Mississippi State University football lost their first Southeastern Conference battle of the season against the University of Florida 45-28 early Saturday in Davis Wade Stadium.
For Bulldogs’ head football coach Jeff Lebby, the game marked his first SEC test.
The Gators, starting their season 1-2, looked to flip the switch and steal a victory against the Bulldogs who unexpectedly lost to Toledo last weekend.
Following a failed first drive, the Gators pulled together on their next, using plays that ran to Mississippi State’s weak spot in the outside permitter of the field to convert two third downs, as they struck first.
Senior Davon Booth gave MSU some life on a 39-yard kickoff return after the Gator’s score. MSU used it to their advantage, rushing seven times on the drive. Fifth-year senior Blake Shapen completed a key 25-yard pass as Booth carried his way into the end zone.
Despite the response, the Gators pushed ahead 21-7 and defensively shut down the Bulldogs’ offense. The Bulldogs had a chance to cut into the Gators’ lead but failed to progress any further than the Florida 37-yard line.
Lebby said that it was difficult for the Bulldogs’ defense to get Florida’s offense out of rhythm because their quarterbacks did a good job of throwing on target. However, he also said the Bulldogs’ offense impressed.
“When you look at it, they did an incredible job throwing and catching, being able to make plays in the throw game,” Lebby said.
The Gators scored again, but the Bulldogs, not losing faith on their last possession of the half, dialed up an explosive drive and brought the game to a two-touchdown deficit.
Opening the second half, the Bulldogs needed their late-second-quarter momentum to surmount any comeback. Unfortunately, it did not work out that way.
The Bulldogs defensively slowed the Gators starting the third and took full advantage of their opening half-possession, cutting the Gators’ lead to a 7-point advantage.
Regrouping, the Florida offense matched MSU’s score. Mississippi State tried to respond, but on fourth and goal, fumbled, giving the Gators offense another chance. Florida did not hesitate, marching 93 yards and tagging another touchdown, pushing their lead to 42-21.
Unfortunately, in the fourth, quarterback Shapen did not return as he faced an injury on the last drive of the third quarter.
Lebby said that Shapen’s status would be evaluated, as they took him out of the game as a precaution. Shapen was later said to be out for the season and true-freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren would be the starter.
“We’ll know a lot more tonight and obviously into tomorrow but [I] thought that was the right thing,” Lebby said. “[I] appreciate Blake’s toughness. He kept wanting to go. That speaks volumes of who he is and the kind of competitor he is.”
Mississippi State would score again in the fourth, but nothing could overcome the Gators’ defensive force. The Gators, 2-2 (1-1 SEC), sped to a 45-28 victory, their first SEC of the young season, as MSU ran out of steam too quickly.
Davon Booth talked about the loss and how the Bulldogs battled until the end.
“It was a tough loss. You know, I feel like we battled it through the whole game. We were down at half. We managed to come back and bring it to a one-score game,” Booth said. “But it just didn’t go our way.”
Next Saturday, the Bulldogs, 1-3 (0-1 SEC), travel to Austin, Texas, to take on new SEC foe the University of Texas Longhorns.
