Mississippi State
1-1 , 0-1
#14 LSU
1-0 , 1-0
No. 25 MSU Drops Tough 21-19 Decision To No. 14 LSU In SEC Opener
September 13, 2015 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. - No. 14 LSU (1-0, 1-0 SEC) beat No. 25 Mississippi State (1-1, 0-1) 21-19 on Saturday night in Starkville to open the 2015 Southeastern Conference season.
MSU's senior quarterback Dak Prescott completed 34-of-52 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for one. But MSU fell just short of keeping up with LSU and its sophomore running back Leonard Fournette, who amassed 159 yards on the ground including all three of the Tigers' touchdowns.
The Tigers dominated the first half, going into the locker room up 14-3, but the Bulldogs came out strong in the second half, stopping LSU on its first drive with a three-and-out and following that up with its second field goal. MSU went on to score two touchdowns – one a 5-yard pass from Prescott to junior receiver De'Runnya Wilson and the other a 1-yard run by Prescott – as the MSU offense found its rhythm.
Head coach Dan Mullen said they didn't change the play-calling at the half, just the mindset.
“I told our team, 'Relax. Take a deep breath',” he said. “That was our halftime adjustment.”
With 1:31 left to play and LSU leading by the eventual final score of 21-19, the Bulldogs got the ball and started a drive inside their own 20, advancing toward LSU's side of the field quickly. With three seconds left, MSU's 52-yard field goal attempt fell just short, giving LSU the victory.
“Two pretty good football teams battling right there,” Mullen said. “They made one more play than we did."
Mississippi State hosts Northwestern State next Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.
Team Stats
LSU 7, MS 0
LSU - L. Fournette 1 yd run (Trent Domingue kick), 8 plays, 48 yards, TOP 4:22
LSU 14, MS 0
LSU - L. Fournette 26 yd run (Trent Domingue kick), 2 plays, 46 yards, TOP 0:38
LSU 14, MS 3
MS - Westin Graves 43 yd field goal 9 plays, 37 yards, TOP 2:01
LSU 14, MS 6
MS - Westin Graves 24 yd field goal 9 plays, 40 yards, TOP 2:50
LSU 21, MS 6
LSU - L. Fournette 18 yd run (Trent Domingue kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:16
LSU 21, MS 13
MS - Dak Prescott 1 yd run (Westin Graves kick), 14 plays, 87 yards, TOP 4:18
LSU 21, MS 19
MS - D.Wilson 5 yd pass from Dak Prescott (Dak Prescott passfailed) 6 plays, 82 yards, TOP 1:32
