Mississippi State football: What 2019 team can learn from 2018
By Nick Knudsen
Low Point: Lost 13-6 vs. Florida (Starkville, MS) (Game 5, September 29, 2018)
Let’s fast forward through the “Dan Mullen returns to Starkville” narrative and focus on the second half of this ugly slugfest that featured only seven total first-half possessions resulting in three field goals and a 6-3 halftime lead for Mississippi State.
In the opening drive of the third quarter, a tipped ball from Florida QB Feleipe Franks resulted in a Mississippi State CB Cameron Dantzler interception, State took over near midfield and had a chance to deal a serious blow to their former coach.
Moorhead wasted no time and attempted to strike on the opening play of the drive. With just over 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Fitzgerald ran a quick play-action from the shotgun. Bulldogs WR Osirus Mitchell had beaten two Florida defenders deep and had a clear path to the end zone, but dropped the ball around the FLA 10 yard line in what ended up being the defining moment in the game. The pass was slightly underthrown, but it should have been caught.
The Mitchell drop gave the Gators a renewed sense of confidence.
Florida RB Lamical Perine accounted for 57 total yards in the first five plays of the next drive as the Gators entered the red zone.
Franks turned and tossed a quick lateral pass back to WR Kadarius Toney, who was split out wide. Toney calmly made the catch and tossed it over two Mississippi State defenders to Florida senior TE Moral Stephens for a 20-yard touchdown pass off of the trick play.
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The Gators turned the Bulldogs’ missed opportunity into a 10-7 lead and the Florida defense would go on to suffocate State’s offense down the stretch.
The physical game ended in a 13-6 victory for Dan Mullen and the Gators and left Mississippi State with a disappointing 0-2 start in SEC play.