Mississippi State Football: Bulldogs run circles around Louisiana Tech

Mississippi State football had no trouble dispatching of an overmatched Louisiana Tech team, clinching bowl eligibility for the Bulldogs in Week 10.

Keytaon Thompson followed a 62-yard Nick Gibson run with a 19-yard touchdown scamper to put Mississippi State up 45-3 over visiting Louisiana Tech on Saturday night in Starkville. That was one of a myriad of scores enjoyed by the maroon-clad faithful who saw at least one touchdown during each quarter against the visiting Bulldogs.

Before giving way to Thompson for mop-up duty, starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald was stellar. His breakout game against Texas A&M in Week 9 carried over into his performance against Louisiana Tech in Week 10 — he threw for 243 yards and four passing touchdowns, adding 107 yards on the ground.

That alone would have been enough for Mississippi State, but a stellar night from their defense made a comfortable victory nearly perfect. As the Mississippi State offense put points on the board the defense kept points off of it. Louisiana Tech was 5-of-14 on third down and completed 14-of-31 passes for a measly 98 yards.

Louisiana Tech was having a moderately successful season in Conference USA play, but the SEC is an entirely different animal. This blemish won’t be held against them too closely, nor will Mississippi State be lauded for what should have been (and was) an easy win. Still, Mississippi State got a much-needed break from the physicality of the SEC and walked away with a win.

Mississippi State’s respite won’t last long. The Bulldogs travel to Tuscaloosa in Week 11 to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. They’re not going to have their backup quarterback scoring garbage time touchdowns in that game.