POTM Journal During the LSU Game

Sep 20, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Jameon Lewis (4) runs after a catch for a touchdown against the LSU Tigers during the third quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

It’s 6:07 as I start this piece. Four minutes until kickoff. I am going to write my reactions to the game tonight as it unfolds. I am both optimistic and scared about the game, all at the same time. So with that, here is my POTM (Prisoner of the Moment) Journal for the LSU game

Kickoff:  Some channel flipping to start. UVA-BYU is running late, so the game is starting on ESPN2. I hate it when this happens. I start my viewing experience annoyed.

13:38 1Q:  Mississippi State comes out and stuffs the running game of LSU. 3 and out and less annoyed. Jarmoral Graham had a good return to put the ball at midfield and I am much less annoyed.

10:47 1Q: Mississippi State goes ahead with a beautiful pass by Prescott and a prettier catch by Wilson. As good of a start as I could hope for. Still really early, but feeling good right now. (Side note: I clapped my hands really loud and my wife came out of our room because she thought I was mad at our kids. Oops)

8:30 1Q: Mississippi State gets its second straight 3 and out and the Bulldogs are swarming to the football. Good punt by LSU makes it much deeper for the Bulldogs to start.

6:28 1Q: Mississippi State gets a 12 yard pick up on 2nd down from Josh Robinson, and then runs three straight passing plays and Prescott gets sacked twice. Run the darn ball.

2:06 1Q: LSU drives down inside the red zone on a big passing play which made me look for liquid happiness. A pass interference in the end zone set up 1st and goal from the 2 and the Bulldogs came up with a HUGE goal line. Liquid happiness can wait.

:45 1Q: Mississippi State just drove 99 yards. What world am I living in where Mississippi State dominates LSU in Baton Rouge?

End of 1st: Mississippi State leads 14-0 and I keep pinching myself. I’m going to be really bruised up at this rate.

11:46 2Q: Mississippi State gets back to back sacks and forces the Tigahs to punt. I could so get used to this.

9:46 2Q: Mississippi State drives to the 10 and the drive stalls out. The field goal unit came on, I said a quick prayer, and Sobiesk made the kick. State is rolling right now 17-0.

6:56 2Q: LSU can’t get the offense going, and I am happy. Bulldogs force another punt, but I am a little annoyed that Graham called a fair catch at the four. Let it bounce down there.

3:56 2Q: A Clausell false start on 3rd and 4 made it 3rd and 9. Prescott took a one yard loss on a draw. This is when the nervous, nothing-ever-goes-right-for-Mississippi State side takes over. Thinking it might lead to a score and complete momentum shift.

1:20 2Q: Okay, a happy middle I guess. LSU drives to the 10 and gets a field goal. No shut out, but that would just be getting greedy. State still up 17-3.

:35 2Q: Dak Prescott made a really bad shovel pass as he was getting brought down that almost got returned for a pick six. Why didn’t it get returned for a pick six? I’m a Mississippi State fan. We aren’t supposed to get lucky breaks.

Half Time: Mississippi State completely dominated the 1st half. No other way to describe it. Bizarro world I am living in right now.

14:48 3Q: Everything was going great. My daughter watched Curious George on the iPad the entire first half next to me. It was time for her to go to bed, so I put her down for the night. Then the very first play from scrimmage, Dak gets stripped and it gets returned for a TD by LSU. I’m sorry I ruined everything guys.

12:44 3Q: Dak cares not for my superstitious ways with my daughter and runs for 56 yards and a score. A little ticked about the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Malcolm Johnson after the play, but Death Valley went quiet.

10:47 3Q: The Psycho Defense comes up big and holds LSU to a punt. Feeling pretty decent again. A score here would be big.

9;35 3Q: Dak gets a 3rd and 7 and almost gets stuffed in the back field. He scrambles, finds Jameon Lewis wide open for a 74 yard touchdown. 31-10 Mississippi State #Dak4Heisman

6:18 3Q: I forgot what LSU did on their previous drive. It was unimpressive. They pinned Mississippi State and we had our FIRST 3 and out against LSU’s defense at this point.

5:17 3Q: Anthony Jennings made a nice play to avoid a sack and threw a beautiful pass to a receiver who just apparently forgot he had to make sure he got a foot down. LSU pins Mississippi State deep at the one yard line, so I’m nervous about this.

End of 3Q: Mississippi State leads 31-10 with 3rd and goal from the 10. This is just unreal.

14:49 4Q: Sobiesk made his second field goal and it is 34-10 Mississippi State. The LSU fans are leaving the stadium in droves. It’s beyond anything I could have possibly expected.

12:34 4Q: After a huge passing play from Jennings to Dural, LSU punches it in and goes for 2 and gets stuffed on the conversion. Mississippi State still up 34-16, but that play gets me just a little bit nervous again.

9:34 4Q: Josh Robinson and Dak Prescott eat up some clock and Mississippi State punts the ball inside the 10.  It’s so close I can taste it, but I’m getting sick to my stomach all at the same time. Is this really going to happen?

7:56 4Q: Anthony Jennings just got hammered. He wants to head to the locker room. He has gotten hammered repeatedly tonight.

3:43 4Q: Mississippi State goes for it on 4th and goal and comes up short, but this was more about draining clock. Mission accomplished.

1:55 4Q: Harris just made a good throw on busted coverage by Jamerson Love. They went for two and came up short to make it 34-22. We can’t make this easy can we?

1:27 4Q: The backup center comes in and snaps the ball over Dak’s head. Two plays later, LSU is in the end zone and it is now 34-29. I now believe it isn’t meant to be. WHAT THE CRAP?!?!

:27 4Q: State kills some clock after they recovered the onside. LSU is going to send the house after the punt.

FINAL: Mississippi State intercepts a Hail Mary at the goal line and wins! More interesting than it should have been but I will take it!

Enjoy this guys. First win in 23 years at LSU. Huge monkey off Dan Mullen’s back (even if it was digging its claws in at the end).  I don’t know how many wins we get this year, but after all the frustration I have felt in games against LSU, I don’t believe there is a game that we can’t win, not saying we will win them all, but every game is winnable. This season just got a lot more fun!