Pettway, Auburn beat Mississippi State 38-14

A decade long slump has saddled Auburn’s defense with a less than stellar reputation. It’ll be tough at times, but I like our chances.

“We’ve got a really young team. That’s just what we do”. It’s always good to go back home when you have some bragging rights.

The Bulldogs had an opportunity to seize the game’s momentum early as Kivon Coman picked off White on the opening drive to give his team the ball at the Auburn 19-yard line. With the quarterback on his back, his offensive linemen just stood yards away until Deion Calhoun eventually ran over to help a few seconds later. This offense is far from a finished product, but Lashlee’s play-calling Saturday enabled Auburn to build a five-touchdown halftime lead.

I think it’s as simple as fixing the redzone offense. “It’s a process and it’s going to take a while to get there”. We like Auburn to take home a defense-led win on the road.

“I’m glad that we have the off week now”, said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn.

Coach Mullen says the Mississippi State defensive line is going to have to provide pass protection for quarterback Fitzgerald on third downs. As they have done all year, the defense came up huge and held MSU to a field goal attempt.

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Bulldogs are 2.5-point home underdogs versus the Tigers while the over/under now sits at 54.5 points. It was his first career interception.

Of course, the success of the new-look unit also largely depended on Golson, whose experience as the team’s starting center last season – paired with his versatility to move to tackle this season – made for a rather seamless adjustment once Dampeer was injured.

Worth Noting, Part 1: Xavier Dampeer was “75 to 80 percent” of full speed, Malzahn said. I think he was exposed a little bit in the passing game today as he looked awful throwing the football. “He’s similar to Carl’s mindset when he was a freshman”. His lone interception came late in the game when the Bulldogs couldn’t afford to be passive. Through five games, Fitzgerald has played well in two games and struggled in three others.

“We’ll see”, Malzahn said. No. 1 (Montravius Adams) for them, who would have easily been a first round draft pick for the a year ago, is back. It has also allowed the team to develop some much-needed depth up front.

By the end, Johnson was in street clothes and on crutches, in a complete reversal from the previous week’s 58-7 win over Louisiana-Monroe. All seven kickoffs went for touchbacks. Sophomore Kerryon Johnson already has over 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Auburn gained 432 yards with 335 coming in the first two quarters.

“There were just some silly things that kept happening, silly penalties”, MSU senior linebacker Richie Brown said. He has 19 tackles this season, including seven in his first career start two weeks ago against MA.

It was Adams’ second fumble recovery of the first half.

Mississippi State didn’t eclipse 100 yards of total offense until the third quarter. That play sent the Tigers into the locker room up 35-0. White was efficient through the air going 14 of 18 for 204 yards and a touchdown.