,” Prescott said of the momentum shift before the blocked punt. “That was just almost the finisher, the momentum staying with us.”
The punt made the meeting in the locker room at halftime that much better. The fans appreciated the effort as well.
Gray was slapped on the head numerous times on the field and when he got to the sidelines, it only increased.
“I was getting bombarded by everyone,” Gray said.
The Williams touchdown started a streak of six-straight scoring drives for MSU.
MSU’s defense shut down Louisiana Tech on the first drive of the second half forcing a punt.
Prescott and the offense turned that into another touchdown to take a 31-17 lead. Prescott found Wilson again, this time for a 20-yard touchdown. Prescott hit Fred Brown for a 12-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.
Gray, who had just one catch for four yards, transferred to MSU from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. He got to Starkville in the spring and went through spring drills with MSU. He was known for his great hands, and the early drops against Louisiana Tech aren’t indicative of what he’s capable of.
The special teams showed he is more than just an offensive threat.
“I think he showed a lot of his true potential today,” Mullen said. “He is constantly working on being a consistent football player. He wants to be good.”
The 5-foot-10, 193-pound Gray, who has eight catches for 208 yards this season, will continue to grow as a wide receiver for MSU. As for an all-around football player, he is showing his versatility more and more.
“You’ve got to improve in every area when you get a chance to, whether it be special teams or on offense, I’ll do it,” Gray said.
MSU is back at home next Saturday when it host Kentucky for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on the SEC Network. The Bulldogs are looking to be bowl eligible for the sixth-straight season with a win over the Wildcats.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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