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No. 18 Mississippi State tops SFA 63-6 in Moorhead's debut
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) One of the biggest reasons Joe Moorhead was hired at Mississippi State was his reputation for building offenses that can score points in a hurry.
It took exactly one play for that offense to get the fun started in Starkville.
Keytaon Thompson threw a short pass to Kylin Hill that ended with a 53-yard touchdown, setting the stage for the 18th-ranked Bulldogs lopsided 63-6 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night in the season opener.
''That was pretty cool,'' Moorhead said with a laugh.
''I don't think we could have scripted a better start,'' Thompson said.
Thompson threw for 364 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Moorhead's playbook showed some of the downfield passing prowess he's promised over the past months. The Bulldogs had completions of 53, 84, 27 and 30 yards for touchdowns.
Thompson, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound sophomore, made his second career start. He was pressed into action after senior Nick Fitzgerald was suspended for the season opener for a ''violation of team policy'' that Moorhead said happened in March.
The Bulldogs appeared unfazed by that bit of adversity and the program won its 14th straight game over an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision level.
Mississippi State's offense had success from the moment it stepped on the field. The first play was Thompson's short swing pass to Hill, who knifed through Stephen F. Austin's defense and ran nearly untouched for the season-opening score.
Hill said the blocking was nearly perfect.
''I've got the easy part,'' Hill said. ''Just run.''
Later in the first quarter, Thompson found a completely uncovered Osirus Mitchell for an 84-yard touchdown, which was the longest pass completion for the Bulldogs in 14 years. Thompson said Mitchell was so open he had to look twice to make sure he wasn't missing a defender.
''It looked like he dropped out of a helicopter back there,'' Thompson said.
Mississippi State built a 35-3 lead by halftime, gaining 400 total yards. The second half was much less impressive, but by then the outcome wasn't in doubt.
''Great to get our first win and get off on the right foot,'' Moorhead said. ''Thought we did some very good things on offense, defense and special teams. But certainly a lot to clean up moving forward.''
Stephen F. Austin made two field goals. The Lumberjacks had 254 total yards. Foster Sawyer was 10 of 27 passing for 147 yards.
THE TAKEAWAY
Mississippi State was expected to win big and that's exactly what happened. Thompson made some good throws in his second career start - though the 13 for 31 completion rate wasn't ideal - and provides the Bulldogs with some depth at quarterback. Moorhead has already said that Fitzgerald will start next weekend against Kansas State. The defense was good as expected. Montez Sweat had two sacks, one season after leading the SEC with 10 1/2 sacks.
''We're big and we're disruptive,'' Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said. ''With all that strength and power we're able to drive everyone back.''
Stephen F. Austin was overmatched and also had some big coverage busts that led to the lopsided result. The Lumberjacks will hope for better results when they go back to FCS-level play next weekend.
''We gave up some big plays on mental errors,'' Stephen F. Austin coach Jeff Byrd said. ''Anytime you have a quarterback run element like that, it really stretches you. It makes you play assignment football, and we were obviously outmanned.''
A LITTLE INCONSISTENT
One of the few bad parts of Mississippi State's performance was Thompson's inconsistent throwing accuracy. He opened the second half with eight straight incompletions. Moorhead said that's something that needs to be fixed, but the good news is he was making the correct reads.
''It was a right church, wrong pew thing,'' Moorhead said.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Mississippi State did what it was supposed to do on Saturday, so voters probably won't have a strong opinion about the game. Expect the Bulldogs to stay around No. 18.
UP NEXT
Mississippi State travels to face Kansas State on Saturday.
Stephen F. Austin hosts Tarleton State on Saturday.
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Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 16 | 25 |
Rushing | 7 | 12 |
Passing | 8 | 12 |
Penalty | 1 | 1 |
3rd Down Conv | 3-18 | 7-13 |
4th Down Conv | 1-3 | 1-2 |
Total Net Yards | 239 | 618 |
Total Plays | 78 | 71 |
Avg Gain | 3.1 | 8.7 |
Net Yards Rushing | 77 | 220 |
Rush Attempts | 41 | 37 |
Avg Rush Yards | 1.9 | 5.9 |
Yards Passing | 177 | 398 |
Comp. - Att. | 15-37 | 15-34 |
Yards Per Pass | 4.4 | 11.7 |
Penalties - Yards | 9-75 | 7-80 |
Touchdowns | 0 | 9 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 4 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 5 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 10-38.5 | 3-41.0 |
Return Yards | 121 | 123 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 6-64 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 6-121 | 2-59 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
F. Sawyer
12 QB
|
F. Sawyer | 10/27 | 147 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Blumrick
10 QB
|
J. Blumrick | 2/6 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Shaw
32 RB
|
J. Shaw | 6 | 31 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. McGowen
29 RB
|
J. McGowen | 5 | 23 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Do. Williams
20 RB
|
Do. Williams | 10 | -5 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. Sawyer
12 QB
|
F. Sawyer | 3 | -23 | 0 | -3 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
T. Pace
80 WR
|
T. Pace | 0 | 5 | 73 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Arclies III
87 TE
|
A. Arclies III | 0 | 2 | 42 | 0 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Goree
5 WR
|
T. Goree | 0 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
F. Iheanacho
2 WR
|
F. Iheanacho | 0 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thompson
22 WR
|
J. Thompson | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Do. Williams
20 RB
|
Do. Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Co. Williams
82 WR
|
Co. Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
L. Ghansah
3 S
|
L. Ghansah | 7-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Woods
50 LB
|
R. Woods | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Britton
42 LB
|
T. Britton | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Morris
44 LB
|
B. Morris | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Gordon
38 S
|
T. Gordon | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Fox
21 CB
|
D. Fox | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Jones
26 CB
|
E. Jones | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Cox
92 DT
|
L. Cox | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Sampson
57 DE
|
G. Sampson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Roland
34 S
|
G. Roland | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Anderson
99 DT
|
S. Anderson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Nichols
90 DT
|
R. Nichols | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Amie
94 DT
|
D. Amie | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
S. Ruiz
36 K
|
S. Ruiz | 2/2 | 36 | 0/0 | 6 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
C. Lewallen
45 K
|
C. Lewallen | 9 | 39.2 | 2 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Duran
40 K
|
T. Duran | 1 | 32.0 | 0 | 32 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. McGowen
29 RB
|
J. McGowen | 2 | 18.5 | 20 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Ward
33 S
|
A. Ward | 2 | 18.5 | 22 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
K. Thompson
10 QB
|
K. Thompson | 13/31 | 364 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Burnett
17 QB
|
L. Burnett | 1/1 | 25 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mayden
14 QB
|
J. Mayden | 1/2 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
K. Thompson
10 QB
|
K. Thompson | 10 | 109 | 2 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hill
8 RB
|
K. Hill | 9 | 50 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Lee
28 RB
|
D. Lee | 6 | 29 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mayden
14 QB
|
J. Mayden | 5 | 22 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Gibson
21 RB
|
N. Gibson | 2 | 21 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ae. Williams
26 RB
|
Ae. Williams | 2 | 15 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Burnett
17 QB
|
L. Burnett | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
O. Mitchell
87 WR
|
O. Mitchell | 0 | 2 | 114 | 2 | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hill
8 RB
|
K. Hill | 0 | 1 | 53 | 1 | 53 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Guidry
1 WR
|
S. Guidry | 0 | 1 | 39 | 0 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ju. Johnson
81 TE
|
Ju. Johnson | 0 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Au. Williams
85 WR
|
Au. Williams | 0 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ae. Williams
26 RB
|
Ae. Williams | 0 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jason
3 WR
|
D. Jason | 0 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Mixon
23 WR
|
K. Mixon | 0 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Thomas
4 WR
|
D. Thomas | 0 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jones
84 TE
|
D. Jones | 0 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
F. Green
82 TE
|
F. Green | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Gibson
21 RB
|