Postgame Notes: NC State at Mississippi State
September 11, 2021 | Football
GENERAL
- Mississippi State won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
- MSU's game captain was WR Austin Williams.
- Today's attendance was 45,834.
- Two Bulldogs made their MSU debut (OL Nick Jones, K Nolan McCord)
OFFENSE
- Completed six passes for 15 or more yards, with three going for 20-plus yards.
- Nine different receivers caught a pass.
- MSU picked up 51.7 percent of its receiving yards after the catch (152-of-294).
- Five Bulldogs have now extended their streak of games with a reception beyond 10 games.
- RB Jo'quavious Marks, 13 games (every game of his career); WR Malik Heath, 11 games; WR Makai Polk, 11 games; WR Jaden Walley, 11 games; WR Austin Williams, 11 games.
- Three Bulldogs totaled 75 or more all purpose yards.
- WR Lideatrick Griffin, 122 yards; RB Dillon Johnson, 88 yards; WR Jaden Walley, 75 yards.
DEFENSE
- Recorded nine tackles for loss with 12 different players credited with at least 0.5 tackles for loss.
- Most since 11 tackles for loss at Georgia (Nov. 21, 2020).
- Picked up 3.0 sacks in the fourth quarter.
- MSU has at least one takeaway in 36 of its last 41 games.
- S Jalen Green intercepted a pass, LB Jett Johnson forced a fumble that Green recovered, S Fred Peters intercepted a pass.
- The Bulldogs have collected 73 takeaways in the 41-game span dating back to Nov. 18, 2017 at Arkansas.
- State has now forced multiple turnovers in 14 games since the start of 2019.
- MSU forced multiple turnovers in five games in 2020.
- MSU has intercepted a pass in 26 of the last 39 games with 36 total picks in that span.
- Allowed just two runs of more than 10 yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- WR Lideatrick Griffin returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
- Fifth 100-yard kick return in program history.
- First 100-yard return since Brandon Holloway did so against Southern Miss (Sept. 5, 2015).
- Also MSU's first kick return touchdown since Holloway's return against the Golden Eagles.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Caught the first pass of his career for a 13-yard gain before play was erased by penalty.
- Returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
- Fifth 100-yard kick return in program history.
- First 100-yard return since Brandon Holloway did so against Southern Miss (Sept. 5, 2015).
- Also MSU's first kick return touchdown since Holloway's return against the Golden Eagles.
- Now has three consecutive games with 100 or more return yards dating back to Dec. 31, 2020 vs. Tulsa.
- Prior to the game against Tulsa, the last Bulldog with more than 100 kick return yards in a game was Keith Mixon (106 yards, 5 returns) vs. Arkansas on Nov. 19, 2016.Â
- One of five Bulldogs since 1992 with three or more 100-yard kick return games in their careers.
- Most: 4 by Leon Berry, Fred Reid, Derek Pegues and Pig Prather.
WR Malik Heath
- First reception of the season went for a 21-yard touchdown.
- Caught six passes for a career-high and team-leading 70 yards.
- Made a diving then-career-long reception for a gain of 16 yards.
- Added a career-long grab of 26 yards.
QB Will Rogers
- Has thrown a touchdown pass in eight straight games with 14 touchdowns in that span.
- MSU's career leader in completion percentage (70.4 percent, 311-of-442).
- Career No. 2: 64.1 percent by K.J. Costello (134-of-209; 2020)
- Career No. 3: 62.8 percent by Dak Prescott (734-of-1169; 2012-15)
- Completed 33-of-49 passes today (67.3 percent).
- Recorded his seventh career 200-yard passing game, which is tied for ninth in MSU history with Tony Shell (1988-90).
- School record: 29, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
- No. 8: 8, Don Smith (1983-86).
- Completed 33 passes, which is tied for 10th in MSU single-game history.
- Holds three of the top five single-game marks.
WR Jaden Walley
- Caught a 4-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
- Also returned a punt 15 yards.
- Made a career-long reception for a 34-yard gain.
- Also returned a punt 13 yards.
LB Aaron Brule
- Picked up 0.5 tackles for loss.
- Recorded the first sack of his MSU career.
- Made a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss.
- Matched his career high with 1.0 sack.
- Added a quarterback hurry.
- Picked up 0.5 tackles for loss.
- Led MSU with a career-high 11 tackles.
- Picked up a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss.
- Recorded his first career sack.
- Intercepted the second pass of his career and first as a Bulldog.
- Interception came in the end zone for a touchback in the first quarter.
- Last interception came while playing for Texas on Oct. 31, 2020, at Oklahoma State.
- Recovered a fumble for the first time in his career.
- Matched his career high with two pass breakups.
- Added 0.5 tackles for loss.
LB Jett Johnson
- Recorded a career-high nine tackles, which is more than any of his previous season totals.
- Entered 2021 with five career tackles.
- Five tackles today were solo stops.
- Forced his first career fumble.
- Added a pass breakup.
DE Aaron Odom
- Recorded his first sack of the season.
- Now has 3.5 in his career.
- Picked up 0.5 tackles for loss.
- Picked up 0.5 tackles for loss.
LB Tyrus Wheat
- Broke up a pass and has a pass defense in both games this season.
- Booted a 56-yard punt, his first 50-plus yard kick of the year.
- Now has 22 punts of 50-plus yards in his career.
- Made his MSU debut.
- Kicked an extra point and a 32-yard field goal for his first career points.
- Boasts an active streak of 122 consecutive extra points made in his career.
- Made two today.
![Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) punts during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Fmsstate.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F1%2F1%2FUSATSI_27828199.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
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