2017 The Mississippi State Game

It's Mississippi State Bulldog Dan Mullen time again.  No love lost between Auburn and Mississippi State.  This is a set-up game for Auburn.  A win here could spur the rest of the reason. A loss will certainly put a quick damper on things after last week's blowout of Missouri. The game is at Jordan-Hare kicking off at 5 on ESPN.  Auburn is something like an 8-point favorite.

FIRST QUARTER

Auburn receives and drives quickly 75 yards in 7 plays in three minutes for the score.  After one first down Kerryon Johnson runs 60 yards inside their 10.  You can tell that KJ is still not full speed or else he would have scored.   No matter.  On 4th down from the one foot line Johnson goes in for the score.

Auburn 7  MSU 0

State goes three and out but Stidham fumbles and MSU gets the ball on our 32.  Our defense holds and they make a 40 yard FG.

Auburn 7  MSU 3

The Tigers drive quickly for another touchdown.  The big play is a long pass on a sweep handoff, the ball going back to Stidham, who completes the long pass to Davis.
The TD comes on a pass from the 7 to Ryan Davis.

Auburn 14  MSU 3

Our defense forces another punt, but we end up punting back to them at their 14.

SECOND QUARTR

State goes three and out from their 14 which includes backing up 5 yards for procedure.
After the punt Auburn sets up at the Bulldog 47.
FIRST PLAY STIDHAM HITS A WIDE WIDE-OPEN WILL HASTINGS ON THE POST!
WOW!  One play is all it took.

Auburn 21  MSU 3

From their 25 State once again goes three and punt BUT THEY FAKE THE PUNT AND OUR DEFENSE TAKES DOWN THE PUNTER AND AU TAKES OVER ON THEIR 33.
Alas, three plays later we are still at the 33.
On the 51-yard FG attempt the ball hits the left upright.  Big chance missed.  Doggone it!
So far in this game our between the tackles running is not there.  We've hit big plays though.
After one first down the Bulldogs are punting from their 47.
Stephen Roberts fair-catches at the 13.
After one first down Auburn is punting on 4th and the length of the football.
Good punt to the MSU 23 with less than 5 minutes to go in the half.
State gets a big pass completion on first down to the Auburn 32.
There is another first down completion to the Auburn 21.
Loss of one.  Second and 11.
Third and 6 for State.
Their QB runs it in from there for the score and a good scramble.  Their QB fumbles into the end zone but after the ball crosses the line.
The play is reviewed and the player ruled down at the one foot line.
First and goal from inside the one and their QB is stopped on the first play.
Second and goal.
False start!
Backs them up five to close to the 6.
We stuff their running back at the hole at the line of scrimmage.  Big time hit there.
Third and goal but there's a touchdown pass back to the left to a wide-open receiver.

Auburn 21  MSU 10

59 seconds left and State gets the ball first in the second half.
The Tigers are conservative and the clock expires.

THIRD QUARTER

MSU receives with momentum after their late second quarter touchdown.
After one first down MSU punts to just outside our chalk line.
First play from inside the one Auburn gets the big pass play to Eli Stove flipping the field.
KJ runs it in from the two.
THAT'S A 99 YARD DRIVE!  Longest scoring drive in AU history.  3:20.  You can't get longer than that.
Just what we needed.
Let me tell you one thing.  Coach Malzahn would NEVER have thrown the ball from the end zone.  Thank goodness for Chip Lindsey!

Auburn 28  MSU 10

On their first series from the 25 Tray Matthews intercepts at the AU 49.
First play Devan Barrett runs for 10 yards and a first down.
Alas, we are punting from the 37.
MSU fair-catches at their 10.
The Bulldogs start a drive.  Gotta stop 'em.
They cross midfield.
The Bulldogs are at our 34.  Their offense is in rhythm on this drive.
State goes to 4th and 10 from the 34.
There is a false start on Mississippi State.  That makes SEVEN false starts on the Bulldogs.
Incomplete pass at the stick!  Our defense holds.
First down Auburn at our 39.
Oh, no!  Kamryn Pettway fumbles and State recovers at the Auburn 43.
We sack their QB Fitzgerald.  Jeff Holland rips down Fitzgerald coming around the edge.
The quarter ends.

FOURTH QUARTER

We have the lead but have missed chances to put this game away.  We missed the long FG.  We stopped their fake punt but nothing came of it.  And there we turn the ball over on our side of the field.  Despite some big plays, our running game is not there.
Our defense holds on fourth down.  Auburn ball on our 39.
With 7 defenders at the line of scrimmage Stidham hits Kyle Davis on a beautiful pass to the two.
Kerryon Johnson leaps for the touchdown!!!
Maybe this is the dagger that will kill Mullen's Bulldogs.
With Chip Lindsay we get the long pass completion with MSU stacking the box.  I doubt this would happen with Malzahn calling the plays.

Auburn 35  MSU 10

12:03 to go.
We are winning this game so far because of 264 yards of passing from Jarrett Stidham.
On a tipped pass Javaris Davis returns the interception 37 yards for the touchdown!!!
10:42 to go.
Game, set, match!  Here's to you, Dan Mullen!!!

Auburn 42  MSU 10

The Bullies drive to the AU 15.
We do have a lot of fresh uniforms in the game but I would like to stop these guys anyway.
On 4th and 7 from the 12 the pass into the end zone is tipped and tipped and falls incomplete.  Yes!
First place from the 12 Malik Miller runs to the 24.
Malik Miller looks better than Kam Pettway.
(Stidham is 13 for 16 for 264 years)
Malik Willis playing this last series.
(We've had 12 pass breakups on defense)
Malik Willis runs 67 yards down the right sideline for the touchdown on the keeper!!
More icing on the cake.  Take that also, Dan Mullen!!!
That's our QB of the future.  Malik Willis has some wheels!

Auburn 49  MSU 10

Bury the Bulldogs!  Bury them good.

3:04 left.  Let's enjoy it.
With 2:02 left State is at midfield.
State pushes to the AU 39 as the clock winding down to a minute.
State has a first down at the 29 with the clock under 30 seconds.
16 seconds to go State at our 29.
We sack their QB as the clock expires.
A great win.  Ole Miss is next.  Let's complete the Mississippi sweep next week.
Not much negative you can say about this one.  This team is getting better.

FINAL SCORE

Auburn 49  MSU 10