Fourth-down stops prove critical in Mississippi State’s win over Arizona – The Dispatch

TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona transformed on a fourth-and-1 run play on its second drive of Saturday’s recreation towards Mississippi State.

The Wildcats despatched D.J. Williams up the center for two yards, sufficient to maneuver the chains and arrange a primary down at midfield. For an Arizona workforce that had simply allowed a landing to the Bulldogs, it was an enormous conversion.

It was additionally the one one.

Mississippi State stopped Arizona on its remaining three fourth-down makes an attempt, all within the fourth quarter, and it was essential in MSU’s 39-17 victory.

“It was big the best way they bought stops there on the finish,” quarterback Will Rogers stated.

The Bulldogs stopped the Wildcats on three consecutive drives within the fourth quarter, conserving Arizona from getting again into the sport.

Michael Wiley went 13 yards on a move from Wildcats quarterback Jayden de Laura on the primary failed possession, however Wiley wanted 15. MSU took over at its personal 23-yard line.

Arizona’s subsequent drive stalled in Bulldogs territory once more on an incomplete move on fourth-and-3 from the MSU 31.

The ultimate cease got here within the purple zone as backup quarterback Noah Fifita fired incomplete into the top zone on fourth-and-5 from the 6-yard line.

Mississippi State coach Mike Leach stated Arizona was pressured to go for it due to the Bulldogs’ lead, a really perfect state of affairs as MSU ran out the clock on the Wildcats.

“I believed that was a fairly good instance of offense and protection complementing one another,” Leach stated.

Leach: O-line ‘principally good’

It couldn’t be stated on each sequence, however Mississippi State’s offensive line was “principally good” Saturday night time.

The Bulldogs mauled the Wildcats on the D-line early on, setting the tone for 70 MSU speeding yards within the first quarter alone on 7.8 yards per carry.

Arizona recorded one sack in every of the third and fourth quarters, together with one three-and-out characterised by poor O-line play on Mississippi State’s half.

Rogers was pressured on a first-down move try, the road gave floor on a second-down run, and Rogers was sacked on third right down to pressure a punt.

Leach wasn’t happy with sequence like that, however he praised his line’s efficiency general.”

“Once more they rallied, after which we did play actually onerous,” Leach stated. “I feel that actually one of many largest variations on this recreation was our offensive line.”

Bulldogs go late in Tucson

Mississippi State and Arizona kicked off at 10:10 p.m. Central from Arizona Stadium, and people hoping for a fast recreation had been disenchanted.

The ultimate buzzer sounded at 1:53 a.m., signifying a recreation time of greater than three and a half hours.

These on MSU’s sideline couldn’t assist however discover how late it was getting as the competition wore on.

“It was previous my bedtime,” Watson stated. 

Maybe, the redshirt senior linebacker famous, it may well assist the Bulldogs shifting ahead. MSU’s first recreation towards Memphis on Sept. 3 was delayed greater than two hours by lightning and didn’t end till 12:07 a.m.

Subsequent Saturday’s recreation at LSU has a comparatively early kickoff — 5 p.m. — however Watson indicated the Bulldogs are ready for just about something after the chaos of the primary two weeks.

Up towards a workforce with a famous home-field benefit, that may very well be a great signal.

“Going into Loss of life Valley, it’s going to be a great atmosphere,” Watson stated.

Theo DeRosa reviews on Mississippi State sports activities for The Dispatch. Comply with him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.