For Mississippi State (1-2, 0-1 SEC) Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Auburn (3-0, 1-0) was characterized by defensive dominance and offensive futility.
State never snapped the ball from inside Auburn’s 20. In fact, the Bulldogs only ventured into Auburn territory three times. Two of those drives started in Tiger territory after Auburn fumbles and the other started at midfield. One of the times the ‘Dogs were lucky enough to start in Tiger territory, the drive actually netted negative five yards.
Mississippi State once found its way to the AU 20-yard line, only to promptly move backward and miss its only field goal attempt of the game.
MSU punter Blake McAdams, who also serves as holder on field goal attempts, said he did not get the snap down cleanly.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a clean snap or not,” McAdams said. “I have to get it down. That’s my job. It takes all three of us, and I didn’t do my job getting it down.”
The first big break for either team took place in the second quarter when Tiger quarterback Chris Todd hooked up with wide receiver Montez Billings for a 30-yard completion to the MSU 25, leading to Auburn’s only points of the game, a 35-yard field goal by AU kicker Wes Byrum.
Two drives later, a similar completion to Quindarius Carr for 28 yards led to another field goal attempt for Byrum, this one wide left from 42 yards at the end of the first half.
Byrum had a third opportunity in the third quarter, which he also missed wide left. This one was a 22-yard chip shot set up by a 31-yard reception by Billings.
Auburn’s offense struggled in the fourth quarter. In five drives, it turned the ball over twice and gave up a safety, but the Bulldogs couldn’t capitalize on the Tigers’ misfortune.
The Bulldogs’ lone score of the game came as a result of a beautiful punt by McAdams that pinned the Tigers inside their own 5-yard line. The crowd of 52,911 fans begged for a safety, and the Bulldogs delivered. State’s pass rush caused Auburn to be flagged for holding in the end zone, which counts as a safety.
The ensuing drive started at midfield and ended when the Bulldogs, trying to capitalize on the momentum that seemed to favor them, failed to convert on fourth and inches.
Failed conversions seemed to be a theme for the Bulldogs, as they didn’t convert on third or fourth down all game, in 17 combined tries.
One of the three failed fourth-down conversions came on fourth and 15 around midfield with 3:40 left in the game.
Head coach Sylvester Croom defended the decision to risk the fourth down.
“I did not know if we’d get the chance to get the ball back if we punted it,” Croom said. “From that field position, if we punt the ball there’s a strong chance the ball goes in the end zone.”
Croom added that he felt the defense could hold the Tigers even if the offense didn’t convert on the play.
Croom had good reason to have confidence in his defense, as the unit had done well containing the Tigers all night. State held Auburn to 316 yards of offense and less than one-tenth of its previous points-per-game average.
“You could not ask for more out of the defense,” Croom said. “You really couldn’t. They forced turnovers and they scored our only two points. They played outstanding football.”
Misssisippi State’s special teams had a good game as well. McAdams averaged 38.1 yards per punt and downed three punts inside the 20-yard line, including two inside the 10. McAdams did a good job of keeping the ball away from Auburn star punt returner Robert Dunn, as Dunn returned only two of McAdams’ 10 punts for a total of 22 yards. In the first two games this season, Dunn had seven returns for 171 yards and a touchdown.
“We can’t let this one game end our season,” senior defensive back Derek Pegues said. “We’ve got nine games left and we’re gonna go out and fight hard. I want to keep everybody’s head up and keep their spirits high.”
The Bulldogs look to rebound on the road next weekend, as they travel to face ACC foe Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets are currently 2-1, 1-1 ACC, with wins over Jacksonville State and Boston College. Georgia Tech’s most recent game was a 20-17 loss at Virginia Tech.