First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Arizona

STARKVILLE, MS - September 02, 2023 - Mississippi State Quarterback Will Rogers (#2) during the game between the Southeastern Louisiana Lions and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville, MS. Photo By Mike Mattina

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Arizona

September 08, 2023 | Football, Joel Coleman

A quick look at 10 items of interest ahead of the Bulldogs’ battle against the Wildcats.

By: Joel Coleman, Senior Writer

STARKVILLE – At 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening, the lights of Davis Wade Stadium will be on as Mississippi State faces Pac-12 foe Arizona and seeks a second-straight win to start the season. That much you know. However, there are several things you might not.
So, let's have a look at 10 things to be aware of headed into the Bulldogs' showdown against the Wildcats:

Saturday's contest is the back half of a home-and-home series with Arizona as the Wildcats come to the South following MSU's trip to Tucson last year. Last season's meeting was the first ever between the two programs and State got the best of Arizona in the desert. The Dawgs topped the Cats 39-17 last September. State led by just eight points entering the fourth quarter, but outscored Arizona 14-0 in the final period to solidify the victory. Quarterback Will Rogers led the way for State as he threw for 313 yards and four touchdowns. Receivers Austin Williams and Caleb Ducking had two scoring catches each. Jo'Quavious Marks ran for 53 yards and a touchdown in the game. Ben Raybon hit a pair of field goals. Nathaniel Watson, Jalen Green and Emmanuel Forbes all had interceptions for the Bulldogs in last year's affair.
Mississippi State has made a habit out of starting seasons 2-0 in recent years. A victory Saturday for MSU would mark the third-straight year in which the Dawgs have won their first two games. In fact, State has started 2-0 or better in five of the last six seasons entering this year with the only exception in that span being 2020's COVID-impacted, SEC-games-only slate.
Keep an eye on Marks Saturday as the State running back continues his march towards school history. The senior needs only five more catches to become the all-time career receptions leader at Mississippi State. Marks enters the Arizona game with 195 career catches. Getting to 200 would not only put him at the top of the State career leaderboard but move him to 12^th on the SEC's all-time receptions list.
On the topic of Marks, it seems he's adapting just fine to the scheme new offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay has brought to Starkville. In addition to catching four passes for 59 yards last week, Marks became the first MSU player to rush for 100 or more yards in a game since Kylin Hill did so on Nov. 28, 2019, against Ole Miss. Marks totaled a career-high 127 yards on the ground against Southeastern Louisiana. He also added a pair of touchdowns.
Rogers is also continuing to chase history. State's senior signal caller, who has already rewritten the MSU record book, is now eyeing the top of several SEC charts. Rogers enters Saturday's game needing only four more touchdown passes to crack the top five of the SEC's list for career scoring tosses. He can also enter the top five in SEC career passing yardage with 286 more yards through the air.
MSU head coach Zach Arnett could make a little history himself on Saturday. With a win over Arizona, Arnett would improve to 3-0 in his young coaching career that dates back to January's ReliaQuest Bowl victory over Illinois. Arnett is aiming to become the eighth head coach in State history to start a Bulldog head coaching career 3-0. If he does, he'd join Joe Moorhead (2018), Jackie Sherrill (1991), Allyn McKeen (1939), Spike Nelson (1938), J.W. Hancock (1927), Earl Able (1924) and Dan Martin (1903).
One key to Arnett joining that list could be for the Bulldogs to pick up where they did last week in terms of penalty-free play. State committed only one penalty in the Week 1 win over Southeastern Louisiana. It was MSU's fewest penalties in a game since an Oct. 6, 2018, win against Auburn when the Dawgs also committed only one penalty.
On State's Saturday opposition, Arizona comes to town looking to build off last week's 38-3 victory over Northern Arizona. The Wildcats led 14-3 at the half before pulling away in the third quarter. By the time the game was done, Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura had spearheaded an offensive attack that averaged more than nine yards per play. A 53-yard scoring rush that marked the longest run of his career was the highlight of de Laura's day. He also passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
To help turn away Arizona, the Bulldogs could certainly use another big day from its special teams units. Last week, MSU's John Lewis blocked a punt that Avery Sledge recovered and returned for a touchdown. It was the first time State returned a blocked punt for a score since Sept. 9, 2017, at Louisiana Tech. But no State special teamer had a bigger day than kicker Kyle Ferrie. Making his Bulldog debut, Ferrie drilled field goals of 47 and 49 yards, plus made all six of his extra point attempts to earn an SEC Freshman of the Week honor.
Last but not least – and sticking with the State special teams – the unit is likely to receive an added boost on Saturday. Per Arnett, explosive receiver/returner Zavion Thomas is expected to be back in action against Arizona after missing last week's season opener. Assuming Thomas is indeed on the field, that adds a big-time playmaker back in the mix for not only special teams, but the State offense as well.