Mississippi State and Troy State are two programs that are hungry for their first Division I-A win of the season. Both will enter Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field with 0-4 marks against I-A competition. It will be a question of which side will break down: MSU’s offense that is yet to realize its potential, or Troy State’s defense? The Bulldog offense has tallied 323.2 ypg. MSU’s rushing game has been on the ground (underneath opponent defenders) and can only boast 90.8 rushing yards per contest.
Senior Justin Griffith is top dawg in the rushing stats. Griffith averages 5.1 yards per carry and 33.6 yards per game.
Dontae Walker (25.3 ypg) did not travel to South Carolina but is expected to return against TSU. Freshmen tailbacks Nick Turner and Jerious Norwood are questionable for Saturday’s game due to injuries.
Junior quarterback Kevin Fant will try to doctor the anemic Bulldog offense that is averaging 20.2 points per game. The Dawgs have allowed 11 sacks and surrendered eight fumbles and 10 interceptions. Fant has completed 69-131 for 867 yards with three TDs and four INTs.
With wide receiver Justin Jenkins out with a leg injury, look for Fant to find senior Terrell Grindle.
Grindle has been Fant’s favorite target this season with 16 catches for 321 yards and a TD. Grindle moved into 8th on the MSU career receiving yards list with 106 against South Carolina. Ray Ray Bivines is second in receiving with 13 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown.
Eight Troy State senior defenders return from a year ago when the Trojans and heavy rains dampened MSU’s Homecoming 21-9 despite suspended play due to tornado warnings.
The TSU defensive unit has only allowed 284.4 yards per game. The stingy pass defense (153.5 ypg) ranks 8th nationally. However, the Trojans may have problems in the secondary due to injuries. Trojan defensive back starter Freeman White went down with a knee injury in the preseason.
Rayshun Reed, who returned an interception (1 of 4 MSU turnovers) 73 yards for a touchdown that set the tone in last year’s meeting, is also out for the season with a knee injury. Strong safety Damien Coleman will also miss Saturday’s game with a neck injury.
Putting Fant in the shotgun and spreading the offense might be a solution that MSU takes to revive its offense.
Getting the ball out to the playmakers quickly to bring the secondary in and then hitting them with a deep strike might be effective. MSU fans will just have to wait and see what offensive coordinator Sparky Woods will call.
Throughout TSU’s media notes, last year’s game between these two teams is referred to as the Trojan’s biggest win of the season. Following last year’s outcome the Trojans won seven while the Bulldogs only won two.