Postgame Notes: Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
November 07, 2020 | Football
GENERAL
- Mississippi State won the coin toss and deferred, Vanderbilt received the opening kickoff.

- MSU's game captain was LB Erroll Thompson.

- Today's attendance was 12,888.

- Two Bulldogs made their first career starts against Vanderbilt, bringing the season total to 19 in 2020. (OL Brandon Cunningham, QB Will Rogers) 

- One Bulldog made his Mississippi State debut against Vanderbilt, bringing the season total to 21 in 2020. (DE Jevon Banks)

OFFENSE
- MSU has now completed 217 passes in 2020, which ranks seventh on State's single-season leaderboard.Â
- The school record is 331 completions in 2015.
- Completed 35 passes, which ranks fifth in MSU single-game history.
- Four of MSU's top five single-game completion marks have come in 2020.
- Scored a rushing touchdown for the first time since Oct. 3 against Arkansas.
DEFENSE
- The Bulldogs forced a season-high five turnovers, their most in a game since Nov. 17, 2012, against Arkansas (5 - 3 FR, 2 INT).
- MSU has at least one takeaway in 32 of its last 35 games.
- S Collin Duncan intercepted a pass on Vanderbilt's first drive of the game and returned it for 28 yards.
- LB Erroll Thompson intercepted a pass in the end zone in the first half.
- LB Tyrus Wheat forced a fumble in the third quarter that was recovered by CB Esaias Furdge.
- DE Marquiss Spencer intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.
- Wheat also recorded a strip sack and recovered the fumble in the fourth quarter.
- The Bulldogs' 63 takeaways in the 35-game span dating back to Nov. 18, 2017 at Arkansas.
- MSU has forced three or more turnovers eight times and four or more three times since that game against the Razorbacks.
- State has forced multiple turnovers in 10 games since the start of 2019.
- State finished 101 total tackles, marking the first time MSU recorded 100-plus tackles since Oct. 29, 2016 against Samford.
- It was the first time against an SEC opponent since Oct. 8, 2016 against Auburn.
- Held Vanderbilt without a point on a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line at the end of the first half.
- Stopped the Commodores' first rush for no gain and the second for a loss of two yards.
- Drive ended with Thompson's interception on third down.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
WR Lideatrick Griffin
- Returned the first kickoff of his career for 32 yards.
- Recorded a career-best 79 receiving yards on a career-high with nine receptions.Â
- Scored his second career touchdown on a 4-yard carry.
- Caught seven passes to give him 38 receptions this season, breaking the MSU single-season record for catches by both a running back and by a freshman.
- Previous by a freshman: Justin Griffith, 37, 1999.
- Previous by a running back: Justin Griffith, 37, 1999.
- Scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.
- Caught the 13th touchdown pass of his career to move into a tie for seventh in program history with Jerry Bouldin (1987-90) and Madye McDole (1977-80).
- Became the seventh true freshman to start at quarterback in school history, and just the fourth to make his first start in an SEC game.
- Threw for 226 yards, the most by a Bulldog true freshman in his first career start.
- Joined Todd Jordan as the only MSU true freshman quarterbacks to throw a touchdown in their first career start.
- MSU has won all seven games when a true freshman quarterback is making his first career start with four of those victories coming against SEC opponents.
- Completed 35 passes, the most by a freshman in school history.
- Previous: 29 by Wesley Carroll at Little Rock (Nov. 17, 2007)
- His 35 completions are also fifth in MSU single-game history.
- Threw the second touchdown pass of his career on the game's first drive.
- Completed 4-of-5 passes for 27 yards on the drive.
- Recorded a half tackle for loss on second-and-goal of State's defensive stand from the 1-yard line in the second quarter.
- Now has 4.5Â tackles for loss this season, which is second on the team.
- Also recorded his team-leading fifth quarterback hurry of the season.
- Finished with a career-high 13Â tackles.
- Intercepted the first pass of his career and returned it 28 yards on the first drive of the game.
- Forced his first career fumble in the third quarter, which was recovered by Vanderbilt.
- Recorded a half tackle for loss on second-and-goal of State's defensive stand from the 1-yard line in the second quarter.
- Now has 1.5 tackles for loss this season.
- Finished with a career-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops.
- Recovered his first career fumble in the third quarter.
- Finished with a career-high nine tackles.
- Matched his career high with 10 total tackles.
- Made his first career tackle to end the third quarter and set up a third down.
- Registered his first career interception in the fourth quarter and returned it 27 yards.
- Picked up 1.0Â tackles for loss and leads the team with 6.5 this season.
- Boasts 21.0Â for his career, which would rank fourth in the SEC among active players entering the weekend.
- Intercepted a pass in the end zone in the second quarter.
- Was his third career pick and first since Oct. 27, 2018 against Texas A&M.
- Forced his first career fumble in the third quarter, which was recovered by Mississippi State.
- Recorded a strip sack and recovered the fumble in the fourth quarter.
- Marked the first time a Bulldog has forced two fumbles since Tim Washington did so at Auburn in 2019.
- Booted a career-long 63-yard punt in the fourth quarter.
- Fourth kick of 50-plus yards in his career.
- Punted a career-high seven times for a career-high 319 yards.
- Put a career-best four punts inside the 20-yard line.
- Now boasts eight for his career.
- Boasts an active streak of 104 consecutive extra points made in his career.
- Made the 102nd, 103rd and 104th today.
- Now 4-for-5 on field goals this season.
- Made from 25 yards out in the second quarter.
- Put all five of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
Players Mentioned
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LB
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