STARKVILLE — The Alabama football team remains a sticking point with Mississippi State football coach Dan Mullen and quarterback Dak Prescott.
Mullen and Prescott have beaten every Southeastern Conference team except Alabama and South Carolina, but the seventh-year coach and his senior quarterback will get a final chance to chance to do that at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (WCBI) when No. 20 MSU (7-2, 3-2 SEC) plays host to Alabama (8-1, 5-1) at Davis Wade Stadium.
“To beat them, I can’t say that’s not anything I’ve thought about,” Prescott said. “I’ve beaten every team in the SEC West besides them. I want to go do it.”
Prescott lost his only start against Alabama last season in a 25-20 decision in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Bulldogs, who were ranked No. 1 at the time, couldn’t overcome a slow start.
Mullen is 0-6 against the Crimson Tide since taking over at MSU in 2009. The Bulldogs’ last victory against the Crimson Tide was a 17-12 decision in 2007 under former coach Sylvester Croom. The year before, MSU beat Alabama 24-16 in Tuscaloosa.
MSU remains mathematically alive to win the SEC Western Division title, but it more than likely will need to win out and receive help.
Here are five things to watch for Saturday:
1. Can MSU put aside emotions?
It has been a tough week for MSU.
The passing of freshman Keith Joseph Jr. and his father, Keith Sr., has been hard on the team. Emotions have been expressed on social media and seen in the football office this week, but the biggest game of the season is looming.
Mullen was emotional talking to the media Monday, but he also knows football can be therapy for him, his coaches, and his team.
“I think for all of these young men, football is their safe place,” Mullen said. “For any problem our players are dealing with, when they step on the football field, that is when a lot of things disappear. They are getting to do what they love. I do think that for players, it is a comforting, safe place to be when dealing with this situation.”
MSU will wear “MJ” decals on its helmets. Keith Jr. was born Marshean Joseph on July 1, 1997. He was affectionately knowing as “MJ” to his teammates. A moment of silence will be observed before kickoff.
The football team lost defensive lineman Nick Bell to cancer in 2010, more than a week before the Alabama game. MSU lost to Alabama 30-10 on Nov. 13, 2010.
2. What streak will end?
The Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide bring winning streaks into the game.
Since a 30-17 loss to Texas A&M on Oct. 3, MSU has won four-straight games, including victories against Kentucky and Missouri in the SEC.
Alabama has won six-straight games since a 43-37 loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 19 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has beaten Georgia, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee, and LSU.
Both teams are playing at their best.
“This is an outstanding team all the way around,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said of MSU. “This is not the time for anyone to think that just because we had what some would call a ‘big win’ that there is any reason to think that the next game is not the most important game we need to play. Everybody has to focus and get prepared to do their job and play even better in this game.”
The Crimson Tide have had a knack of ending Bulldog winning streaks. Last season, MSU went to Tuscaloosa on a 12-game winning streak dating back to the 2013 season. In 2012, the Bulldogs had won nine-straight games dating back to the 2011 season, but the Crimson Tide ended that streak in Starkville.
3. Will Prescott, Wilson break the record?
Prescott and junior wide receiver De’Runnya Wilson have been one of the most prolific quarterback/wide receiver combinations in MSU history.
The duo have hooked up for 17 touchdowns, which is tied for most with Tyler Russell and Chad Bumphis.
This season, Prescott has found Wilson for seven touchdowns.
“He has grown and matured,” Mullen said of Wilson. “He knows how defenses play. He might not get his number called all of the time or they might try to do things to take him away.”
Wilson leads the team with 626 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, but he only has 37 catches. Junior Fred Ross has been Prescott’s favorite target with 51 catches. Ross has 548 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
In two games against Alabama, Wilson hasn’t caught a touchdown pass.
4. Can MSU slow down Derrick Henry?
Alabama running back Derrick Henry has been one of the best in the nation this season.
The junior has rushed for 1,287 yards (sixth in the country, second in the SEC) on 218 carries for 17 touchdowns (tied for the national lead).
The Bulldogs have allowed 1,509 rushing yards (167.67 per game).
“It’s our biggest task since the LSU game in terms of a great player at running back,” MSU first-year defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “Nobody’s really quite had the answer in terms of getting him stopped. Part of it is they are just so persistent on pounding him. I have a lot of respect for their offense. They’re just going to keep asking the same question and see if you’re willing to be where you’re supposed to be with the right frame of mind for 60 minutes. If you can hang on for 15, or 25, or 35, sooner or later they just keep pounding at you and it cracks, and then the big plays occur. It is a challenge of mental discipline and mental toughness as much as it physical toughness.”
MSU allowed LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette to rush for 159 yards in the second game of the season.
5. Can young MSU players rise to the occasion?
Because of injury and a lack of depth, 23 freshmen have played for the Bulldogs. That is the second most in the SEC and 13th nationally.
Freshman safeties Jamal Peters and Mark McLaurin have had to play due to an injury to safety Kendrick Market and a lack of depth at the position. The duo has played well and is getting better each week. Peters has 17 tackles (one-and-a-half for loss), one sack, and two pass breakups. McLaurin has 12 tackles and three pass breakups.
On the offense, redshirt freshman running back Aeris Williams and freshman wide receiver Malik Dear have seen a good amount of playing time. Williams, a former standout at West Point High School, has rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Dear has rushed for one touchdown and has 16 catches for 160 yards.
Dear didn’t play last week, but Mullen expects him to play this week.
“They had to step up and make plays,” Prescott said. “(They had to) quit looking for older guys to make plays. It doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been here or how many games you’ve played, if you can make a play then make a play.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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