Alabama defeats Mississippi State 56-23 in Starkville after 28-point second half
Alabama beat Mississippi State 56-23 on Saturday in Starkville, outscoring the Bulldogs 28-6 in the second half and improving to 5-0 (3-0 SEC) while Mississippi State fell to 4-1 (2-1), SuperTalk Mississippi reported.
According to SuperTalk Mississippi, the Crimson Tide held Mississippi State to 18 rushing yards for the game and forced multiple turnovers; Alabama finished with five sacks, nine tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Mississippi State opened the scoring sequence after an early turnover, but Alabama built a 28-17 halftime lead. Keelon Russell completed 16 of 22 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns for Alabama; freshman Trae’Shawn Brown had two rushing touchdowns as part of the second-half surge.
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor finished with 258 passing yards and three touchdown passes but threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The Bulldogs had 30 rushing attempts for 18 yards. Wide receiver Anthony Evans III caught 12 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns.
The game included several turnovers and fumbles. London Simmons forced a strip-sack early and recovered the ball for Alabama, and Dijon Lee Jr. returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown. Mississippi State’s top running back, identified in the SuperTalk Mississippi report as Fluff Bothwell, exited the game after the first series.
Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby told SuperTalk Mississippi the team needs to recover during its upcoming bye week. “Yeah, we’re going to have to get healthy,” Lebby said. On turnovers he added, “I think I got asked before the game, ‘What’s the key to victory?’ and I said to take care of the ball. That put us in a bad place.” Lebby said Taylor’s status would be “day-to-day” ahead of the Oct. 17 game at LSU.
Alabama’s next game is a home meeting with No. 2 Georgia on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m., and Mississippi State will have a bye before traveling to Baton Rouge to play LSU on Saturday, Oct. 17, SuperTalk Mississippi reported.
Source: SuperTalk Mississippi
