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Mississippi State Football: Bulldogs Hold on to Defeat #22 Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl

By Derrick Thomas

Dec 31, 2020; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (13) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane during the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2020; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (13) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane during the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mississippi State Football: Bulldogs Hold on to Defeat #22 Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl

The Mississippi State Football team secured bowl win number one for Mike Leach as the Head Coach with a 28-26 victory over #22 Tulsa. The Bulldogs improved their record to 4-7, and football-wise, ended the season on a positive note. I predicted that Mississippi State would win the game but missed widely on the score, but a win is a win.

Offensive Balance for the Bulldogs

Mississippi State Football fans have screamed all year for Mike Leach to run the football and show some offensive balance all season. We all received our wish for the second consecutive game. Mississippi State ran sixty offensive plays, and the run to pass ratio was 50%.

I was happy to see the offensive balance, but the passing game struggled to find rhythm due to the pressure put on by the Golden Hurricane defense even without their star Zaven Collins. Will Rogers threw for 148 yards and one touchdown on 19-30 passing.

He was also sacked four times, which impacted the passing game. Tulu Griffin was the recipient of his first college touchdown reception, and he proved he would be a weapon in the return game.

Jo’Quavious Marks scored the first touchdown of the game with a 26-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs were set up with great field position by a 57-yard kickoff return by Tulu Griffin.

Marks ran for 72 yards on 11 carries, and his backfield mate Dillion Johnson ran for 57 yards on 10 carries. Rogers scored the other rushing touchdown with a 13 yard run in the third quarter.

https://twitter.com/HailStateFB/status/1344692904992903171?s=20

Zach Arnett’s Defense Saves The Day Again

The Mississippi State Football defense has been a dependable unit all season. The defense bent but did not break against Tulsa and even got in on the scoring to help put away a scrappy Golden Hurricane squad.

The Bulldog defense garnered five sacks and two interceptions to help secure the victory. Erroll Thompson (1), Aaron Odom (2), Sherman Tims (1), Tyrus Wheat (.5), and Aaron Brule (.5) combined for the five sacks. Tyrus Wheat and Emmanuel Forbes secured interceptions, with Forbes taking his pick 90 yards to the house for his third pick-six of the season.

https://twitter.com/HailStateFB/status/1344729961760960514?s=20

A Brawl to End it All.

A great as it was to end football season with a bowl win, the last images of the season will be the brawl between Mississippi State and Tulsa. There was a minor incident during pregame, but it was nothing compared to the free-for-all-brawl as the teams met on the field at the end of the game. I don’t even want to give details, but you watch the fracas below.

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