Alabama Hands Mississippi State Its First Loss

[syndicaster id=’5452555′]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (MSU Athletics) – Third-ranked Alabama (9-1, 6-1 SEC) held off top-ranked Mississippi State (9-1, 6-1) 25-20 in Tuscaloosa Saturday, ending the Bulldogs undefeated start to the 2014 season and 12-game win streak that started after last year’s loss to the Tide in Starkville.

MSU out-gained the Tide offensively 428 yards to 335, but State’s three interceptions, including two in the end zone, proved to be the difference makers.

Junior quarterback Dak Prescott finished the game 27-of-48 for 290 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, as well as 82 yards on the ground.

“Besides that,” Mullen said of Prescott’s mistakes, “he played really well, gave us everything he’s got.”

State’s abysmal field position played a large part in the game, as MSU’s average starting position was its own 22, though with the exception of one drive, that number drops to near their own 15.

“MVP of the game is probably their punter,” Mullen said after the game.

Part of the struggle, as well, was the late start for the offense, whose first six drives totaled less than 100 yards. Once State’s offense started to get in a groove, it had to work through stalled drives when they got close to the end zone.

In the second half, MSU finaly broke through and reached the end zone.

Safety Kendrick Market and linebacker Beniquez Brown led MSU’s defense, which did a great job of helping the Bulldogs stay within reach all evening, with seven tackles each.

Moving forward, MSU finds itself in a tie for the lead in the SEC West, though it’s with Alabama who now holds the tiebreaker if each team were to finish with one loss. While the Bulldogs no longer control their destiny, they are still alive in the SEC and playoff hunt.

“Every goal we had for this season is still intact,” Mullen said. “We gotta feel sick all night tonight and get ready tomorrow to go play Vanderbilt.”

Mississippi State returns to Starkville next week hosting Vanderbilt at 6:30 p.m. CT at Davis Wade Stadium for Senior Night.