Mississippi

Mississippi State drops first SEC game of the season, falling to Florida 45-28 – SuperTalk Mississippi

Published

2 years ago

September 21, 2024

Mississippi State drops first SEC game of the season, falling to Florida 45-28 – SuperTalk Mississippi

While execution for the Mississippi State football team surpassed last week’s loss to Toledo, the Bulldogs’ first conference game of the season ended in a 45-28 loss to Florida in Starkville on Saturday.

Jeff Lebby’s system on offense showed flashes against the Gators, totaling 480 yards and four scores. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the defense could not stop the two-quarterback attack of Florida and allowed a total of 503 yards. Here’s a short recap of what happened.

Two quarterbacks working to save Napier’s job

As calls for Florida head coach Billy Napier to be fired have grown loud after a lousy start that included losses to Miami and Texas A&M, starting SEC play with a win over Mississippi State should hush some of the concerns, for now.

Senior Graham Mertz and freshman DJ Lagway both took significant snaps during Saturday’s win. Mertz had a solid showing, throwing for 201 yards on 19 of 21 passing. Lagway was a perfect 7 for 7 for 76 passing yards while adding 22 yards rushing.

The two-quarterback system turned into a three-quarterback day after Mertz and Lagway provided enough insurance for the win. Late in the fourth quarter, Michael Van Buren, Jr., came in and led a scoring drive as the clock expired.

Mississippi State offense evolving

Despite pulling the game within one score on two different occasions, the Mississippi State offense could not overcome the defense’s deficiencies to nab the first conference win under first-year head coach Jeff Lebby.

It was evident the rushing attack was harped on this week during practice as the Bulldogs ran the ball for 236 yards on 50 carries after gaining just 66 yards on the ground against Toledo a week ago. Johnny Daniels, Davon Booth, and Keyvone Lee each had a touchdown with their legs.

Before leaving midway through the fourth quarter with an injury, Shapen was solid in the air game, throwing for 140 yards on 13 of 21 passing with a touchdown. The Baylor transfer threw no interceptions in the game.

The defense is devolving

Even with Mississippi State safety Isaac Smith being the top tackler in Division I FBS heading into the game against Florida, the unit could not stop the Gators on the ground or in the air.

The pass rush was notably absent with zero sacks and just two tackles made behind the line of scrimmage. The secondary was picked apart by Mertz and Lagway with the Bulldogs only tallying one pass breakup.

On the season, Mississippi State continued to find its seat in the cellar of the SEC when it comes to total defense. Going into the game, Florida and Mississippi State were ranked last and second to last in the conference, with the Gators showing they might be a bit better on that side of the ball than the Bulldogs.

Another stat worth pointing out is that five of Mississippi State’s top seven tacklers are secondary players, which means too many explosive plays are happening as the box has failed to stop the run and get pressure on the quarterback.

What the coach said

After the game, Lebby was not pleased with the defense failing to provide the offense with enough opportunities. At times, if the defense could have just found a turnover, it could have been the difference in a 14-point game and a tied game.

“It’s unfortunate the situation we put ourselves in defensively,” Lebby said. “We forced a number of third downs that we could not take advantage of along with allowing a few explosive plays.”

Lebby is facing his first losing streak as a head coach as the Bulldogs have now lost three in a row – to Arizona State, Toledo, Florida – after a season-opening win over Eastern Kentucky.

Scoring summary

After allowing the first score to Florida with 3:39 in the opening quarter, Mississippi State running back Davon Booth dove for a five-yard touchdown run. Following the extra point conversion by Bulldog Kicker Kyle Ferrie with 21 seconds, the score was tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter and this was the closest the Bulldogs would get.

The Gators scored three straight touchdowns on a 20-yard corner route to Marcus Burke from Mertz, a 35-yard go route between Mertz and Tight End Hayden Hansen, a 10-yard scamper from Ja’Kobi Jackson for a 28-7 lead with 1:17 left in the half.

Fortunately, Shapen and the Bulldog offense drove the field in six quick plays as the signal-caller snuck into the end zone from three yards out with 23 seconds left until the intermission. This cut into the deficit, but Mississippi State still trailed by two scores at the half.

Coming out of the gates, Florida was forced to punt on its first drive after the half, and the Bulldogs took advantage of the momentum shift by forcing a 13-play drive, which finished with a touchdown pass from Shapen to Jordan Mosley. Once the PAT was good, the score was 28-21 and this would be the closest Mississippi State could manage.

Florida scored 17 straight punts and the Bulldogs turned the ball over inside the goal line at the start of the fourth quarter. Despite Van Buren’s entrance and Mississippi State’s score, the Gators’ lead was insurmountable.

Next up

The Mississippi State Bulldogs will hit the road next week, playing against No. 1 Texas Longhorns in Austin next Saturday. That game will kick off at a time to be determined.

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Mississippi

IRS extends tax deadline for Mississippi after winter storm

Published

2 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

IRS extends tax deadline for Mississippi after winter storm

Need extra time to file your taxes this year? The Internal Revenue Service is moving the deadline for all Mississippi residents to file.

The decision follows a disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency after the severe winter ice storm that knocked out power to thousands in January. As of late February, the storm was estimated to have caused about $107 million in damages.

Rodney Foushee handles IRS media relations for North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. He said the relief applies to all 82 Mississippi counties.

The new June 8, 2026 deadline includes filing individual and business tax returns and making tax payments.

It also covers all other IRS deadlines that fall between Jan. 23, when the winter storm started, and June 8. That includes “affected quarterly payroll and certain excise tax returns normally due on Feb. 2, 2026, and April 30, 2026.”

Penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after Jan. 23 and before Feb. 9 will be abated if the tax deposits were made by Feb. 9, the IRS wrote.

Mississippi state tax deadline stays the same

This change does not affect the state of Mississippi filing date.

The deadline to file and pay state taxes is April 15, 2026.

How do I get my federal tax return fast?

If you file electronically and choose to receive your refund by direct deposit, your refund will probably be issued within 21 days, the IRS says.

If you mail a paper return, the wait could be six weeks or longer. About 11 million Americans still file on paper, and the IRS is outsourcing the handling of those returns as part of its “Zero Paper Initiative.”

Can I get my tax refund as a paper check?

No. The IRS has phased out paper checks this year. (The IRS has said limited exceptions will be available.)

Plan to get it via direct deposit. People without bank accounts can use prepaid debit cards or digital wallets.

How do I track my 2026 income tax refund?

You can track the status of your refund check online at Where’s My Refund?

Some banks or financial institutions can take extra time to process checks. Weekends or holidays could delay processing, and the IRS says to check with your bank if you think it’s been processed but don’t see the funds in your account.

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

14-year-old girl arrested for shooting 8-year-old in Mississippi

Published

14 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

14-year-old girl arrested for shooting 8-year-old in Mississippi

WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Deputies in Warren County, Mississippi, arrested a 14-year-old girl for allegedly shooting an 8-year-old.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said the shooting happened on Abraham Drive just before 4:00 p.m. on April 13, 2026.

According to the sheriff, the female victim was transported to a Jackson hospital for treatment. He said deputies recovered a handgun at the scene.

There’s no motive for the shooting, and the investigation is ongoing.

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Mississippi

A potential opportunity to lower car tag costs across Mississippi

Published

1 day ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

A potential opportunity to lower car tag costs across Mississippi

A follow-up on high car tag costs in Mississippi shows major differences in what drivers pay depending on where they live, even across the street, according to new data from the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office.The data highlights large price gaps across the metro area, with some residents paying hundreds of dollars more based solely on location and county lines.The State Auditor’s Office data shows that at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, a car tag costs $571.64. At Trails at Northpointe Apartments directly across the street, the same tag rises to $1,490.48.The highest cost in the region is $1,676.30 at Yazoo Estates, while the lowest is $343.30 in the Oakfield neighborhood.Resident Keith Bush said he has experienced the difference firsthand.“When I lived in Hinds County, my car tag started at $1,500,” Bush said. Now living at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, Bush said his cost is significantly lower.Bush said, “I don’t want to tell you the exact price, but it is under $200.”State Rep. Ronnie Crudup Jr. of District 71 says the high costs in Hinds County are an ongoing issue tied to local financial obligations, including school infrastructure.Crudup said, “We all know that we got the highest tags. I think even in Hans County, and uh, you know, a lot of that is due to, I guess, our, our, our population in, in our school building.”He added that part of the cost comes from maintaining unused school buildings in the Jackson Public Schools system.Crudup said, “You know, some of the schools are closed. The schools are still on their books right now, because they’re still responsible for the buildings and the maintenance and all that type of thing. I think as they come off their books. I think there’s a chance then that we’ll be able to reduce the price of the car tags.”Bush said, “That would be great. I think a lot of people will have some ideas of where they want to move.”Lawmakers are considering House Bill 1395, which has already passed both chambers. The bill would speed up the sale of unused school buildings, which supporters say could reduce costs, limit delays, and open the door for redevelopment.In a statement, Jackson Public Schools said, “Jackson Public Schools is committed to the strategic repurposing of surplus properties to strengthen communities and improve the district’s financial position, guided by thoughtful planning, stakeholder engagement, and a focus on long-term impact for our scholars and families.We are also grateful to the Mississippi Legislature, and especially the Hinds County Delegation, for their advocacy and support of this legislative change, which provides school districts with greater flexibility to better serve our scholars and community.”Officials said if the bill is signed into law, it could help reduce long-term costs. For now, the data shows that where you live still plays a major role in how much you pay for a car tag.

The data highlights large price gaps across the metro area, with some residents paying hundreds of dollars more based solely on location and county lines.

The State Auditor’s Office data shows that at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, a car tag costs $571.64. At Trails at Northpointe Apartments directly across the street, the same tag rises to $1,490.48.

The highest cost in the region is $1,676.30 at Yazoo Estates, while the lowest is $343.30 in the Oakfield neighborhood.

Resident Keith Bush said he has experienced the difference firsthand.

“When I lived in Hinds County, my car tag started at $1,500,” Bush said.

Now living at Ridgeland Ranch Apartments, Bush said his cost is significantly lower.

Bush said, “I don’t want to tell you the exact price, but it is under $200.”

State Rep. Ronnie Crudup Jr. of District 71 says the high costs in Hinds County are an ongoing issue tied to local financial obligations, including school infrastructure.

Crudup said, “We all know that we got the highest tags. I think even in Hans County, and uh, you know, a lot of that is due to, I guess, our, our, our population in, in our school building.”

He added that part of the cost comes from maintaining unused school buildings in the Jackson Public Schools system.

Crudup said, “You know, some of the schools are closed. The schools are still on their books right now, because they’re still responsible for the buildings and the maintenance and all that type of thing. I think as they come off their books. I think there’s a chance then that we’ll be able to reduce the price of the car tags.”

Bush said, “That would be great. I think a lot of people will have some ideas of where they want to move.”

Lawmakers are considering House Bill 1395, which has already passed both chambers. The bill would speed up the sale of unused school buildings, which supporters say could reduce costs, limit delays, and open the door for redevelopment.

In a statement, Jackson Public Schools said, “Jackson Public Schools is committed to the strategic repurposing of surplus properties to strengthen communities and improve the district’s financial position, guided by thoughtful planning, stakeholder engagement, and a focus on long-term impact for our scholars and families.

We are also grateful to the Mississippi Legislature, and especially the Hinds County Delegation, for their advocacy and support of this legislative change, which provides school districts with greater flexibility to better serve our scholars and community.”

Officials said if the bill is signed into law, it could help reduce long-term costs. For now, the data shows that where you live still plays a major role in how much you pay for a car tag.

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