The optimism that permeated the Mississippi State campus all week was quickly dashed Saturday as the Bulldogs disappointed the faithful in a 27-13 loss to Auburn. Their first 2023 SEC win over Arkansas the previous weekend held great hope that the Dawgs had finally found their groove. But this was not to be, on either side of the ball.
Going into Auburn week, the Tigers were known to have a decent running game. Passing was the area that hadn’t come to life. If this was State’s perception going in, Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne proved them wrong. He went 20 for 26 (76%) and 230 yards. Running back Jarquez Hunter maintained their ability to run, rushing for 144 yards on 17 carries. Clearly, the Mississippi State defense that found its identity against Arkansas was lost and nowhere to be seen. At the half, the score would be 24-3. The second half was better for the defense, but the offense could not take advantage.
Faith in Mike
For the second week in a row, veteran quarterback Will Rogers couldn’t play because of a shoulder injury. Workhorse running back Woody Marks was also on the sidelines in street clothes due to a leg injury. It fell to backup quarterback Mike Wright to pick up for Rogers. He had proven he could run the offense against Western Michigan and Arkansas. It was nothing stupendous, but he moved the ball in a blend of passing and running. So, there seemed to be a great deal of faith that Wright could bring home a victory. However, that was not to be.
Wright struggled in the passing game, especially in the first half. The offense in general was not in sync either. At times it seemed as if his receivers were reading a different playbook. By games’ end, Wright had thrown 16 for 32 (50%) and 161 yards. It wasn’t until the third quarter that they started to come to life. However, the offense was only able to score one touchdown. Kicker Kyle Ferrie was 100% on the money. He provided six points with kicks of 29 and 40 yards.
There were other bright spots for the offense. Receiver Zavion Thomas came to life with nine receptions for 112 yards and the lone touchdown. He had been underutilized in previous games. The depth in the running back room proved to be real. Seth Davis and Jeffery Pittman picked up for the injured Marks. They combined for 113 yards out of the 184 total rushing. Wright also accounted for an additional 63 yards on 14 carries.
Where Did This Offense Come From?
Auburn is known for having a decent running game this season. Therefore, one could expect the Bulldogs to have planned for that in their defensive game plan. But with the very first play of the game, the Tigers found they could run on the Dawgs. Hunter took off on an 11-yard run for a first down. It went on like this, Auburn slicing through the Bulldog defense like warm butter. But Auburn proved they’re not as one-dimensional as a lot of the pregame chatter was saying.
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze had long been trying to develop a passing game to put down that kind of talk. Somehow overnight, that dream came true. ESPN’s Dave Neal exclaimed, “Where has this offense been this year.” Thorne suddenly became an accurate passer, taking advantage of State’s secondary. Against Arkansas, improvements had been made in that area. However, they were not on display this day.
Thorne’s 230 yards passing resulted in three touchdowns, a career record. By the end of the game, Auburn had racked up 416 total yards against the Dawg defense.
There was a glimmer in the second half. State’s defense held the Tigers to only three points, but the damage had been done.
In typical fashion, State’s head coach Zach Arnett took the bulk of responsibility on himself. “We couldn’t stop anything in the first half, couldn’t stop the run or the pass,” Arnett said. “You can’t win a football game playing a half of football. I appreciate the guys’ efforts in the second half, but I’m not particularly interested in moral victories. We’ve struggled to put a full game together all year, and that’s my fault.”
The Players Might Differ
The press conferences usually focus on what the coaches have to say. But in the post-game, players are interviewed as well. Evidently, some of the players heard what Arnett had to say. It seems they don’t necessarily agree with the boss. Safety Marcus Banks believes the players bear the responsibility. “I feel like it’s on us as players to do our job and do what we get coached to do,” Banks said. “I have a lot of faith in Coach Arnett and Coach Brock and all our coaches that put us in a great position. It just comes down to us as players to be able to make the play.”
Likewise, Wright voiced the opinion that it’s up to the players to play better. “I understand where our coach is coming from, but we’re playing,” Wright said. “The players are out there playing. I mean, we take this loss as much as he takes it. I mean, I take it maybe even more than he takes it, just because I’m out there playing. I’m the one you know executing the plays.”
That Window is Shrinking
The opportunity for becoming bowl-eligible is shrinking with every passing weekend. The Bulldogs are currently 4-4, 1-4 in the conference. They rank next to the cellar just above Arkansas in the SEC West. The remainder of the schedule is a daunting road. Next week, Kentucky comes to Starkville for homecoming. Then, another road trip to take on Texas A&M. Southern Miss comes to town the weekend before the Egg Bowl, also at Davis-Wade this year. The opportunities and possibilities are there. It’s up to both coaches and players to figure out how they want to spend the holidays, at home, or at a bowl game.
