Miss St. REAX

My heart literally stopped a couple of times during the game. Wow, what a finish. I have to say that I am very impressed by the way the Tigers never quit and showed some heart. The team is gaining valuable experience that will not only help them this year during the tough games, but also in the years to come. Knowing that AU has some where around 5 or 6 seniors that play significantly only adds fuel to the fire of AU being a contender for years to come. But I'm not one to say "wait til next year" so, I'll take what I can get this year. Now, on to the game:

AU came into this game a 6-7 point underdog at home. That's basically the same as being a 10 point dog because you get 2.5-3 points for playing at home. This was going to be MSU's signature game and a statement about how the rest of the season was going to be played out. Many considered MSU to be a dark horse in the SEC West and the first step was AU. MSU had come off of a blowout victory over Memphis and AU struggled and barely beat WAC bottom-dweller Utah St at JHS. MSU had 9 guys back on offense and Relf and Bullard were two huge guys that had the potential to shred the D-line for big gains each time they touched the ball. Nobody really gave AU a chance.

AU kicked to start the game and forced Miss St. to punt. My first thought was that the defense was much improved and had come out with tenacity. AU scored first on a Mike Dyer run around the end where he left everyone (suprising speed) and raced down the sideline. The next posession for MSU, Relf threw a pass that hit an AU defender in the helmet and deflected into Demetruce's arms and he ran for a pick 6. AU is up 14-0 at this point and although I'm extremely happy, I'm also somewhat subdued cause I know there is way too much time left and MSU had a good offense coupled with our spotty defense. Sure enough, MSU responded with their own end-around and scored on a 40-yard run. I have to say this: Neiko Thorpe took a terrible angle at the runner and then looked like he just slowed up and let him run right by him. Surely not, but that's what it looked like (even after watching it on replay four or five times). MSU scored again after that with running the ball down our throats. I knew then that it would be a long day. After trading punts, AU has the ball at their own 20 and Trotter throws it in the general direction of Benton but an MSU defender is right there and picks it off and takes it for a TD. MSU up 21-14. AU takes the ball and starts to drive and then Trotter hits Emory Blake on a crossing route and Blake outruns everyone to the endzone for 6. Blake is becoming a very good option for Trotter, but I'm still waiting on that solid number 2. Thought Stallworth had it from last week, but he was a no-show this week, as well as Benton. Dyer scored again on short run and AU is up 28-21 getting close to half. MSU had to settle for a field goal on their next possession and left AU with about 40 seconds in the half. All of the previous coaches would have knelt and taken the 4 point lead into halftime, but not our coaches. AU was able to get a great return from Tre Mason on the kickoff and then move the ball into field goal range for Cody Parkey to make his first college field goal from 43 yards. AU leads 31-24 at half and gets the ball to start the 2nd half.

I'm feeling pretty good right now despite the fact that the MSU offense has shredded our Dline but, AU still led. The 3rd quarter AU and MSU traded field goals and AU finally got a TD from the Lutz early in the 4th to put AU up 41-27. Still way too much time left to feel too good. True to form, the AU defense gave up a TD with 5 min left. Up 41-34 with 5 min left, AU needed a couple of first downs to run some clock, but did they get it? Nope. AU, of course, goes three and out and punts it back to MSU with 3.5 min left and MSU will all 3 timeouts. MSU gashed our line with option reads, end-arounds and Relf right up the gut until they reached the 1 yard line with about 20 seconds where AU called timeout to regroup and rest. The next play Relf handed off to Bullard and AU stopped him for no gain and MSU called timeout (the last one). On the last play, Relf kept it himself and ran to the left where Ryan Smith came out of nowhere to make the tackle at the one inch line.

Positives:

AU special teams: Great kick and punt coverage. Mason is a beast at kick return. In his 2nd game, MSU avoided kicking him the ball. Awesome! Reed making positive yards after punts. Run game improved and moved the ball well. Emory Blake is a sure-handed go to guy and can make major YACs. Heart and desire to find a way to win despite losing the statistical battles.

Negatives:

Down field passing - everytime AU threw it downfield, good things happened. Mostly AU just threw screens and bubble passes that didn't work most of the time. I wonder if Malzahn has seen something in practice that makes him leary of Trotter throwing it down the field more? Obviously the defense but especially on 3rd and 4th down. MSU killed us in those situations and it looked like we were lost and not lined up correctly. The Dline has to get better at making stops more consistently, but this takes time and they will get better.

All in all, a great win over the 16th ranked team in the nation. Now, on to Clemson, where it's a great chance to beat a BCS team at their place. This will be a major test for this young team and a huge step in possibly earning a bowl trip. Clemson preview coming later this week.