Mississippi State University football opened their season with a 56-7 victory over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in Davis Wade Stadium Saturday afternoon, setting a strong tone to begin the Bulldogs’ season.
Senior quarterback Blake Shapen delivered an impressive performance, completing 15 of 20 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Juniors Jordan Mosley and Kevin Coleman Jr. quickly became Shapen’s go-to targets, each recording five receptions. Mosley recorded 104 yards and a touchdown, while Coleman added 88 yards and a touchdown. The Bulldogs’ rushing attack was equally effective, with three different players finding the end zone. Shapen led the team in rushing with 51 yards and even added a score on the ground.
The Bulldogs asserted their dominance from the start, quickly establishing a 14-0 lead within the first five minutes of play. By halftime, they were up 35-7. Despite inclement weather, Mississippi State continued to impose its will in the second half, adding another 21 points to secure the decisive 56-7 victory.
This season opener sharply contrasted last year’s debut under Zach Arnett, where Mississippi State struggled against Southeastern Louisiana. In that game, the Bulldogs were only up by three points in the second quarter before pulling away to win 48-7, with no receiver surpassing 59 yards. However, the performances from Coleman and Mosley in this year’s opener showcased significant improvement and provided a glimpse of the potential for a more competitive season. The Bulldogs looked far more confident and cohesive against Eastern Kentucky, giving fans hope that this year could end with a bowl game appearance.
Pre-game concerns centered around Mississippi State’s defense and the newly revamped offensive line, but the Bulldogs responded with a strong showing. The defense was solid, demonstrating effective tackling and control throughout the game. The offensive line also showed considerable improvement, allowing only one sack and three tackles for loss, a clear step forward from last season’s struggles.
This team looked better than last year but head coach Jeff Lebby still noticed some mistakes and areas of improvement.
“There are so many things to clean up,” Lebby said. “That’s the biggest takeaway. We had a chance to go win the way we won, but we need to play better, cleaner. … Whether it’s the fourth down non-conversion or some of the penalties where we have an opportunity for chunk plays that just made drives harder. We get down there in the second half and we don’t score a touchdown and then we botch the field goal. Those are incredible teaching moments.”
The Bulldogs will be on the road next Saturday, facing the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona. The game will kick off at 9:30 p.m. CDT.
