Throughout Mississippi State’s 2018 football season, there have been some dominating defensive performances that have brought that Bulldog unit to the top of the all-time lists.
Thanksgiving night’s Egg Bowl quite possibly cemented that group at number one.
The Bulldogs staked their claim during the Alabama game when they held the Crimson Tide to Alabama's lowest offensive output of the season. Against one of the Southeastern Conference’s best offenses on Thursday they put up another strong performance.
MSU finished the regular season surrendering just 12 touchdowns in 12 ball games which was tops nationally. They held the Rebels without a touchdown for the first time this season.
“I’ve watched these guys throughout the season,” head coach Joe Moorhead said. “For us to be able to do what we did defensively speaks volumes not only this game but for the entire season.”
Ole Miss was held to 189 yards of total offense, 152 yards passing and 37 yards rushing. All of those totals were a season low for a crew that had some record-breaking offensive playmakers this season.
Jordan Ta’amu was held short of his school record for single-season passing yards thanks to an injury that occurred on a fumble in the first quarter. The senior quarterback finished 8-for-17 passing for 87 yards and an interception. Starkville native AJ Brown broke the single-season school record for pass receptions with his second catch of the game, but he had just four catches for 61 yards, his second-lowest output of the season next to the Alabama contest when he had four for 34 yards.
Junior cornerback Maurice Smitherman went head-to-head with the other star receiver Demarkus Lodge and came away with an interception. He and the defensive backs took pride in their performance and welcomed the challenge pregame.
“It was a big chip on my shoulder all week,” Smitherman said. “We feel like we’re the best defense in the country so we just went out there and did our thing. Our coaches told us before the game we would get challenged and that’s what happened tonight but nobody was open.”
The Bulldog secondary finished the regular season among the best in school history in regards to coverage as Smitherman, Cameron Dantzler, Jamal Peters, Mark McLaurin and Johnathan Abram all became some of the best in the country.
The secondary on Thursday had two interceptions and five pass breakups, but they also had two ejections. Along with Willie Gay Jr., a monster brawl at the end of the third quarter saw ejections from Peters and Dantzler that will likely have all three out for the bowl game’s first half.
Nonetheless, the Bulldogs have depth, and the front seven is where they continue to win wars.
Against one of the SEC’s best offensive lines, Jeffery Simmons and company got the push needed to disrupt things for Ta’amu and freshman quarterback Matt Corrall.
“We knew they had a solid offensive line and the number two offense in the country, but we have the best (line) in the nation. We just came out to play our game,” Simmons said. “I know there will be great defenses come behind us, but I feel we have the best defense that has ever come through here.”
Simmons again did the dirty work while his teammates cleaned up behind him but he had his moments of glory in what could have been his final Egg Bowl due to the NFL Draft. Simmons had four tackles, a forced fumble, a pass breakup, 2.0 tackles for loss and his first sack of the season.
MSU has proven it against some of the best offenses in the country and they’ve helped an Bulldog team that had its struggles on offense steady its footing to get to 8-4. The only thing left for MSU to do is to put a stamp on it in what’s bound to be a solid bowl destination.
Until then, they’ll relish in an Egg Bowl win.
“It felt great to bring that Egg back to Starkville where it’s supposed to be, especially in coach Moorhead’s first year,” Simmons said. “It’s big for everyone at Mississippi State that supports us.”
