No. 16 MSU cracks, then crumbles against No. 7 Alabama

STARKVILLE – This was one hole Mississippi State could not climb out of.
Two turnovers by Kamario Taylor on State’s first two drives ultimately doomed the No. 16 Bulldogs, as they lost to No. 7 Alabama 56-23 on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.
Taylor was taken out of the game early in the fourth quarter, went to the locker room and came back with a walking boot.
Mississippi State (4-1, 2-1 SEC) appeared to be driving to start the game, but Taylor fumbled as he was pump faking. Alabama recovered and found the end zone six plays later. On State’s next drive, Taylor had a pass picked off by Dijon Lee Jr., who took it 30 yards to the house and put the Crimson Tide up 14-0 midway through the first quarter.
“I think I got asked right before we’re kicking it off, ‘What’s the biggest key to victory?’ and it’s taking care of the ball,” State coach Jeff Lebby said. “That put us in a really, really bad place. Really hard to overcome against a really good football team.”
Taylor completed a season-low 56% of his passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns, but also had three turnovers. He was unable to showcase the mobility that he’s demonstrated so far this year.
“I think it’s pretty obvious he just wasn’t able to do anything with his legs,” Lebby said. “And so him not being able to do some of those things, it changes it.”
The Bulldogs got on the board on their next drive, with Taylor finding Anthony Evans on a short screen to make it a one-possession game. Their defense was in a great position to get off the field on its next drive, forcing a third-and-19 at Alabama’s 31-yard line. However, Keelon Russell threw a 39-yard rocket to Lotzier Brooks, which set the stage for another Tide touchdown that made it 21-7.
The teams exchanged fumbles late in the second quarter, then Alabama (5-0, 3-0) coughed it back up at its own 11. MSU capitalized on its first play with a screen from Taylor to Zion Ragins that got the Bulldogs back within seven points.
Mississippi State appeared to be going for a fourth-and-six at Bama’s 49 with five minutes before halftime. The Bulldogs ultimately punted, and the Tide made them pay. Alabama marched 88 yards on just seven plays to go up two touchdowns.
State got all the way down to the Crimson Tide’s 2-yard line on its next drive, but a backwards run and a holding penalty ultimately forced the Bulldogs to settle for a field goal, making it 28-17 at the break.
Alabama got the ball out of the break and appeared to have gone three and out, but an offside on the Bulldogs gave it another shot. Russell took full advantage, finding Brooks in the corner of the end zone on the next play. Taylor got picked off on the next drive, which led to another seven for the Tide and a 42-17 lead with 7:07 left in the third quarter.
Jalen Smith went down with an injury on Bama’s third touchdown and did not return. He is Mississippi State’s leading tackler.
Fluff Bothwell played MSU’s first drive but did not return after. State’s leading rusher was on the injury report leading up to the contest.
Center Canon Boone left the contest late in the fourth quarter with an injury as well.
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