Postgame Notes: Mississippi State at South Carolina

Post Game Notes
South Carolina 37, Mississippi State 30
Columbia, S.C. (Williams-Brice Stadium)
Sat., Sept. 23, 2023
Kick: 6:39 p.m. CT | End: 9:55 p.m. CT
Attendance: 78,311

General

MSU's game captains were QB Will Rogers, LB Nathaniel Watson, NT Nathan Pickering, and OL Cole Smith.
South Carolina won the opening coin toss and elected to defer.
MSU is 0-1 in 2023 when wearing the White/White/Gray uniform combo.
Mississippi State has scored in 36 consecutive games and have scored 10 or more points in nine straight games dating back to Nov. 5, 2022.

Offense

Lideatrick Griffin finished the game with 256 receiving yards, the most by a Bulldog ever in a game.
Lideatrick Griffin is the first SEC player to have 200+ receiving yards in a half since Alabama's DeVonta Smith against Ohio State (1/11/21).
Will Rogers threw for 487 yards, the third most in a game in MSU history.
In the second quarter, Will Rogers found Lideatrick Griffin for a 65-yard touchdown pass. This is the longest play of the season for the Dawgs.
The seven pass plays of 20 or more yards are the most explosive pass plays in a single game this season.
Jo'Quavious Marks punched in a seven-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He has 22 career rushing touchdowns, tying Dontae Walker for ninth all-time at State.
The Bulldogs totaled 487 yards passing, the most in a game since Tennessee State (11/20/21).
Mike Wright ran in his first rushing touchdown as a Bulldog to cap off a nine play 75-yard drive.

Defense

Mississippi State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 33 of 41 games under Zach Arnett, with 64 total takeaways in that span.
Dating back to the 2022 season, Mississippi State has recorded a takeaway in eight of its last nine games.
Totaled four sacks as a unit, the most in a single game in 2023.

Special Teams

Had a pair of punts downed within the two-yard line.
Kyle Ferrie nailed a 49-yard field goal to tie his career-long.
Kyle Ferrie made all three of his field goal attempts as well as all three of his extra point attempts.

Players
RB Jo'Quavious Marks

Scored a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter, it was his 22nd of his career which ties him with Dontae Walker for ninth all-time in MSU history.
With 5 receptions against South Carolina, Marks has a reception in 40 consecutive games.

WR Lideatrick Griffin

Set the Mississippi State record with 256 receiving yards on seven receptions.
- His seven receptions are a career-high.
For the first time in his career, Griffin has recorded a receiving touchdown in three straight games.
His 65-yard reception in the second quarter is the longest reception of Griffin's career.
This is the first time in Griffin's career, he has had multiple 50 or more yard receptions in a single game.
Griffin has recorded a reception in 19 straight games.
His 256 receiving yards is also the most in a game by any SEC receiver this year
- Second most by any receiver this year.
- This is Griffin's sixth career game with five or more receptions and his second this season.

QB Will Rogers

Threw for a career-high 487 yards.
This is his 9th career 400+ yard passing game.
With his 487 passing yards, Will Rogers moved past David Greene for 3rd on the SEC All-Time passing yards list.
Completed his longest pass of the year to Lideatrick Griffin, going for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Threw one touchdown bringing his career total to 88 which ties him with Tim Tebow and Chris Leak for 5th on the All-Time SEC passing touchdown list.
Had 259 passing yards in the first half.
- First time he had 250+ yards in a half since he threw for 277 yards in the first half against Bowling Green (9/24/22).

QB Mike Wright

Scored his 8th career rushing touchdown and his first rushing touchdown as a Bulldog.

LB Jett Johnson

Led the team with a career-high tying 14 tackles.
- Had 11 tackles in the first half.
- This is his third straight game with double-digit tackles.
Had a 12-yard sack in the third quarter to force a three and out.

S Jordan Morant