Defense Delivers In Overtime Win
September 10, 2023 | Football
STARKVILLE – It seemed apropos that Mississippi State's 31-24 overtime win over Arizona came down to a defensive stop.
The same Bulldog defense that forced five turnovers – including four on the first four drives of the game – was asked to answer the bell one more time after the MSU offense scored a touchdown on the opening possession of overtime.
Three consecutive incompletions left the Wildcats facing fourth-and-10 from the 25-yard line. Quarterback Jayden de Laura was flushed out of the pocket and went scrambling up the left sideline with Nathaniel Watson and Deonte Anderson in hot pursuit. De Laura was tripped up by DeShawn Page and plunged forward towards the first-down marker, but replay showed that Marcus Banks stopped him inches shy of the 15-yard line and triumphantly ended things right there.
"We knew that it was going to come down to us and we took that as a challenge," said safety Shawn Preston Jr., who forced two of Arizona's turnovers in the first half. "That was a hell of a play by their quarterback, but as a defense we stood tall and stood our ground. That's how we play ball."
State's defense also came up with a stand late in regulation just to force the game into overtime. Facing third-and-1 at the 18-yard line, Page and Nathan Pickering stuffed de Laura for a 1-yard loss with nine seconds remaining and forced the Wildcats to settle for a tying field goal instead of trying for the knockout blow in the waning moments.
The Bulldogs' defense totaled nine tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, four interceptions, one sack and also forced and recovered a fumble. Â
"I'm really proud of the defense," said head coach Zach Arnett. "They had every opportunity to throw in the towel or not chase the ball hard. We were on them all week about pursuit and sure enough, the game came down to one play and pursuit made all the difference in the world right there."
The evening couldn't have started much better for MSU's defense, causing the Wildcats to cough up the football on their first four possessions. Banks batted one of de Laura's passes into the air and into the arms of Nathaniel Watson on Arizona's first drive of the game and ultimately led to a Bulldog touchdown four plays later.
On the next Wildcat passion, Jett Johnson stepped in the way of de Laura's throw to pick off his first pass since 2021 and returned it 30 yards down to the 6. State capitalized with another TD two plays later.
Arizona's third drive was also thwarted via an interception as Esaias Furdge batted a ball into the air that Preston was able to come down with. Preston also had a hand in the Bulldogs' turnover on the Wildcats' ensuing possession when he lowered the boom with Arizona threatening inside the 10-yard line, forcing a fumble that Hunter Washington scooped up and returned to near midfield.
"We knew we needed to start fast for the offense and create as many turnovers as we can to get the ball so the offense can try and win the game," Watson said.
The final turnover came late in the fourth quarter and the Bulldogs clinging to a three-point lead. DeCarlos Nicholson broke up another of de Laura's attempts into Johnson's awaiting arms, the third pick created by a pass deflection during the contest.
"It's honestly a testament to the DB's," Johnson said. "We were just in our drops and they made great plays on the ball. They got a PBU, we got a pick and were rewarded for their hard work. We were just in the right spot pursuing the ball."
It was the seventh-straight game Mississippi State has forced at least one turnover and was the first time since a win over Vanderbilt on Nov. 7, 2020 that the Bulldogs have had five turnovers in a game. The four interceptions were the most by a State team since a victory over Middle Tennessee on Oct. 17, 2009.
Johnson and Watson, who finished atop the SEC leaderboard in tackles last season, led MSU with double-digit stops on Saturday night. Johnson led the way with 11 tackles while Watson tallied 10.
"We're the bash brothers," Watson said. "We pride ourselves on that. We watch each other and see how we can get better and I'm looking forward to continuing to play with him."
State's defense showed some chinks in their armor by surrendering 431 yards to Arizona and four drives of 75 yards or more. But that side of the ball certainly rose to the occasion when they were needed the most and helped the team improve to 2-0 and increased State's winning streak to five straight dating back to last season.
"We've got some really resilient football players and I could not be prouder of the way they continued to fight all the way until the end," Arnett said. "That's what made the difference in the game, players making plays."
