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Mississippi State remains balanced on offense in building early lead
By Ethan Levine
Published:
The Mississippi State Bulldogs scored on three of their first four offensive drives, grabbing an early 17-0 lead over No. 8 LSU in the new-and-improved Death Valley.
The biggest reason for the Bulldogs’ success on offense is their balanced playcalling. On its first 20 offensive snaps, Mississippi State ran the ball 12 times for 111 yards and a touchdown; that’s an average of 9.3 yards per carry.
The Bulldogs also threw the ball on eight of 20 plays, amassing 118 yards and a touchdown on six completions. Quarterback Dak Prescott, who said earlier this week it would be important for MSU to remain balanced on offense, has rushed five times compared to his eight pass attempts, while Josh Robinson has also rushed six times for more than 100 yards.
LSU has not maintained the same balance on offense, running the ball on 21 of 29 offensive snaps. The Tigers have rushed for 55 yards on those 21 carries, and have completed 5-of-8 passes for 71 yards. LSU has not scored a point on its first four possessions.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
