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Mississippi State dominates Charleston Southern 49-0
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) In their opening game of the year, Dan Mullen's Mississippi State team needed to clear the deck. Last year's campaign was plagued by injuries and inconsistencies on both sides of the ball, and the team squeaked into a bowl game with a losing record. If 2017 is to be any different, the Bulldogs needed to set the tone in Week One.
Boy, did they.
Nick Fitzgerald threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead Mississippi State to a 49-0 victory over Charleston Southern on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.
Mississippi State racked up 555 yards of offense with 29 first downs and almost a 50-50 split on yards rushing and passing.
Such offensive chutzpah was to be expected from a Mullen team, but the bigger surprise for Mississippi State was their defensive dominance.
''They played to our identity,'' first year defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. ''We attacked guys and understood what we needed to do from a game plan standpoint.''
Charleston Southern mustered only 33 total yards and two first downs against an MSU defense that allowed an average of 459 yards per game last season.
''That's the type of defense I expect,'' Mullen said. ''We had 11 guys running to the ball even with a couple minutes left in game. We've not had that here.''
Tougher competition looms, but with nine tackles for a loss, one sack and two safeties, the Bulldog unit carried the day.
''We've got a rhythm now,'' nose guard Jeffery Simmons said. ''Whatever the next team does best, we'll take that away too.''
MSU controlled the game from the opening kickoff, scoring 23 points and holding the Buccaneers to 15 yards of total offense in the first quarter.
''I don't want to be glib,'' Georgia Southern coach Mark Tucker said, ''but we probably set a school record today for most points in a game.''
The Bulldogs led 35-0 at halftime and cruised in the second half.
''It's an FCS team, sure, but we came out and played today,'' Mullen said. ''Maybe it's not a surprising result, but they can be. Other teams have been surprised.''
Fitzgerald was 16 for 29 for 239 yards, throwing touchdown passes to Gabe Myles and Deddrick Thomas. Aeris Williams led all rushers with 83 yards and a touchdown. Dontavian Lee also rushed for a touchdown.
THE TAKEAWAY
MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Bulldogs avoided dropping a second straight opener and looked like a contender in the ultra-deep SEC West. Last year's opening day loss to South Alabama underscored how much the team missed Dak Prescott, but Fitzgerald has matured mightily since then.
''Last year it was a big deflation, a big letdown,'' Fitzgerald said. ''This gives us confidence to get in there with the film this week and get even better.''
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: Clearly outmatched, CSU has multiple areas to address before they are competitive as an FBS team. The Buccaneers are 0-19 versus FBS schools.
UP NEXT
MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Bulldogs travel to Louisiana Tech next week for a second non-conference game, then host LSU the following Saturday in an early-season divisional sorting match.
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: The Bucs head to South Carolina State for the second of three season-opening road tests on Saturday. Tucker, a first-year coach, will again be seeking his inaugural CSU win.
Copyright 2017 by STATS. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
S. BucenellĀ
6 QB
|
S. Bucenell | 3/8 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
R. HarrisĀ
2 RB
|
R. Harris | 7 | 18 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. MitchellĀ
10 QB
|
R. Mitchell | 3 | 11 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. WilsonĀ
26 RB
|
T. Wilson | 3 | 9 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. AllenĀ
17 RB
|
A. Allen | 2 | 8 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. WallĀ
4 WR
|
G. Wall | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. HamiltonĀ
25 RB
|
C. Hamilton | 9 | 4 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. JohnsonĀ
1 QB
|
L. Johnson | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. ShulerĀ
28 RB
|
N. Shuler | 3 | -1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. BucenellĀ
6 QB
|
S. Bucenell | 5 | -17 | 0 | 4 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
T. HattenĀ
88 TE
|
T. Hatten | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. HamiltonĀ
25 RB
|
C. Hamilton | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
G. WallĀ
4 WR
|
G. Wall | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. DavisĀ
16 WR
|
S. Davis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. DinkinsĀ
80 WR
|
K. Dinkins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
K. ReighardĀ
63 K
|
K. Reighard | 12 | 44.8 | 2 | 54 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
N. FitzgeraldĀ
7 QB
|
N. Fitzgerald | 16/29 | 239 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. ThompsonĀ
10 QB
|
K. Thompson | 4/7 | 35 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
Ae. WilliamsĀ
22 RB
|
Ae. Williams | 16 | 83 | 1 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. GibsonĀ
21 RB
|
N. Gibson | 6 | 41 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. FitzgeraldĀ
7 QB
|
N. Fitzgerald | 7 | 41 | 1 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. ThompsonĀ
10 QB
|
K. Thompson | 6 | 36 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. MurphyĀ
26 RB
|
A. Murphy | 2 | 9 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. LeeĀ
28 RB
|
D. Lee | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Braswell IIIĀ
37 RB
|
B. Braswell III | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. ThomasĀ
18 WR
|
D. Thomas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
F. GreenĀ
82 TE
|
F. Green | 0 | 2 | 68 | 0 | 62 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. GrayĀ
6 WR
|
D. Gray | 0 | 3 | 57 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. ThomasĀ
18 WR
|
D. Thomas | 0 | 2 | 34 | 1 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. ToddĀ
20 WR
|
R. Todd | 0 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
G. MylesĀ
5 WR
|
G. Myles | 0 | 3 | 19 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. ThomasĀ
83 TE
|
J. Thomas | 0 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. MixonĀ
23 WR
|
K. Mixon | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Je. JacksonĀ
86 WR
|
Je. Jackson | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. CouchĀ
17 WR
|
J. Couch | 0 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
O. MitchellĀ
87 WR
|
O. Mitchell | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. GibsonĀ
21 RB
|
N. Gibson | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ju. JohnsonĀ
81 TE
|
Ju. Johnson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ae. WilliamsĀ
22 RB
|
Ae. Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. SimmonsĀ
94 DL
|
J. Simmons | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ko. JonesĀ
52 DL
|
Ko. Jones | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. AdamsĀ
43 DL
|
F. Adams | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. ThomasĀ
34 DL
|
C. Thomas | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. GrayĀ
12 DB
|
J. Gray | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. HarrisĀ
11 LB
|
D. Harris | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. ChristmannĀ
47 K
|
J. Christmann | 0/0 | 0 | 1/1 | 1 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
L. CookeĀ
43 P
|
L. Cooke | 4 | 44.3 | 2 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. SchexnayderĀ
27 P
|
K. Schexnayder | 1 | 28.0 | 0 | 28 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
G. MylesĀ 5 WR
|
G. Myles | 3 | 7.3 | 19 | 0 |