Bulldogs Blank Buccaneers 49-0 To Open 2017 Campaign

Saturday, September 2

Starkville

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

1-0

Charleston Southern

0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Charleston Southern

Mississippi State

Nick Fitzgerald was 16-of-29 for 239 yards passing and accounted for three touchdowns in three quarters of action.

Bulldogs Blank Buccaneers 49-0 To Open 2017 Campaign

September 02, 2017 | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes & Quotes Photo Gallery VIDEO: Game Highlights VIDEO: Dan Mullen Postgame Press Conference

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State (1-0) beat Charleston Southern (0-1) 49-0 Saturday, blanking the Buccaneers in an unconventional fashion by pairing six touchdowns with two safeties and a field a goal in the season opener. The Bulldogs hadn't recorded even one safety in a game since October of 2011 against South Carolina, and the two the defense racked up in the first half set the tone for the day and perhaps for the tenure of new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.

Allowing CSU to gain only 33 total yards, and holding them to negative yardage for much of the game, State's defense bounced back in an impressive way after an up-and-down 2016 season, led by senior linebacker Dez Harris who was all over the field with six tackles, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble over the course of the game. Harris's forced fumble was one of three created by the Bulldog defense, and his one tackle for loss helped add to the total of nine State racked up.

"For me, that's the type of defense I expect," head coach Dan Mullen said. "Todd did a fantastic job with the scheme. Coaches did a good job getting guys in position … I'm most pleased about watching how our guys ran to the football. 11 guys going as hard as they can every play."

Doing their part to back up the impressive effort by the defense, junior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and the Bulldog offense produced big numbers, out-gaining the Bucs by an impressive 555-33. Fitzgerald finished 16-of-29 for 239 yards and two touchdowns passing, in addition to seven rushes for 41 yards and a score. Mullen said there were a few things he'd like for the offense to clean up as he has a desire for perfect chemistry, but the head coach was pleaded overall with their performance.

Perhaps most impressive was the running back duo of true freshman Kylin Hill and junior Aeris Williams. Hill carried the ball nine times for 62 yards, averaging 6.9 yards per rush, while Williams racked up 83 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

Mullen said the decision to play Hill as a true freshman came as a result of his performance in preseason camp and an agreement by the staff that he was ready immediately.

"Everybody saw, he's an explosive player out of the backfield," Mullen said. "I told [running backs coach Greg Knox], if we're going to play him, let's play him."

State hits the road next Saturday, Sept. 9, to take on Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La. The Bulldog vs. Bulldog battle will kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT on CBS Sports Network. MSU returns home Sept. 16 to open SEC action against LSU.

MSU HEAD COACH DAN MULLEN POSTGAME QUOTES

Opening Statement
"Good day today. I will start by thanking our fans. Everybody came and stayed. I know we were not jam-packed for the full four quarters today, but a lot of people stayed. I thank all of them for that. I think it shows in energy our team plays with, and they're such an important part of this program. I thank our students and all of our fans for the work they did for staying for all four quarters cheering this team on. Pleased with our defense play today. For me, that's the type of defense I expect. I know Todd Grantham did a fantastic job with the scheme, coaches putting guys in the right positions to go make plays. I am most pleased with watching how our guys ran the football. Eleven guys playing as hard as they can every single snap. That was a big challenge. I'm talking about with a minute left in the game, eleven guys flying to the football as hard as they can. That's the kind of defense we expect to see. That's the kind of defense people here have grown accustomed to seeing. I'm really pleased with how they played and how they performed today. Great job by our coaching staff and players on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, good, solid day. We missed some things here. We didn't click quite as perfectly as I would like us to. I thought we were efficient at times during the day. Just some little mistakes we've got to get cleaned up and fix. Just a little cleaner execution both running and throwing the ball. Six to eight inches here and there is a big difference offensively. We'll get that fixed as we move forward because we have a huge challenge next week, going on the road to a Louisiana Tech team that's supposed to go win their conference championship. It will be a big challenge for our guys, but I'm excited about how we played."

On deciding to play Keytaon Thompson...
"We were talking this week, and we sat down and talked with him. I know Brett Elliott had a conversation with his family, and he wanted play. He wanted to get in there, but as the number two quarterback right now for us, and being a true freshman, he's a snap away from being the guy, being the starter. As you even see with him from his first two or three plays to his last two or three plays, there was a little bit of difference. For him to get those reps, to get that experience and to get on the field, I want to see him to grow and develop in play."

On the offensive line...
"The offensive line today, not bad. Couple of little mistakes here and there. Some new faces in there. Guys got experience. It was good to get the two's in and get those guys in. There's a lot of new faces there to get them some reps and get them some experience moving forward, that second group of offensive linemen. You saw a lot from those guys. For many of them, it's their first time playing. Their first couple of plays weren't great, and as the game goes on, they settle in. That's just experience. Getting the opportunity to be on the field and know what it's like to be out here when it counts."