Live Drive: Mississippi State vs. Arizona
September 10, 2022 | Football, Joel Coleman
Your headquarters for updates as the Bulldogs take on the Wildcats. Refresh your browser for the latest updates.
TUCSON, Ariz. – For the first time this season, Mississippi State faces a road test as MSU battles Arizona on Saturday in the second game of the 2022 season. Kickoff between the Bulldogs and Wildcats is set for 10 p.m. CT and the game will be televised by FS1. However, you can also keep it here for the latest updates from Tucson, including highlights, exclusive photos and commentary. Updates are posted in reverse chronological order, so the newest updates can be found first. Refresh your page for the very latest.
Mississippi State vs. Arizona Updates
- FINAL: Mississippi State 39, Arizona 17 - The Bulldogs improve to 2-0! More to come soon on HailState.com!
𝙇𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙉𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝘿𝙪𝙗𝙨‼️#HailStat🐶 pic.twitter.com/LYMAyk6bPe
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 11, 2022
- Come for the amazing grab...Stay for the Duck dance!!!
What a catch and celebration 😂🐥
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 11, 2022
cc: @HailStateFB pic.twitter.com/Aqxzwkq0H7
- TOUCHDOWN Mississippi State! Will Rogers finds Caleb Ducking, who makes an OUTSTANDING catch. Ben Raybon's PAT is good and the Dawgs take a commanding 39-17 lead with just 3:18 left to go.
- MSU is indeed eating clock. Four first downs already on this drive. Down to 5:00 to play and State is inside the Arizona 20.
- State D forces another turnover on downs. 9:16 to play. Let's see if the Dawgs can eat some clock now.
- Not much doing for the Dawgs and Arizona now back with possession after forcing an MSU punt. One play and penalty later and Arizona is near midfield with just over 10 minutes to play. MSU remains in front 32-17.
- A couple of momentum swings in the last few minutes. Jo'quavious Marks fumbled and Arizona recovered. However, the Dawg D gets the job done and forces a turnover on downs. MSU has the football at its own 23 with 12:06 left. State still up 32-17.
- Here's that last HUGE TD play. Rogers to Williams for the 32-17 State lead...
Austin Williams 😤@HailStateFB extends their lead! pic.twitter.com/FWCO3euEy9
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 11, 2022
- TOUCHDOWN MISSISSIPPI STATE!!! Dawgs go for it on 4th and 3 and Will Rogers again finds his roommate Austin Williams in the end zone for the second time tonight. It's a four-yard scoring toss, the Ben Raybon PAT is good and MSU leads Arizona 32-17 with 14:17 left in the game. Gutsy, gutsy call and the Dawgs deliver!
- End of the third quarter: Mississippi State 25, Arizona 17 - Dawgs trying to extend the lead when we resume. They'll have it at the Arizona 11 when we start back.
Knocking on the door of the endzone and we're headed to the fourth#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/4Y9cDPgIYZ
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 11, 2022
- INTERCEPTION!!! Tyrus Wheat bats the ball up in the air at the line of scrimmage, Nathaniel Watson catches it and returns it all th way to the Arizona 11-yard line! HUGE!
- 4:30 left in the third quarter, Dawgs just punted the football back to the Wildcats. Was a tremendous punt, too, by Archer Trafford. 60-yard punt and Arizona will start its drive from its own six-yard line. Quick plug here. Archer Trafford is one of the most interesting players in all of college football. Check out my story on him from last season BY CLICKING HERE.
- The Wildcats capitalize. Two-yard touchdown pass and the PAT means Mississippi State's lead is cut to 25-17 with 7:37 left in the third quarter.
- Arizona gets the football right back. Wildcats strip Jamire Calvin, pick the ball up and take it all the way inside the Dawg five-yard line.
- Well, Emmanuel Forbes had a pick earlier that was taken away on review. No taking this one away. Forbes with an interception near midfield to halt an Arizona drive and MSU takes over at its own 44-yard line looking to increase a 25-10 lead. 8:41 left in the third quarter.
- Here's a look at the Rogers-to-Williams TD pass that has State up 25-10 early in the third quarter:
Another one for @HailStateFB 💪
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 11, 2022
The Bulldogs are cruising in the second half pic.twitter.com/K3AYCnfE4G
- TOUCHDOWN Bulldogs!!! State finishes off the drive as WIll Rogers hits his roommate Austin Williams on a five-yard TD pass. Ben Raybon adds the PAT and Mississippi State leads Arizona 25-10 with 10:45 left in the third quarter.
- Second half is underway. Dawgs get the football first and are already across the 50 and into Wildcat territory.
- A quick first-half note: Austin Williams has tied the school record by playing in his 52nd career game. He's the eighth Bulldog to play that many games in Maroon and White.
The definition of a DAWG 💪#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/WAfiIdr7YA
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 11, 2022
- A few halftime stats: Dawgs have outgained Arizona 201 yards to 166. MSU has 98 rushing yards and 103 passing yards. Arizona has 32 on the ground and 134 through the air. For State, Will Rogers is 16-for-21 passing for 103 yards and a touchdown. Dillon Johnson has 55 rushing yards. Jo'quavious Marks has 43. Rara Thomas has four catches for 47 yards to lead all State receivers. Jackie Matthews has a team-high five tackles over the first two quarters.
Halftime stats: pic.twitter.com/ZGM8BdCcCo
— Logan Lowery (@loganlowery) September 11, 2022
- HALFTIME: Mississippi State 18, Arizona 10
Dawgs lead it after the first 30 minutes in Tucson!#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/9C0Sn8Pv0E
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 11, 2022
- Arizona tries to put together a quick scoring drive and has time for a last-second heave to the end zone but it falls incomplete. That takes us to the half with the Dawgs on top.
- A lengthy Bulldog drive that lasts over six minutes gets inside the five-yard line, but State ultimately has to settle for another Ben Raybon FIELD GOAL. It's a 22-yarder for Raybon and with it, MSU now leads 18-10 with 33 seconds until halftime. Here's the Raybon kick:
Add 3️⃣ more to the board for @HailStateFB 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AKVi56BmIq
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 11, 2022
- Both teams' most recent drives have ended in punts. State still leading 15-10 and just got the football back. Bulldog drive will start from their own 20 with 6:52 left until halftime.
- Arizona cuts into the Mississippi State lead. After what was nearly a FANTASTIC interception from Emmanuel Forbes (it was overturned on review as Forbes' foot came down on the out-of-bounds line) the Wildcats hit a 43-yard field goal. MSU now up 15-10 with 12:55 left until halftime. Here's a pic of the Forbes pick that wasn't...
- Hey, hey! Got some Bulldog baseball heroes in Arizona taking in football action.
𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘄𝗴𝘀 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘁 ⚾️🤝🏈#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/9JgLAmYDPg
— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) September 11, 2022
- END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Mississippi State 15, Arizona 7
- Take a look at Ben Raybon's perfect field goal that has State up 15-7:Dawgs Up After The First‼️#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/TjeAO6AMcU
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 11, 2022
The FG is good and @HailStateFB extends their lead 💪 pic.twitter.com/V2G4CSOQHI
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 11, 2022
- DAWGS INCREASE THE LEAD! Ben Raybon drills a 39-yard field goal. Placed it perfectly through the uprights. Mississippi State now has a 15-7 lead with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.
- Ground raid? With just under three minutes left in the first quarter, the Dawgs have 70 rushing yards. 40 for Jo'quavious Marks. 30 for Dillon Johnson. State still up 12-7.
- Here's a clip of that Rogers to Ducking TD connection that has the Dawgs in front 12-7:
Will Rogers with a beauty of a throw to put @HailStateFB on top! pic.twitter.com/GPtpOAXEF3
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 11, 2022
- AND MISSISSIPPI STATE CAPITALIZES! TOUCHDOWN BULLDOGS! Will Rogers with a perfect throw. Caleb Ducking with the catch in the end zone. Nine-yard play for the score! Massimo Biscardi again misses the PAT, but the Dawgs lead Arizona 12-7 with 5:29 left in the first quarter. Caleb Ducking, man. He continues to show why the Bulldogs believe he's ready to shine.
- I'd love to be able to accurately put the last play into words, but I don't think it's possible! Bottom line, Jalen Green has a Bulldog interception on a wild series of events, and an Arizona penalty is tacked on putting the Dawgs deep into Wildcat territory! (UPDATE: I don't have to put it into words. We now have a clip! It's below.)
This might be the most chaotic play of the day 😅 pic.twitter.com/88obmbKvon
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 11, 2022
- TOUCHDOWN Mississippi State!!! The Bulldogs answer right back. Jo'quavious Marks caps off a strong MSU drive with a nine-yard scoring run. Massimo Biscardi's extra point attempt is no good, but State now trails just 7-6 early in the first quarter.
- Well, that didn't take long for Arizona. Wildcats drive down the field in just over two minutes for a touchdown. 75-yard drive on six plays. Just like that, the Bulldogs trail 7-0 early.
- At long last, we are underway in Tucson. Updates to come!
- Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Kickoff time is getting closer. With that, a quick thought or two heading into the game. Since head coach Mike Leach took over at Mississippi State, he has perhaps uttered no word in the English language more than the word 'consistency'. If you're looking for a key to tonight's game, it might be just that - consistency. The Bulldogs were solid in virtually every phase of the game a week ago when they dominated Memphis. Quarterback Will Rogers was fantastic. The receivers (and running backs) didn't drop a pass. The running game was solid. The offensive line looked strong. The Bulldogs looked great defensively, save for a play or two. The question today is, can the Dawgs repeat it? Can they simply do it again? Can they be the consistently productive bunch Leach wants them to be? We've seen since Leach became head coach how dangerous MSU is when clicking on all cylinders. The Dawgs have shown over the last couple of years they're capable of it on any given Saturday. Today's a chance to prove they've matured to the point where clicking on all cylinders is the norm. Today's a chance to prove they're the consistent squad Leach has longed for. Get you another pot of coffee ready. It's nearly game time.
- So you know that pic of head strength coach Tyson Brown in the previous post? You know, the one of him with the intensity in his eyes, firing up his guys? Curious what he was saying? Well you're in luck. Here's a bit of that:
Heating Up In The Desert 😤#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/558vLTS2Ly
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 11, 2022
- Warm-up time...
- Soon........
- The Dawgs are headed to the stadium:
En route. #HailState pic.twitter.com/tTSyYwMS8O
— Brandon Langlois (@LangloisMSU) September 11, 2022
- Tonight's threads: Maroon helmets, white jerseys, gray pants
Tonight's fit ...
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 11, 2022
𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙣 ➡️ 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 ➡️ 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙮 pic.twitter.com/ZPKSOxBSkz
- If you missed it, check out some of the great content from the past few days:
- CLICK HERE to see how Jett Johnson has gone from a boy with a dream, to a young man who turned his fantasy to reality.
- CLICK HERE to learn about the inner workings of State's trip to Arizona, from finding a hotel to getting the equipment to the desert.
- CLICK HERE to read about the brotherly bond of MSU defensive linemen De'Monte Russell and Donterry Russell.
- CLICK HERE to check out how quarterback Chance Lovertich not only won a lightning-delayed football game last week, but pulled off an unforgettable marriage proposal.
- Get set for kickoff by checking out today's storylines by CLICKING HERE, or giving a look at the game program linked below...
📖 Here's some reading material to get you ready for kickoff in Tucson! #HailState🐶
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 10, 2022
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