Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the worst team in the SEC West, especially without the services of quarterback Tyler Russell. Russell finished 10 of 16 for 133 yards against No. 13 Oklahoma State before being helped off the field and taken to the locker room in the third quarter after being brought down on a scramble. Dak Prescott replaced Russell, throwing for 89 yards on seven of 17 passing.
But it wasn’t nearly enough against Oklahoma State. In its 21-3 Week 1 loss, the Bulldogs were out-blocked, out-thrown, out-run and pretty much outplayed from start to finish. The lone bright spot on offense was running back LaDarius Perkins.
He rushed for 50 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 52 yards for the Bulldogs, which had only 333 yards of offense and had trouble keeping drives going, finishing two of 16 on third down conversions.
Mississippi State’s defense was spectacular for nearly two quarters before the flood gates opened (sort of). Oklahoma State’s offense had gained only 67 yards with less than four minutes remaining in the first half before quarterback J.W. Walsh got going.
After OSU took a 7-3 lead with 2:16 remaining in the second quarter, the Bulldogs looked to respond before the half as Jameon Lewis weaved the kickoff return 66 yards to the Cowboys’ 34, but a holding penalty and a sack stopped the drive.
From that point on, Mississippi State put up little to no fight. The Cowboys finished with 432 total yards, methodically driving the Bulldogs into submission in the second half.
What to look for in Week 2: Another game to watch. The Bulldogs take on Alcorn State in what could be confused with a small-town Mississippi junior-varsity game.
Scott Page is a college football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, Like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
