Turning Points: Key Plays in Mississippi State’s Game Against LSU
Sep 12, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) drops back to pass during the 2nd quarter of the game against the LSU Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
A game is not won or lost on just a few plays, but there is always a few plays that play a critical role in the outcome of the game. That was certainly the case in the 21-19 loss to the LSU Tigers. In my opinion, three plays were the biggest determining factor in the loss.
Defensive Holding Call on Third Down
This was huge. The Bulldogs and Tigers were shutting each other down early on in the game. LSU was struggling to move the ball just as much as Mississippi State was in the first quarter.
Things changed when the Bulldogs came up with a three and out which was negated by a defensive holding call. It gave the Tigers a second life, and they took advantage. The Tigers would complete some passes over the middle of the field. It set up the first of three Leonard Fournette touchdowns.
Incomplete Pass on the Two Point Conversion
The Bulldogs had just scored and had all the momentum on their side. The score was 21-19 after Dak Prescott found De’Runnya Wilson for a touchdown.
The two point conversion was executed perfectly up until Dak Prescott threw the ball. The LSU defense was too aggressive leaving Ashton Shumpert wide open for an easy waltz into the end zone to score two points. All it took was a good throw.
Dak Prescott threw the ball behind Shumpert. It wasn’t completely uncatchable. Shumpert had the ball in his hands, he just couldn’t hold on to it. Bu had Prescott thrown the ball better, it wouldn’t have mattered. The throw made it too difficult and the Bulldogs weren’t able to convert.
Delay of Game Penalty with 8 seconds Left
Dan Mullen has a history of not doing a very good job of managing the clock at the end of the game. It reared its ugly head at the least opportune time.
The Bulldogs were driving and looked to be setting themselves up for a very makeable field goal attempt. The clock was stopped and the Bulldogs were looking to get a little bit closer than the 28 yard line where they were. With one timeout left, the Bulldogs could throw the ball anywhere on the field and still stop the clock.
While many blamed Prescott for the delay of game, Dan Mullen took responsibility for the penalty, and he should have. Mullen signaled in a play that required the receiver to go in motion. The entire team was wearing down, especially the receivers who were running up the field to make receptions, and hen having to run back to the line to keep the clock from winding down too much. The play took way to long to set up, and it cost the Bulldogs.
Prescott should have been more aware of the play clock, but the play call by Mullen but the quarterback in a bad position. As a result, the Bulldogs took a delay of game penalty which changed a 46 yard field goal attempt to a 51 yard field goal attempt.
Mullen then decided to run Devon Bell out to kick the field goal. Bell has a much stronger leg than Graves, so Bell was sent to try the kick. While I understand the logic, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to send a kicker out to attempt a field goal who hadn’t attempted one since the 2013 season. Unsurprisingly, Bell sent the kick wide right and the Tigers were victorious.