STARKVILLE — Mike Leach has usually uncovered himself in the exact same area as Texas A&M. Leach, whose first notable coaching stint came at Texas Tech, relished experiencing and beating A&M in the Significant 12.
Now he’s undertaking so in the SEC with a Mississippi Point out football staff also keeping momentum from its conference foe.
With a 42-24 get Saturday, MSU has gained 6 of 11 and two straight versus No. 17 Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1 SEC) considering that the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012. For Leach, the get was his ninth in 13 profession matchups towards the Aggies.
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Dunc and Duck
Neither crew garnered a lot momentum in a scoreless 1st quarter, but the Aggies have been very first to strike in the second.
A&M, pursuing a 20-property punt return from Moose Muhammad III, started inside of MSU territory. Powering a pair of massive runs from Devon Achane, the Aggies ended up in the red zone.
That was till MSU security Collin Duncan stripped the All-SEC hopeful working back again on his third large operate. Cornerback Decamerion Richardson recovered, giving Mississippi Condition the initial main change in momentum.
The offense responded with a crisp 11-participate in, 94-garden travel capped by a touchdown toss from quarterback Will Rogers to Caleb Ducking.
Carry momentum and close
Mississippi Condition (4-1, 1-1) went 70 yards on nine performs for a further touchdown on its ensuing possession. This just one arrived on a pass to Starkville native Rufus Harvey. With 58 seconds still left in the initially fifty percent, the Bulldogs led 14-.
It was an eerily equivalent experience to MSU’s 13- lead at LSU two months ago. LSU lower into that guide with a 90-2nd touchdown push to reduce the deficit just ahead of halftime.
With Texas A&M getting the ball to open the 2nd half, MSU’s defense couldn’t let a repeat of Baton Rouge arise. The Bulldogs almost did.
Kicker Ben Raybon, heading into the wind, permitted a possibility for Achane to have a 42-property return. The Aggies, at the rear of two passes of 15-as well as yards and a defensive go interference penalty, have been quickly in the pink zone.
But MSU’s protection shut down the generate with an additional forced fumble. This one particular came from redshirt-senior linebacker Nathaniel Watson on quarterback Max Johnson 16 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Unique groups soar… once again
Mississippi State’s specific teams miscues have develop into a distant memory. Between Raybon’s 53-property field objective from BGSU, the danger of Lideatrick Griffin on kickoff returns and Zavion Thomas’ production on punt returns, MSU’s distinctive groups have come to be entertaining to enjoy.
The third section arrived at a new height from A&M.
With momentum heavily favoring the Aggies in the 3rd quarter, they trotted out kicker Randy Bond for a 44-garden attempt in hopes off trimming the deficit to 8.
Bond’s kick was blocked by Emmanuel Forbes. Richardson scooped it up, evaded one tackle and, to the tune of cowbells clanging, scored MSU’s initial touchdown off a blocked subject target since 2014.
Watson ejected for focusing on
Eight plays right after forcing a fumble, Mississippi Condition was left without Watson.
On a enjoy early in which MSU forced a turnover on downs to open up the 2nd 50 %, Watson was identified as for concentrating on on a late and significant hit on Johnson. He was disqualified for the remainder of the match.
Watson finished with 6 sacks and a sack, his 3rd of the year.
Linebackers J.P. Purvis, John Lewish and Sherman Timbs picked up the workload in reduction.
MSU performs shorthanded
Even just before Watson’s departure, the Bulldogs had been missing critical gamers on both of those sides of the ball.
Defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy, who has still to perform this season with a remaining arm personal injury, was out once again. Linebacker DeShawn Web page, who posted Wednesday on Instagram he experienced surgical treatment, was out as well.
Starting up remaining tackle Kwatrivous Johnson did not play just after suffering an injury in previous week’s acquire against Bowling Green. Outside the house vast receiver Antonio Harmon was not in uniform.
Nick Jones crammed in for Johnson though Steven Losoya took Jones’ normal location at still left guard. Ga transfer Justin Robinson moved to the opposite outside receiver location to fill in for Harmon as Ducking’s backup.
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi Point out defeat author for the Clarion Ledger. Get in touch with him at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.