Mississippi State triumphs over Southern Miss, under the leadership of Blake Shapen.
In a thrilling college football game, Mississippi State emerged victorious against Southern Miss, with a final score of 34-24.
The first quarter saw Mississippi State take an early lead, thanks to Kyle Ferrie's impressive 55-yard field goal, which put them up 3-0. The Bulldogs extended their lead when Seydou Traore scored a 55-yard touchdown on the game's sixth play from scrimmage, making it 10-0.
However, Southern Miss wasn't ready to concede. Braylon Braxton, the transfer from Marshall, threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Micah Davis, tying the score midway through the second quarter. Reed Harradine responded with a 43-yard field goal for Southern Miss, pulling the score to 7-3.
The momentum seemed to shift back to Mississippi State when Davon Booth rushed for a touchdown, giving them a 13-10 halftime lead.
In the second half, Mississippi State continued to dominate, with Davon Booth scoring another touchdown to increase their lead to 20-10. Fluff Bothwell added two more touchdowns for the Bulldogs, expanding their lead to 27-10 and 34-10 respectively.
Braylon Braxton kept Southern Miss in the game, completing 26 of 39 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, Southern Miss' six possessions in the second half ended with four punts, the expiration of the first-half clock, an interception, and a turnover on downs.
Southern Miss' new head coach, Will Stringer, can take pride in the team's first season successes, despite this loss. Braylon Braxton also found the end zone late in the game, throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to TJ Johnson.
In terms of statistics, Mississippi State outgained Southern Miss 465-301 in the game. The Bulldogs will look to build on this victory as they continue their season, while Southern Miss will aim to bounce back in their next match.
