Mississippi State Rolls To 45-6 Win Over Vanderbilt

Saturday, October 23

Nashville, Tenn.

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

4-3 , 2-2

Vanderbilt

2-6 , 0-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Mississippi St.

Vanderbilt

Mississippi State Rolls To 45-6 Win Over Vanderbilt

October 23, 2021 | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes VIDEO: Highlights Photo Gallery

By: Joel Coleman, Senior Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mississippi State put forth a strong showing on both sides of the ball, all to the tune of a 45-6 victory over Vanderbilt in The Music City.

Bulldog quarterback Will Rogers set a new career high with four touchdown passes and the State defense limited Vandy to just 155 yards of offense on the way to the win.

Rogers finished with 386 yards of passing. His four scores were not only a single-game career best, but tied him for fifth-most in a single game in MSU history.

A total of 13 different Bulldogs caught passes from Rogers. Jaden Walley had a team-high 72 yards of receiving. Makai Polk added 63 yards and had a pair of touchdown catches. Malik Heath, Rufus Harvey and Rara Thomas also found paydirt, with the scores by Harvey and Thomas being the first touchdowns of their careers.

Dillon Johnson and Jo'quavious Marks led State on the ground. Johnson had 34 yards rushing, while Marks had 33 yards and a touchdown. Overall, MSU's offense racked up 524 total yards.

Meanwhile the State defense was as stingy as it has been all year long. The Bulldogs gave up just 146 yards through the air and only nine on the ground. Vanderbilt averaged 3.7 yards per play, including a miniscule 0.5 yards per rush.

MSU was essentially in control from beginning to end. The Bulldogs received the game's opening kickoff and proceeded to put together an eight-play, 79-yard drive that resulted in a nine-yard touchdown strike from Rogers to Polk. State stretched its lead to 10-0 later in the first quarter on a 36-yard Brandon Ruiz field goal.

Early in the second quarter, the Commodores chipped into the MSU lead with a field goal of their own, but State responded with a pair of touchdowns before halftime. Rogers found Polk on a 31-yard score and later hit Harvey from six yards out. That put MSU up 24-3 at the intermission.

Vanderbilt made it 24-6 with another field goal midway through the third quarter, but from there, State put the game away.

Rogers connected with Heath on a score from nine yards away to stretch the Bulldog advantage to 31-6. In the fourth quarter, Marks added his five-yard touchdown rush and backup quarterback Chance Lovertich threw a 28-yard scoring toss to Thomas to cement a successful road trip for Mississippi State.

Notables

D Dominates
Before Saturday, only two FBS teams had held an opponent to 45 or fewer plays since 2000. Now make it three. Mississippi State allowed Vanderbilt's offense just 42 plays. The Bulldogs joined Kansas State (2016 vs. Missouri State) and Florida State (2012 vs. Savannah State) as the only FBS teams to limit a foe to 45 plays or less over the last two-plus decades.

First Time TDs And Takedowns
Rufus Harvey and Rara Thomas each already had their first career catches earlier this season. On Saturday, the two pass catchers added their first touchdowns. Harvey had a six-yard scoring reception in the second quarter, while Thomas had a 28-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth.

Meanwhile on the defensive side, four Bulldogs notched their first career tackles. Linebackers John Lewis and Ty Cooper, along with safeties Corey Ellington and Janari Dean, all recorded their initial stops.

Dawg Debut
For the first time this season, someone other than Will Rogers took a snap at quarterback for Mississippi State. Late in Saturday's game, backup Chance Lovertich made his Bulldog debut. Lovertich went on to complete five of his six passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Next Up for MSU…
Mississippi State returns home, hosting Kentucky on Saturday, October 30. The Bulldogs and Wildcats are set for a 6 p.m. game at Davis Wade Stadium. The contest will be televised by SEC Network.