Turnovers Plague Mississippi State In 22-14, Season-Opening Setback At Louisiana Tech

Saturday, August 30

Ruston, La.

5:45 p.m.

Mississippi State

0-1

Louisiana Tech

1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Miss. State

Louisiana Tech

Turnovers Plague Mississippi State In 22-14, Season-Opening Setback At Louisiana Tech

August 30, 2008 | Football

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

? Official Statistics
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RUSTON, La. - Five Mississippi State turnovers, coupled with a strong second-half defensive effort from Louisiana Tech, ultimately led to a 22-14 victory for the homestanding Bulldogs over the visiting Bulldogs Saturday night at Joe Aillet Stadium in the 2008 season opener for both teams.

It was Tech's second straight win over MSU, paired with a 1996 triumph in Starkville, and the first-ever meeting in Ruston. MSU still leads the series 7-3.

Star running back Anthony Dixon led State with 91 yards on 18 carries. Aubrey Bell hauled in six passes for 67 yards for the Bulldogs. Wesley Carroll and Tyson Lee platooned under center. Carroll was 12-of-25 for 172 yards and a touchdown, but was also picked off three times on the night. Lee was efficient in his backup role, completing 10-of-15 aerials for 85 yards. Jamar Chaney led MSU defensively with 12 tackles. Keith Fitzhugh picked off two passes for State as well.

State led 14-9 at halftime, but LTU shut out MSU in the second half of play, aided by three third-quarter miscues. MSU avoided a major bullet in the opening seconds of the half. On returning the opening kickoff of the third period, State's Wade Bonner fumbled while trying to elude a tackler, giving LTU excellent field position at the MSU 30. But after the first two plays of the drive netted just one yard, Tech's Taylor Bennett was intercepted by Fitzhugh, the second pickoff of the evening for the Bulldog defensive back.

But after the teams traded stalled drives, another Mississippi State miscue would setup a go-ahead touchdown for the homestanding Bulldogs. LTU punter Chris Keagle's punt carried long and deep into State territory, sailing over the shoulder of MSU's Jamayel Smith, who fumbled while trying to haul in the kick. The football bounced around and was ultimately recovered by Tech at the State 9. Four plays and an MSU personal foul penalty later, and Louisiana Tech was in the end zone. The short drive was capped by a six-yard run from Patrick Jackson and LTU led 16-14 with 6:30 to go in the third quarter.

Tech used yet another MSU turnover to add to its lead just before the end of the third. With State driving deep in Tech territory, but facing a third-and-long inside the 20, Carroll was picked off for the third time on the night, as Deon Young returned the ball to the 50. A State personal foul added 15 more yards to the end of the runback, giving LTU another short field to work with. The home team was able to manufacture one first down and gain 24 yards to set up a Chad Oestricher 28-yard field goal. LTU led 19-14 with just nine ticks to go in the third period.

In the fourth, Tech continued its strong defensive effort, holding MSU without a first down in the quarter. Midway through the period, Oestricher connected on what seemed to be, though it produced only an eight-point lead, the game-clincher. The senior place-kicker nailed a 50-yard field goal to hand the homestanding Bulldogs a 22-14 lead with 6:48 to go in the contest.

After mustering just a yard on three downs on the ensuing drive, State caught a big break when the resulting punt careemed off the back of Tech's unsuspecting Steven Howze. MSU recovered at the LTU 47-yard line, but could not capitalize. MSU's Lee was sacked on the first play and the Bulldogs never got anything going. Tech used solid clock management down the stretch to ice the the win.

LTU's Bennett was just 14-of-40 for 175 yards through the air, but made some timely passes on the evening. He was complemented by speedster Phillip Livas' six receptions for 85 yards. On the ground, Tech's Jackson gained 62 yards and a score on 17 rushes.

After the first three drives of the game all stalled with punts, State mounted an impressive nine-play, 94-drive to put the first points of the season on the board. Carroll connected with Brandon McRae three times on the march for 48 yards, the last an 8-yard touchdown toss with 6:18 to go in the first period.

LTU answered with a scoring drive of its own. After stalling inside the MSU 35-yard line, the Bulldogs from Ruston attempted a lengthy 48-yard field goal, which was true by Oestricher.

Early in the second quarter, Tech had a prime scoring opportunity to take the lead dashed by the MSU defense. After LTU had converted a third-and-20 with a 39-yard pass play to the MSU 7, the Red and Blue Bulldogs attempted a halfback option pass two plays later, but it was thwarted when State's Fitzhugh intercepted the pass in the end zone.

The teams remained scoreless in the second period until just before halftime when MSU manufactured a 12-play, 83-yard drive, highlighted by a 31-yard Dixon rush. State faced a fourth-and-1 on the LTU 18, but Lee hit Bell on an out pattern to convert. Lee found Bell again two plays later just inside the Tech 1, setting up a Brandon Hart dive for a 14-3 MSU lead with 2:14 to go before the intermission.

Louisiana Tech gained momentum back just before halftime. After the ensuing LTU drive stalled, the resulting punt pinned State own on its own 1-yard line. Tech played solid defense to force an MSU punt on three downs. That punt was returned by Livas 28 yards to the MSU 13. Three plays later, Bennett found Jackson on a swing pass for a 6-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked by MSU's Tay Bowser and the score stood at 14-9, Mississippi State, at the half.

State now returns to Starkville to open its 2008 home schedule, hosting Southeastern Louisiana next Saturday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. CT at Davis Wade Stadium. The Lions downed Alcorn State 34-28 in Lorman Saturday night.