TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tua Tagovailoa evaded pressure and scampered up the middle for four yards on the first play. He quickly dusted himself off and handed it off to Damien Harris for a 12-yard gain and a first down.
In those two plays, No. 1 Alabama gained more yards than Mississippi State would in its first two possessions. Both of those MSU possessions ended in punts; Alabama’s ended in touchdowns, and that was that.
The Bulldog defense did its part in the possessions that followed, allowing just one touchdown over the final 11 possessions — a touchdown boosted by a short field — but it was far from enough in No. 18 MSU’s 24-0 loss to the Crimson Tide.
Even after the initial punch in the mouth, MSU (6-4, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) had its opportunities that went by the wayside. There was the fleaflicker on the second play after an Alabama fumble, just to end in a Fitzgerald sack. A muffed punt cost MSU a possession and gave Alabama a touchdown. Five Alabama sacks kept MSU from advantageous third-down positions.
On the final possession of the first half, MSU had a potential Kylin Hill receiving touchdown negated by a block in the back penalty and a potential Justin Johnson receiving touchdown negated by a delay of game. The drive ended with a missed field goal attempt.
The moments of opportunity lost were not as frequent or as costly in the second half, but the damage had already been done. MSU went to the visiting locker room down 21 to the No. 1 team in the nation. From there, MSU’s fourth loss was on the way.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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