Cowbell Corner

FINAL: Mississippi State Cruises to Big Win

Bulldogs start off Jeff Lebby with solid win against Eastern Kentucky

Taylor Hodges

The Mississippi State band performs before the Egg Bowl at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023.
The Mississippi State band performs before the Egg Bowl at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023. / Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK
In this story:

STARKVILLE, Miss. – There's no shortage of hope and optimism in Starkville as Mississippi State begins the 2024 season with a lot of changes.

Saturday will be new coach Jeff Lebby's first game (at any level) as head coach and an entirely new lineup of offensive starters. But those changes are exactly why there's hope the Bulldogs return to a bowl game this year and we'll find out if that hope will grow or diminish Saturday night against Eastern Kentucky.

Staff writer Taylor Hodges will be providing live updates throughout the game starting at 5 p.m.

FINAL: Mississippi State 56, Eastern Kentucky 7

Taylor: It was exactly the kind of start Jeff Lebby wanted to start his tenure in Starkville. We'll have plenty of coverage of the game, including reactions from Lebby and players available tonight and tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

4Q 4:07: Pick 6 brings out giant cowbell

Taylor: Elijah Cannon became the first player to ring the turnover cowbell Mississippi State will have on the sideline this year. Yes, it's as cool as it sounds.

4Q 6:58: Blocked punt leads to touchdown

Taylor: Time for yours truly to take a small victory lap. In our staff predictions article, I predicted MSU would get a defensive touchdown and I have been proven correct.

JP Purvis blocked a punt from the EKU 16-yard line and Mario Craver recovered the loose ball in the end zone to give MSU a 49-7 lead.

4Q 10:42: Shapen's day is over

Taylor: As expected, Blake Shapen has been replaced in the game by redshirt freshman Chris Parsons. Shapen finished the game 15-of-20 for 247 yards and three touchdowns.

4Q 14:52: Shapen takes big hit, MSU misses field goal

Taylor: Blake Shapen takes a big hit on an incomplete pass on third down. A bad snap on the ensuing field goal try leads to missed field goal.

Snap was low and wobbly that is most likely a result of the rain that continues to fall. However, that big hit Shapen took may be his last play. He didn't appear injured but with a lead this large, why take the chances?

End 3Q: Mississippi State cruising with 42-7 lead

Taylor: Bulldogs will start the fourth quarter with the ball at EKU's 7-yard line.

3Q 2:22: Bulldogs force another turnover on downs

Taylor: Bold play calling by defensive coordinator
Coleman Hutzler running the same defensive play back-to-back leads to a stop on fourth down and another turnover on downs.

3Q 7:42: Bulldogs strike again

Taylor: Davon Booth extends MSU's lead to 42-7. He's the sixth Bulldog to score a touchdown.

Offensive drive was mostly on the ground and was the longest scoring drive for the Bulldogs tonight.

3Q 11:37: Defenses gets stop on fourth down

Taylor: OK, maybe EKU's offense didn't find it's groove. A short drive ends on an incomplete pass on fourth down giving MSU's offense the ball.

Start of 3Q

Taylor: Jeff Lebby couldn't have asked for a better first half. The offense scored fast and often. The defense stood tall.

Expect to see the starting offense score one or two more times before they get pulled from the game. But if EKU's offense has found a groove and keeps its momentum up from the end of the first half, that might change.

End 2Q: MSU gives up first points of season

Taylor: EKU has its best drive of the game trying to get a score to end the first half and the Colonels finally get on the board with a 9-yard pass from Matt Morrissey to Ron Vann on a slant route from the left side of the formation.

Bulldogs had been great so far in the game, but Morrissey showed why he won the EKU starting job. Lots of accurate of passes on the drive to get EKU down the field quickly.

MSU leading EKU 35-7 at halftime.

2Q 3:29: Defense forces another big stop; Offense strikes again

Taylor: EKU got across midfield for the first time and was immediately stuffed on a fourth-and-1 play.

Two plays later, Shapen connects with Mario Craver for a 54-yard touchdown and the Bulldogs' offense is rolling. MSU leads 35-0.

2Q 7:10: Lady luck helps Bulldogs and Kevin Coleman is special

Taylor: Keyvone Lee should consider himself lucky. He nearly fumbled the ball away on an impressive 16-yard run but Mario Craver recovered it.

On the very next play, Shapen connected with Coleman on a 23 yard touchdown. It was a simple go route that Shapen placed perfectly in the corner of the end zone for Coleman, who had beaten his defender.

Get ready to see Kevin Coleman's name a lot this season. He's easily the highlight of the game for MSU so far.

2Q 9:05: Bulldogs' defense stands tall

Taylor: EKU still relying heavily on its run game. EKU threw just two passes on this last drive and both were incomplete. So far, the Colonels have just 52 rushing yards and the longest was an 11-yard on this last drive. So, MSU doing a good job of shutting down this EKU offense.

2Q 11:01: Reverse leads to big touchdown run, 21-0 MSU

Taylor: On a 2-and-16, Creed Whittemore scored a 47-yard touchdown. In rainy conditions, big plays on the ground is what you need and that's exactly what the Bulldogs got.

Great blocking for Whittemore coming around the right side of the defense and he cut back halfway to the endzone to score untouched. Bulldogs leading 21-0.

For a moment, I was beginning to worry we might in line for an upset. We still might be, but I'm more confident now that we won't.

2Q 11:50: Shapen runs for 1st down but not without some drama

Taylor: A corner blitz forced Blake Shapen to run for the first down and he got to the line somewhat easily. But he lost the ball as he was being tackled. Luckily, though, the fumble was recovered by MSU and the offense remains on the field.

End 1Q: First three-and-out for MSU

Taylor: But EKU will start their own 1-yard line after a great punt by Nick Barr-Mira. Rain is very heavy and Bulldogs kept the ball on the ground before punting.

After one quarter, Blake Shapen is 5-of-6 for 104 yards and one touchdown. He also had 17 rushing yards and one touchdown. Kevin Coleman has 80 total punt return yards in just one quarter. Fantastic start both of these guys.

1Q 2:11: Kevin Coleman has another big punt return

Taylor: MSU defense got a big stop after allowing a first down. Coleman returned the ensuing punt 45 yards giving MSU the ball at their own 46-yard line following a penalty on the punt.

Rain still coming down pretty heavily. Intersted to see how fast this offense moves in the rainy weather.

1Q 5:49: MSU penalties lead to first point-less drive of the game

Taylor: I'm a fan of the fast-paced offense we're seeing, but you have to be careful. MSU has already had two penalties on the offense that could be a result of the speed between plays. One of those penalties put MSU in a 1st-and-15 and ended with a failed fourth down attempt. EKU takes over at their own 31.

It's also raining now at Davis Wade Stadium.

1Q 8:59: Another 3-and-out for EKU

Taylor: If EKU has any hopes of pulling of an upset, they should've gone for that on fourth down and less than a yard. But Bulldogs back on offense.

1Q 11:07: Bulldogs strike again, lead 14-0

Taylor: Fantastic play by Blake Shapen on third down for a 4-yard touchdown run. Looks like a designed run play with Shapen rolling to his left and cutting back right to run through a wide open lane to the end zone.

1Q 12:11: Defense forces 3-and-out

Taylor: Great start for the Bulldogs defense. Forced EKU into a punt and then Kevin Coleman Jr. returned the punt 32 yards to the EKU 41-yard line. A penalty on EKU gives MSU an extra 15 yards and the offense will start at the 26-yard line.

So far, it's a great start to the game for MSU. I'd expect Lebby to get another touchdown very quickly here on the next drive.

1Q 14:28: 1st Touchdown of 2024

Taylor: I was kind of right. First play of the game was an incomplete pass, but the third play went for a 65-yard touchdown. Blake Shapen completed a pass to Jordan Mosley who had beat his defender along the left side of the field.

However, the play was reviewed to check if Mosley had stepped out of bounds. It was close, but the play stands. Bulldogs score the first touchdown of the Jeff Lebby era in less than 30 seconds. Expect more of the same.

Kick off: Bulldogs to receive opening kick off

Taylor: Fully expect a big pass play to start the game from MSU.

Pregame: Welcome to the start of a new era in Starkville!

Taylor: We're about 30 minutes away from kick off at Davis Wade Stadium. There's a lot to look forward to tonight. Jeff Lebby is making is head coaching debut, not just at Mississippi State but at any leve. New quarterback Blake Shapen is set to lead an offense featuring 11 new starters and defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler will reveal his defense for the 2024 season.

I'll be here with live updates throughout the game. So be sure to check back often!

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Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

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