South Carolina vs Mississippi State Recap: 3 Things we Learned

The Mississippi State Bulldogs bounced back in Week 2, winning 27-14 over the South Caroline Gamecocks…

The cowbells were in full effect in the Mississippi State Bulldogs home opener. The Mississippi State Bulldogs are 50-2 under Dan Mullen when leading at halftime, with their most recent loss coming in Week 1.

In Week 1, Bulldogs quarterback Damian Williams ran the show on offense. Williams was 20 for 28 with 143 passing yards and a passing touchdown.

The Bulldogs just could not score when it counted in the second half, missing two field goals, including a potential game winner with 51 seconds left.

Offense was the issue for the Bulldogs in Week 1 as they only scored 3 points after leading South Alabama 17-0 at halftime.

Week 2 told a different story for the Bulldogs as they got in the win column against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs did not allow the South Carolina Gamecocks to score until the third quarter and by then, South Carolina had rotated their back up quarterback Brandon McIlwain into the game.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs Have a Quarterback in Nick Fitzgerald

Week 1 was a tough mental test for the Mississippi State Bulldogs but they bounced back in Week 2 with sophomore Nick Fitzgerald starting at quarterback.

In Week 2, the Bulldogs offense outgained the Gamecocks 485-243 and had 290 rushing yards on the day.

Fitzgerald showed his ability to make plays with his arms as well as with his feet all game, throwing for two touchdowns on 19 for 29 passing. Fitzgerald lead the way on offense, showing no fear for the Bulldogs. He threw for 178 passing yards and ran for another 192 rushing yards, including a 74 yard run.

His 195 rushing yards set the record for the most rushing yards in a game by a Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback.

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The Mississippi State Bulldogs Defense is Better Than Their Week 1 Performance against South Alabama

The Mississippi State Bulldogs defense forced two turnovers and only allowed 7 rushing yards in the first half. It was a step forward for a defense that allowed 94 rushing yards and 285 passing yards to South Alabama a week earlier.

The Bulldogs made yards hard to come by for the Gamecocks. The defense only allowed six first downs and sacked the Gamecocks twice in the first half.

Mississippi State forced the South Carolina to punt the ball seven times and only allowed 243 yards of total offense on 14 points.

The Bulldogs held the Gamecocks to only 34 rushing yards. It was certainly a step forward for the Bulldogs defense as they enter SEC play 1-0.

The Gamecocks Have Some Work to do on Offense

The South Carolina Gamecocks need to find some production on offense. They did not score a point until the third quarter with eight seconds left.

McIlwain led the Gamecocks offense on their only two scoring drives of the game.

McIlwain was 5 for 9 with 60 passing yards and a passing touchdown. He also converted a key fourth-and-1 play on the Gamecocks first scoring drive.

The drive was 12 plays for 80 yards and took 5:22. It was the Gamecocks second longest drive of the game.

A 13 play drive of 60 yards which took a span of 6:22 produced a missed 55-yard field goal.

The Gamecocks only scored 14 points despite holding the ball for 30:05. The Mississippi State Bulldogs held the ball for 29:55.

South Carolina has some adjustments to make before Week 3’s matchup with East Carolina.

Highlights

The Bulldogs travel to LSU in Week 3 with all the confidence in the world on defense, which will be much needed.