Mississippi State battled Tennessee at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday, October 13. The bulldogs, lead by freshman QB Wesley Carroll, came out with a balanced attack of running and passing. The successful passing game is unusual due to the nonexistent Bulldog passing game of recent years.
With the score tied at 14-14 just before the half, Sylvester Croom tried to run the clock down to head into the locker room. This ultra conservative play-calling led to a field goal by Tennessee with 0:02 left.
In the second half the play-calling fell into a lull of pounding it up the middle. Tennessee took advantage of their halftime adjustments as well as a key “penalty” to keep their momentum going.
Ultimately, Tennessee had what it took to hold off a solid effort by the Bulldogs.
Positives:
1) Carroll: He showed incredible leadership, poise, grit, and pure skill. His passes were well thrown and on target. Carroll has the talent to be a special QB at Mississippi State.
2) Burks: He showed that he is a big playmaker as long as plays are called that get him the ball.
3) Competitive: In the progression of a team from the depths of mediocrity to a winning program, a team has to become competitive again. MSU is finally competitive again. They can win on any given weekend.
Negatives:
1) Play-calling: The play-calling was superb in the first half. Croom and co. were running options, pitches, passes, runs, etc. to keep the defense on their heels. With that play-calling came success. At some point the play-calling because stale and predictable.
2) Game management: Croom’s management of the game at the end of the first half was so bad it doesn’t deserve anymore words.
Stats Summary:
Pass: Ainge 22-36, 259, 2TD, 1INT - Carroll 18-33, 203 2TD
Rush: Foster 21-139, 1TD - Dixon 26-108, 1TD
Rec: Taylor 11-186, 1TD – Burks 5-79, 1TD
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Tags: football, Mississippi State, Tennessee
