STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football didn’t mess around with falling victim to a major upset. Against Bowling Green, MSU didn’t want to enter a group already hosting Notre Dame and Texas A&M this season.
So the Bulldogs (3-1) handled business, taking down the Falcons 45-14 on Saturday. Here’s how the Clarion Ledger graded various phases of Mississippi State’s win.
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Offense: A+
Bowling Green (1-3) entered with one of the nation’s worst pass defenses, and MSU quarterback Will Rogers made sure to expose it.
Rogers threw for 409 yards and matched a career high with six touchdowns. He did so by utilizing outside receiver Lideatrick Griffin, who wasn’t getting as many targets as he should have through the first three games.
Without Jo’quavious Marks, MSU didn’t lean on its running game much. But it wasn’t an issue as 13 different receivers caught passes, including running back Simeon Price, who collected his first career touchdown.
Defense: A
BGSU, behind backup quarterback Camden Orth, couldn’t string together much of anything. The Falcons didn’t secure a first down until the second quarter.
The Falcons had one score against the first-team defense, which was an impressive catch by 6-foot-7 receiver Tyrone Broden.
Safety Shawn Preston Jr. hauled in his first interception of the year, giving MSU four on the season.
This was MSU’s best defensive outing of the season.
Special teams: A+
Shocking, right? Mississippi State’s special teams finally played a clean game.
Griffin and Zavion Thomas showed a couple flashes in the return game, and kicker Ben Raybon made a 53-yard field goal. Punter George Georgopoulos pinned BGSU inside its own 5-yard line.
More importantly, the special teams unit didn’t make a crucial mistake.
This type of performance will be needed as SEC play approaches and the third phase proves critical in tight matchups.
Coaching: A+
Mike Leach didn’t overcomplicate things. The offensive line might be an issue, particularly with Kwatrivous Johnson injured. So Leach utilized screen passes to get the ball out of Rogers’ hands quick.
Leach gave Rogers a couple drives in the fourth quarter before Sawyer Robertson came in. Not removing Rogers earlier might have been the lone error, but it proved not to be an issue.
After some costly decisions at LSU, Leach had a strong plan against a lowly opponent.
Overall: A+
This is the outing Mississippi State needed. After a tough loss at LSU exposed some flaws, MSU needed a clean, easy win against BGSU.
Backups were able to get reps and starters played enough to not be rusty heading into Saturday’s (3 p.m., SEC Network) matchup against Texas A&M.
MSU opened up a three-game homestand on a high note. What’s next, with A&M and Arkansas coming to Starkville, could define how the 2022 season is remembered. A performance anywhere near this one will be welcomed.
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3
