2007 POSTGAME NOTES GAME 4 MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL Mississippi State vs. Gardner-Webb Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field Starkville, Miss. TEAM Tonight s captains were senior defensive lineman Avery Hannibal, senior offensive lineman J.D. Hamilton and senior tight end Jason Husband. For the second consecutive week, Mississippi State scored on its game-opening drive. Against Gardner-Webb, MState scored a touchdown on a nine-yard rush by Anthony Dixon (10 plays, 68 yards, 4:58). At Auburn, the Bulldogs march 58 yards in 12 plays (5:41) for an Adam Carlson 32-yard field goal. For the third straight week, Mississippi State ended the opponent s opening drive on an interception returned for touchdown (De Mon Glanton s 60 yard return vs. Gardner-Webb, Derek Pegues 20-yard return vs. Auburn and Gabe O Neal s 47-yard return against Tulane). When Josh Riddell rushed for a gain of four yards on fourth-and-two late in the second quarter, it marked the Bulldogs first successful fourth-down conversion of the season (previously 0-for-2). With tonight s win, MState won their third-straight game for the first time since the 2000 season (75 weeks). It is also the first time since the 2000 campaign the Bulldogs have started the year 3-1. MSU is now 158-116-10 (.556) against teams that are not members of the Southeastern Conference and are 45-16-1 (.726) in regular-season, non-conference games since 1989. INDIVIDUAL Freshman defensive lineman LaMarcus Williams, freshman quarterback Wesley Carroll, sophomore defensive tackle Kyle Love, junior defensive back Jasper O Quinn and sophomore defensive back Tay Bowser all made their first career starts. Wesley Carroll s 27-yard first quarter rush matched the longest single run posted by a Bulldog this season. Dixon tallied a 27-yard rush against Tulane (9/15/07). Dixon recorded his third and fourth touchdowns of the season during the first half of Saturday s game. It was also the second two-touchdown game of the year for the running back. Riddell s second quarter touchdown pass to Tony Burks was Riddell s first career touchdown pass. Glanton s first quarter interception was the third of his career and the first returned for a touchdown. Gabe O Neal s 10 tackles were the most posted by a Bullog since Quinton Culberson versus Arkansas last season. With his two sacks tonight, Titus Brown moves into eighth place on the all-time list with 14.5. He passes Keith Joseph (14.0 sacks from 1989-92). Mario Bobo tallied a career-high eight tackles (previous, vs. Murray State, 2005). Bobo also had two forced fumbles to bring his career tally to four (previous two came during his freshman season). Bobo had 1.5 tackles for loss, his first of the season and first since the 2005 campaign.
Mississippi State Head Coach Sylvester Croom Postgame Quotes Opening Comments First I wish Gardner-Webb players and coaching staff the best of luck the rest of their season. I thought that those kids came out in the second half when things were not looking their way and played with valiant effort. This was a new situation for us, after winning two games in a row and especially coming off an emotional road win at Auburn. This is a game that we expect to win and are suppose to win, but it is very easy to overlook this kind of game and slip up. We had never been in this type of situation, but our kids came out and put points up like I expected us to do in the first half. It disappointed me about the number of penalties we put up throughout the game. We did a good job of running the ball, but the multitude of penalties is what hurt us. To Gardner-Webb s credit they came back, but I am still frustrated by the amount of penalties we had. We had both starting corners out due to injury. The mishold on the field goal was very disappointing to me too as well. We also have to punt the ball with a lot more consistency than we did tonight. The biggest problem still is having way too many penalties and we will have to evaluate that. The big thing is that we are 3-1for the first time since I have been here. We have a big challenge next week and will have to work hard in practice this week in hopes to travel to South Carolina and pull out a victory. On Wesley Carroll starting We felt like he was more consistent throughout the week. That type of play can change from week to week. We will enter next week the same way and evaluate things on Thursday. I think that both quarterbacks have different strengths and weaknesses, but I like what both bring to the table for us. I thought that Josh (Riddell) threw the ball well except for that poor decision on the interception. He did a good job staying in the pocket and making the throws. We showed up a lot better this year than we did last year when our starting quarterback went down. We know we can run the football consistently, but we have to be able to accommodate the pass as well. On the defense containing Gardner-Webb s running game I was very concerned coming in on how we would play against their run. It is easy to underestimate their running game, but they have a couple guys that are very good football players in their backfield. We did a good job staying in position and pushing their line back. We had the big goal line stand that was very encouraging for me. On Anthony Dixon not playing in the second half It was just being cautious on my part. He had a solid first half, but with the lead we were showing it would make no sense to have a guy like that get hurt on the field. On being 3-1 It is always nice to win. You can coach a whole lot better whenever you win than when you lose. Your players are not as defensive to criticism after a win. It is a method we as a coaching staff have to be more critical when we win, because guys are more receptive to constructive criticism after a win opposed to a loss. The penalties are still what is bothering me. They put us in situations that we should have never been in. On defensive scoring Points are good no matter how they get on the board, but it is nice to have your defense be able to contribute like that. Our guys are taking pride in that, and are continuing to improve their speed on the defensive side of the ball. On scoring early It is real important to come out of that locker room and score early and set the tempo of that game. We have to run the ball well, tackle well, and not turn the ball over. When you turn the ball over that is when problems form, but tonight we did not and we were able to have things run smoother on offense.
GWU Head Coach Steve Patton Postgame Quotes On the teams second half effort We didn t quit playing but we dug ourselves in such a big hole it was hard for us to win. It was difficult to do things that we wanted to do. We had some other things that we wanted to try to do but our tight end was out the entire second half, our senior. We played a freshman and he did catch a few balls, but we still hurt ourselves with penalties. I am proud of them for not quitting. We executed out offense better. I know they didn t play their star running back in the second half but their first defense was in there most of the time. I am proud of that and proud that we were able to show things that we were able to do. I thought the kids caught the ball well the second half and Stan (Doolittle) showed some good leadership. We had some big plays. I hate that we get in the red zone and one time we don t score at all and the other times we settle for three field goals instead of punching it in. That will get you beat. On this being a loss the team can build on Win or lose you still try and get better every week and we did some things that were pretty positive but a loss to me still feels like a loss. I don t know if you can say that a whole lot comes good out of it. We are going to play Austin Peay, who won again today. We have Wofford coming up who beat Appalachian State. Every week you got to beat somebody but this experience was good.
Mississippi State Player Postgame Quotes Quarterback Josh Riddell On the game I thought I did okay. I had good protection all night which made my job easy. On the touchdown pass We came out that series running our two-minute offense. I just read their defense and saw that the safety drifted to the tight end. I knew Tony (Burks) was open so I got the ball to him and he did the rest. On finding out when he was getting in the game I didn t know I was going in until right before I did. Coach told me to get ready so I warmed up a little bit right before I went in. Wide Receiver Tony Burks On touchdown catch They were playing man on that play. I ran a vertical and their safety went to the tight end. That is when I knew I was open. On getting back to making big plays It felt pretty good to finally make a big play. I know that I just have to hang in there and keep supporting the team even when I don t get the ball. I know they will come so I have to be patient. On the difference in quarterbacks From a receiver standpoint, it is all the same whoever is in. They did pretty good tonight and everyone is supporting them. Linebacker Gabe O Neal On Gardner-Webb s offense There are many teams that are starting to run that spread offense. We have to practice well against that and prepare the best we can. I think it is a good opportunity to face this offense because we will have to face it again later in the season.
Gardner-Webb Player Postgame Quotes Quarterback Stan Doolittle On the play of Gardner-Webb in the second half When we came in the locker room, we realized we were hurting ourselves. We could never get good field position. They had good coverage on kick-offs and punts and continued to put us back deep. We would have been okay, and then we would have a fumble or an offsides penalty -- just little stuff to shoot ourselves in the foot. On the putting the ball in the end zone It felt good. Mississippi State is so big up front. Their goal-line defense was strong. You have to have movement on the line. Their secondary was good as far as covering our wideouts. But punching one in the end zone felt awesome. It was like a monkey off our back. It felt great.