Despite great effort, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-5, 0-3) simply could not hold on to the proverbial rope Saturday, losing to the West Virginia Mountaineers (5-0, 0-0) 42-14.
“I told the team [Friday] that there was a couple of ways the season could go,” senior offensive lineman Brian Anderson said. “I told them it was like we were climbing a mountain and fell off but still had that last bit of rope that was holding us up.
“You can say ‘I’ve done the best that I can do’ and let go and take the easy way out, or you can keep holding on and let your buddies come pick you up and keep going.”
Anderson’s motivational speech obviously made an impact, as the team came out with as much intensity as they’ve had at any point in the season and were able to fight their way to a 14-7 deficit at the half.
Then came the injuries.
Senior quarterback Omarr Conner left the game in the third quarter with a severe groin injury, opening the door for sophomore Michael Henig to re-enter the game after four weeks on the sideline with a collarbone injury.
“My first thought when Omarr got hurt was to see if he was OK,” Henig said. “When they called my name, I knew it was my time, and I just went out there and played.”
Henig finished the game 7-for-15 for 115 yards with two interceptions, complementing Conner’s 10-for-19 line.
The Bulldog offense had 306 yards of total offense and 25 first downs, a season high.
Arnil Stallworth paced the Dawgs with 40 yards rushing before leaving the game with a bruised ankle.
Junior Tony Burks paced the Bulldogs at receiver with four receptions for 118 yards.
“It is obvious that we played much better offensively,” head coach Sylvester Croom said. “We still have much more room for improvement, though. When we start eliminating red zone mistakes and running the ball well to go along with our passing game, things will begin to come together.”
Although Croom said earlier in the week that he would like to get Henig involved in the offense at some point in the game, he could not have anticipated the degree to which he would have to rely his former starter.
“Omarr got hurt, and we brought Mike in, and Mike made some things happen for us,” Croom said. “He performed exceptionally well considering he has not had any real contact since his injury at the beginning of the season.”
Henig-who injured his collarbone in the first half of MSU’s season-opener against South Carolina-was thrown right into the mix of the Bulldogs’ upset bid against West Virginia and drove the offense all the way down to the Mountaineer 7-yard line before bouncing a pass off Burks’ hands into the awaiting arms of West Virginia defender Eric Wicks.
“I had poise, and I thought I was ready but could not bring it in,” Burks said. “I underestimated how fast the pass was coming and didn’t make the play. It was tough.”
On the Bulldogs’ next possession Henig was intercepted again, this time by Bobby Hathaway, after getting hit in the middle of his throwing motion.
“We would drive the field, but then we would get in the red zone and had two unfortunate turnovers.” Croom said. “That was the defining point of the game. and in order to win you cannot make those mistakes.”
Mountaineer running back Steve Slaton had a game-high 185 yards and one touchdown, while quarterback Patrick White passed only 10 times and rushed for 76 yards and two scores.
Freshman Anthony Dixon had the team’s only rushing touchdown, while receiver Lance Long had the Bulldogs only scoring reception through the air.
This week the Bulldogs will continue their home stand against Division II opponent Jacksonville State.