Joe Moorhead proud of Mississippi State’s explosive plays, Davis Wade atmopshere

Mississippi State rolled to a 63-6 win over Stephen F. Austin in coach Joe Moorhead’s debut in Starkville.

The Bulldogs’ 63 points scored are the most in a State head-coaching debut in program history.

“I thought we did a lot of good things, offense, defense, special teams,” Moorhead said. “A lot to clean up moving forward (next week) against a quality opponent like Kansas State on the road. Pleased but not satisfied. It’s a great way to start the season.”

Moorhead was proud of his wide receiver group, which saw 12 players make at least one catch.

“The lingering question concerning our wide receiver group entering the season was about if they were capable of making not just plays, but explosive plays,” Moorhead said. “I think we were able to answer that today and it certainly wasn’t just one guy.”

“… I think we rotated a bunch of guys through. A lot of it is really dictated by, not only who’s in the game, but the coverages in the game and how the defensive coordinator is trying to defend us. … You really can’t force feed somebody necessarily.”

But given the opponent, and the score, Moorhead admitted that “we can’t be like ostriches and stick our heads in the sand” and not look at things they need to work on because of the margin of victory.

Suspended QB Nick Fitzgerald was on the sideline and talked with backup QB Keytaon Thompson between series and did a “great job,” the coach said throughout the week and in meetings.

Joe Moorhead is here for postgame presser, starts by thanking fans. “It was everything it was cracked up to be."

— Brett Hudson (@Brett_Hudson) September 2, 2018

Moorhead says the incompletions were a, “right church wrong pew,” thing. Throwing to right person, just pressure, footwork or mechanics being the reason it was incomplete.

— Brett Hudson (@Brett_Hudson) September 2, 2018

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.