In Dan Mullen’s first season, the Dawgs played LSU better than anyone expected. State entered with a 2-1 record while the Tigers were 3-0.

The game started out with sloppiness for both sides. Despite a putrid 1st half offensive effort from the Tigers, they took a 16-14 lead into the locker room thanks to four MSU turnovers. For the entire game, LSU only had 30 rushing yards. On the other hand, Anthony Dixon had a great game: 106 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.

Down 23-14 mid-way through the 3rd quarter, Tyson Lee hit Marcus Green for a 50-yard touchdown pass. The Tigers regained their 9 point lead, however, when Chad Jones returned a punt 93 yards for a score. A MSU field goal made it 30-24….and that leads us to the series we all remember.

Starting at mid-field with just under four minutes to play State was able to gain 48 yards on five rushes from Lee, Dixon and Christian Ducre. On 1st & Goal at the 2 with 1:30 left, the handoff to Dixon was stopped short at the one yard line. 2nd & Goal: Dixon stopped inches short of the goal line.

On 3rd & Goal Mullen opted to have Tyson Lee loft a pass into the endzone….but it was battled down by Chad Jones. Perhaps an even worse play on 4th & Goal – QB draw by Lee: stuffed by the LSU defense.

LSU took a safety as the game ended; 30-26 loss for the Dawgs. Here are the highlights…

LSU ended with a 9-4 season while MSU ended 5-7….a season full of close losses against the toughest schedule in the country.