Two things remained constant for the Bulldogs after dropping their third straight game at home: turnovers and the run game.
Mississippi State allowed four turnovers in a disappointing 31-24 loss to the Houston Cougars, a number that once again sealed the fate of the Dawgs.
Coach Dan Mullen said that turnovers in the red zone, in particular, were the most damaging part of the game.
“You have got to win the turnover battle. If you turn the ball over four times, three in the red zone, you are not going to win the game,” he said. “If you get down to the red zone you have to come away with touchdowns. We were down there a bunch and came away with minimal points.”
Mullen said the fumbles by senior quarterback Tyson Lee were particularly frustrating.
“He needs to be confident of his decision and make it. It’s not that hard,” he said. “He either keeps the ball or hands it to someone else. We will just have to keep repping it more and more and more in practice.”
There was plenty to be disappointed about, but senior running back Anthony Dixon was once again the bright spot as he rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth consecutive week and scored both of MSU’s offensive touchdowns. Dixon’s 134 yards move him to 3,064 all-time, just 48 yards shy of Jerious Norwood’s school record 3,212. Dixon said the numbers would mean more if the team was winning.
“I set out this year to play tough and lead my team to victory. It’s just not happening right now,” he said. “It’s positives to take with me, but I can’t really enjoy it like I want to.”
In yet another close game for the Bulldogs lost, in part because of turnovers, Dixon said he is upset, but he thinks the team will turn things around.
“It’s very frustrating. If it aint one thing it’s another, you know. We just gotta put it all together and get it right. I think we can do it,” he said. “I think we’re going to do it. We just got to stay in fight mode, got to keep trucking.”
MSU had 490 total yards on offense, the most since gaining 501 yards against Arkansas in 2007, but the Dawgs gave up 553 yards to Houston, with more than 400 of those yards coming through the air. Mullen said the key for Houston’s offense was yards after the catch.
“Obviously, you give up 500 yards; that is not good defense,” he said. “Our plan was to get the ball out of his hands quickly, make plays and wrap up. As a whole we missed too many tackles. I will bet that the majority of their yards were after the catch, and that was one thing we did not want to give up.”