Postgame Notes: Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State
September 04, 2021 | Football
GENERAL
- Mississippi State won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
- MSU's game captain was S Fred Peters.
- Today's attendance was 44,669, which marks MSU's largest home crowd since 57,529 fans watched the Bulldogs defeat Ole Miss on Nov. 28, 2019.
- Twelve Bulldogs made their MSU debut (WR Jamire Calvin, DE Randy Charlton, LS Colby Cox, S Jalen Green, LS Hayes Hammond, WR Rufus Harvey, RB J.J. Jernighan, DE Izuchukwu King Ani, LB DeShawn Page, WR Makai Polk, RB Simeon Price, WR Rara Thomas).
- Three Bulldogs made their first career start (RT Scott Lashley, WR Rara Thomas, NG Cameron Young).
- State overcame a 20-point deficit (14-34) in the final 13:11 of the fourth quarter, marking its largest comeback win on record.
- Previous largest deficit in a victory: 16 points (0-16 [0:56, 3rd] at Auburn, Oct. 9, 1999).
- Previous largest fourth quarter comeback: 14 points (3 times, most recent 0-14 [7:51] vs. Ole Miss, Nov. 23, 2007).
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OFFENSE
- The Bulldogs completed 39 passes, which ranks fourth in MSU single-game history.
- State's 83.0 percent completion percentage is a single-game school record for games with a minimum of both 25 and 15 attempts.
- Previous 25 attempts: 80.0 percent, Memphis on Sept. 4, 2010 (20-of-25).
- Previous 15 attempts: 81.3 percent, at Tulane on Sept. 4, 1982 (13-of-16).
- Today marked the fifth time that MSU has passed for 300 or more yards under Mike Leach.
- It was the 19th time in program history that MSU has thrown for 370 or more yards.
- State completed six passes of 20 or more yards.
- 228 of MSU's 370 receiving yards came after the catch (61.6 percent).
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DEFENSE
- MSU has at least one takeaway in 35 of its last 41 games.
- The Bulldogs have collected 70 takeaways in the 41-game span dating back to Nov. 18, 2017 at Arkansas.
- State has now forced multiple turnovers in 13 games since the start of 2019.
- MSU forced multiple turnovers in five games in 2020.
- MSU has intercepted a pass in 25 of the last 38 games with 34 total picks in that span.
- The Bulldog offense scored touchdowns on both drives immediately following turnovers in the first quarter.
- Started the game by holding Louisiana Tech to just six plays over its first three drives (interception, punt, fumble).
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INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Led MSU with 67 receiving yards in his Bulldog debut.
- Caught a 20-yard touchdown pass.
- Also made a 40-yard reception that stood as State's longest play from scrimmage in the game.
- Registered 40 yards after catch, an average of 10.0 per reception.
- Totaled 144 kickoff return yards, which is a career high.
- Most kick return yards since Jameon Lewis (183 yards, 5 returns) at Ole Miss on Nov. 24, 2012.
- School record: 186 by Leon Berry, at Auburn (Sept. 12, 2009).
- Second consecutive game with 100-plus kick return yards (vs. Tulsa, Dec. 31, 2020).
- 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.
- Posted a career-long 70-yard kickoff return that led to a three-play scoring drive.
- Also returned the opening kickoff 38 yards.
- Posted his first career multi-touchdown game (2 rush, 1 rec).
- Scored State's first touchdown of the season with a 1-yard reception out of the backfield.
- Touchdown was his first career score through the air.
- Scored twice in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard run and a 5-yard carry.
- Scored State's first touchdown of the season with a 1-yard reception out of the backfield.
- Finished the day with nine receptions.
- Matched his career high with 12 rushing attempts for 71 yards, one shy of his yardage career high (72 vs. Tulsa, Dec. 31, 2020).
WR Makai Polk
- Made his Bulldog debut and caught a team-high 10 passes for 57 yards.
QB Will Rogers
- Matched his career high with three touchdown passes.Â
- Has now thrown a touchdown pass in seven straight games with 13 touchdowns in that span.
- Completed 39 passes, which ranks fourth in MSU single-game history.
- Now holds three of the top five single-game marks.
- Broke his own single-game completion percentage records, connecting on 83.0 percent (39-of-47) of his passes.
- Previous 45 attempt record: 78.0 percent (41-of-52) by Will Rogers, at Georgia (Nov. 21, 2020).
- Previous 35 attempt record: 78.0 percent (41-of-52) by Will Rogers, at Georgia (Nov. 21, 2020).
- Previous 25 attempt record: 78.0 percent (41-of-52) by Will Rogers, at Georgia (Nov. 21, 2020).
- MSU's career leader in completion percentage (70.7 percent, 278-of-393).
- 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 39-of-47 passes today.
- Recorded his third career 300-yard passing game, which is tied for third in MSU history.
- Tied with Nick Fitzgerald (2015-18), Dave Marler (1977-78) and Tony Shell (1988-90).
- School record: 9, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
- Recorded his sixth career 200-yard passing game, which ranks 10th in MSU history.
- School record: 29, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
- Tied the MSU single-game record with 12 consecutive completions.
- Previous: 12 by K.J. Costello, Arkansas (Oct. 3, 2020).
- Was a perfect 10-for-10 in the fourth quarter with 128 yards and a touchdown.
- Will enter his next game on a run of 11 consecutive completions.
- Two-game MSU record: 17 by Dave Marler, Florida State (Oct. 14, 1978) and vs. Tennessee (Oct. 28, 1978).
WR Rara Thomas
- Made his Bulldog debut and first career start.
- Caught his first target for a 21-yard gain and his second for a 25-yard haul.
WR Jaden Walley
- Made four catches, all for gains of 15 or more yards.
- Caught the game-tying touchdown pass with 3:37 to play in the fourth quarter.
- Hauled in a 30-yard reception, his longest catch since a 33-yard touchdown against Arkansas (Nov. 17, 2018).
LB Aaron Brule
- Credited with the fifth sack of his career.
- Blocked a potential game-winning field goal on the game's final play.
- Last MSU Blocked Field Goal: Nelson Adams vs. Miami (Ohio) in the St. Petersburg Bowl (Dec, 26, 2016)
- Broke up a career-high two passes.
- Made 1.0 tackle for loss in the first quarter.
- Matched his career high with 1.0 tackle for loss.
- Recovered a fumble for his first career takeaway in the first quarter.
- Made a career-high nine tackles.
- Made his second career interception on the season's opening defensive drive.
- Boasts an active streak of 120 consecutive extra points made in his career.
- Made five today.
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