It was 11:10 p.m. Saturday in Starkville when Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt stormed into the end zone and scored his second touchdown of the game.
At this point, it would have been fair for Mississippi State football fans to call it quits. The Bulldogs (1-1) trailed ASU 27-3 in the final minute of the second quarter. They were dominated in virtually every statistical category. It looked like new coach Jeff Lebby was headed for his first loss, and an embarrassing one at that.
And even if you gave the second half a chance, with your eyes just a crack open, it wasn’t exactly encouraging either. Arizona State (2-0) used the opening drive of the third quarter to kick a field goal, consuming 8 minutes and 27 seconds of game time, and the game was all but decided before Mississippi State touched the ball in the second half.
Incorrect.
Instead, MSU scored touchdowns on three of its next four drives to cut the score to 30-23 with 5:27 left. The defense, which had conceded 346 rushing yards, needed one more stop for the offense to try to tie it. It would have been the biggest comeback in program history.
Mississippi State’s path to a bowl game seems more uncertain than it did a week ago. But in the long run, there is still hope after the 30-23 loss.
“Our guys fought unbelievably in the second half and we’re going to keep that going,” Lebby said in his postgame radio interview. “We’re going to find ways to get back in the building, get back to work and go to Davis Wade (Stadium) with a lot of confidence and a willingness to win a football game.”
The encouragement of Mississippi State’s comeback efforts
After his 56-7 win over Eastern Kentucky in Week 1, Lebby said there are plenty of teachable moments in wins and losses alike.
After the loss to Arizona State, there is a lot to be proud of.
Mississippi State came out incredibly weak. The Sun Devils scored on their first five possessions. The MSU offense had a field goal, two punts, a fumble returned for a touchdown, and a turnover on down in the first half. MSU had -13 rushing yards in the first half.
Before the game, there were concerns about travel distance, late kickoff and high temperatures, but let’s be honest: Mississippi State played so poorly early on that it was hard to judge whether those factors played a role.
“I need to prepare these guys better for the game,” Lebby said. “I thought our energy, effort and emotion were really good, but then we didn’t play cleanly in the first quarter, which was frustrating.”
The Bulldogs outscored the Sun Devils 20-0 in the final quarter and half of the quarters. That was a surprise. Arizona State was on a roll. Mississippi State was not.
MORE: Introducing Sam Sklar, the Clarion Ledger’s new reporter for the state of Mississippi
It was a teaching moment for Lebby, who was serving as a head coach at any level for the first time. It was the first time he had been backed into a corner. The Bulldogs adjusted properly in the second half, as good coaches do.
Both the offense and defense need to improve, and badly. Quarterback Blake Shapen has been impressive in his first two games for Mississippi State, and the wide receivers are as strong and talented as ever, but they can’t be the only answer.
This only applies to this season.
Mississippi State has its first loss, but that’s not a knock on Lebby, who is guiding the future of the program.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi state reporter for the Clarion Ledger. You can email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_..
