Postgame Notes: Tennessee State at Mississippi State

Postgame Notes: Tennessee State at Mississippi State

November 20, 2021 | Football

By: Brian Ogden, Associate Director/Communications

GENERAL

Mississippi State won the coin toss and deferred. Tennessee State received the opening kickoff.
MSU's game captain was WR Austin Williams.
Head coach Mike Leach recorded his 150th career victory.
The Bulldogs have won 16 straight games against FCS opponents.
- MSU is 5-0 all-time against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
  - The Bulldogs have beaten UT Martin, Murray State and now Tennessee State by a combined score of 262-49.
- Last FCS opponent: Abilene Christian (W, 45-7), in Starkville on Nov. 23, 2019.
Mississippi State has won 15 of its last 17 non-conference games during the regular season and 46 of its last 55 non-conference games overall.
Nine Bulldogs made their MSU debut: WR Carson Banks, CB William Hardrick, WR Antonio Harmon, WR Teddy Knox, K Aidan Martin, DL Matai Mata'afa, LB Nic Mitchell, CB Tre Phillips and OL JT Zakkak.
Today's 55-point victory is State's largest margin of victory since a 46-point win on Nov. 17, 2018 against Arkansas (52-6).

OFFENSE

Totaled 600 yards of offense, which ranks ninth in MSU history.
Threw for 493 yards, which ranks third in MSU single-game history.
- Marks the 15th 400-yard passing game in program history and eighth under Mike Leach.
- MSU had just seven total 400-yard passing games prior to Leach's arrival.
- Today marked the 14th time State has passed for 300 or more yards under Leach.
Completed passes to 10 different receivers, marking the sixth time this year that 10 or more receivers had a catch.
State has broken the school record with 35 passing touchdowns this season.
- School record: 33 in 2015.
MSU has now scored 50 points in at least one game in 11 straight seasons.
- State's 55 points are its highest scoring output since a 56-10 victory against Louisiana on Sept. 15, 2018.
- MSU has scored 50 or more points 19 times over the last 15 years, going 19-0 in those games.
Scored touchdowns on two 50-plus-yard plays
- WR Malik Heath caught a 56-yard pass from QB Will Rogers, which was MSU's longest scoring play from scrimmage since Kylin Hill caught a 75-yard pass from K.J. Costello at No. 6 LSU on Sept. 26, 2020.
- WR Makai Polk also caught a 50-yard pass from Rogers.
The Bulldog offense is now 45-for-50 (90.0 percent, 34 TD, 11 FG)in the red zone this season.
- 4-for-4 today (2 TD, 2 FG).
MSU has broken the school record with 448 completions this season.
- Previous: 373 in 2020.
MSU has broken the school record with 4,292 passing yards this season.
- Previous: 4,113 in 2015.

DEFENSE

Held its sixth opponent of the year to less than 100 rushing yards.
- Six games below 100 yards is tied for second-most in a season in MSU history since 2000, trailing only the 2018 season's seven games.
State now has a takeaway in 43 of its last 51 games with 82 takeaways in that span.
- S Dylan Lawrence forced a fumble that was recovered by LB Jett Johnson.
Matched the team's season high with four sacks (NC State, Sept. 11; at Vanderbilt, Oct. 23).
Recorded a season-high 12 tackles for loss.
- Had nine in the first half alone.
- Previous season high: 8, NC State, Sept. 11.
- Most since: 17, Stephen F. Austin, Sept. 1, 2018.
- 11 different Bulldogs had at least 0.5 tackles for loss.
27 different Bulldogs recorded at least one tackle.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

WR Caleb Ducking

Made a career-high four receptions for 26 yards.

WR Malik Heath

Caught a 56-yard touchdown pass, which stands as MSU's longest play from scrimmage this season.
- Reception was the longest of his career.
- Touchdown was MSU's longest scoring play from scrimmage since Kylin Hill caught a 75-yard pass from K.J. Costello at No. 6 LSU on Sept. 26, 2020.
Finished with 87 receiving yards, one shy of his career high set at Memphis (Sept. 18, 2021).

RB Dillon Johnson

Scored on a career-long 32-yard run, which was State's longest rush of the year.
- Run is MSU's longest under Mike Leach.

WR Teddy Knox

Returned his first career kickoff for 31 yards.

RB Jo'quavious Marks

Has caught 73 passes this season, which is tied for fourth in MSU single-season history.
- No. 3: 74, David Smith (1970).
- Has now caught 133 passes in his career, which is tied for sixth in MSU history with De'Runnya Wilson (2013-15).
  - No. 5: 139, Justin Jenkins (2000-03).
  - Holds the MSU career record for receptions by a running back.
Has a reception in all 22 games of his career.
Scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run.

WR Makai Polk

Tied the school record with 88 receptions this season.
- Previous: 88, Fred Ross (2015).
- Record-tying catch was a season-long 50-yard touchdown reception.
  - Longest since a 52-yard catch at Oregon State (Nov. 21, 2020) while playing for California.
Turned in his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the year with 110 yards on nine receptions.
- Four 100-yard receiving games in a season is tied for fourth in school history.
- Four career 100-yard receiving games is tied for ninth in MSU history.
Now ranks 10th in MSU single-season history with 891 receiving yards.
- No. 9: 909, Sammy Milner, 1968.
Tied for fourth in school history with nine touchdown receptions this year.
- No. 3: 10, De'Runnya Wilson, 2015.

QB Will Rogers

Passed for 391 yards with 28 completions on 34 attempts with five touchdowns.
Holds MSU's single-season and career records for 300-yard passing games with 10 this year and 12 in his career.
- Has thrown for 300-plus yards in nine consecutive games, which is the nation's longest active streak.
  - Since 2004, the only quarterbacks with a longer streak are Graham Harrell (16), Gardner Minshew (11) and Joe Burrow (10).
- Over that streak, has completed 76.2 percent of his passes with 29 touchdowns.
Posted his 11th 200-yard passing game this season, which is third in MSU single-season history.
- School record: 12, Dak Prescott (2015, 2014).
- Now has 16 career 200-yard passing games, which is second in MSU history.
  - School record: 29, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
Now holds the MSU single-season record with 4,113 yards and is the seventh SEC passer to reach the 4,000-yard mark in a season.
- Previous: 3,793, Dak Prescott (2015).
- One of three passers in SEC history to pass for 4,000 yards in a season while completing at least 75.0 percent of his passes joining Alabama's Mac Jones (2020, 77.4 percent, 4,500 yards) and LSU's Joe Burrow (2019, 76.3 percent, 5,671 yards).
- Boasts 6,089 career passing yards, which is fourth in MSU history.
  - No. 3: 6,207, Nick Fitzgerald (2015-18).
Holds the school record for single-season completions with 435 this year.
- Has 674 career completions, which is second in MSU history.
  - School record: 734, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
Now holds the MSU single-season record with 34 passing touchdowns this season.
- Previous: 29, Dak Prescott (2015).
- Has 45 career touchdown passes, which is tied for third in MSU history with Tyler Russell (2010-13).
  - No. 2: 55, Nick Fitzgerald (2015-18).

WR Jaden Walley

Posted a season-high 119 all-purpose yards.
Returned four punts for 73 yards (18.25 average)
- Included a career-best 29-yard return, which is MSU's longest return of the season.
Also hauled in a 25-yard reception.

RB Omni Wells

Made a career-long 40-yard reception.

WR Austin Williams

Turned in a career-high three touchdowns, which tied the school record.
- Fourth Bulldog with three receiving touchdowns in a game: Donald Gray, Samford (Oct. 26, 2016); Chad Bumphis, at Troy (Sept. 15, 2012); Sammy Milner, vs. Florida (Sept. 27, 1969).
- His first multi-touchdown game since Nov. 17, 2018 against Arkansas.
- Touchdowns were his first since the game against LSU (Sept. 25).
- First score came on a 21-yard reception.
- Third touchdown was a 30-yard catch.
Now has a career-best four touchdowns this year.
Now tied for 10th in MSU career history with 12 touchdowns.
- No. 8: 13, Jerry Bouldin (1987-90) and Mardye McDole (1977-80).
Caught four passes for a career-high 75 yards.
- Previous: 72 yards, at Arkansas, Nov. 6, 2021.

DE Jevon Banks

Matched his career high with two tackles.
Also matched his career high with 1.0 tackle for loss.

S Collin Duncan

Recorded his fourth pass breakup of the year and eighth of his career.

LB Jett Johnson

Recovered his second fumble of the year and returned it 12 yards.
Tied for the team lead with eight tackles.

S Dylan Lawrence

Forced his first career fumble.
Added a tackle for loss.

LB DeShawn Page

Made a career-high and team-leading eight tackles with a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss.

DT Nathan Pickering

Posted a season-high two tackles for loss.
- Most since: 2.5, Abilene Christian, Nov. 23, 2019.
Recorded a solo sack for a loss of 12 yards in the first quarter.
- Now has 8.0 for his career.

S Shawn Preston Jr.

Broke up his first pass of the season.

LB Nathaniel Watson

Recorded his first pass breakup of the year and second of his career.

LB Tyrus Wheat

Posted a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and matched his career high with 2.0 sacks.
- Previous sacks: 2.0 at Vanderbilt, Oct. 23, 2021.
- Previous tackles for loss: 2.0 at Vanderbilt, Oct. 23, 2021.
- Now has 7.0 sacks this year and 12.0 for his career.