STARKVILLE — Mississippi State running for nearly 6 yards per carry probably did enough to set up its passing attack, but coach Dan Mullen was doing more on top of that.
“What we’re trying to do is get them back and forth,” Mullen said, “get them into nickel and out of base defenses to create mismatches.”
Keith Mixon was the primary beneficiary.
The MSU wide receiver set new career highs in receptions (six) and receiving yards (97) with one touchdown as MSU (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) beat No. 12 LSU (2-1, 0-1 SEC) 37-7. From Mixon’s perspective, the job was a simple one.
“We knew they ran a lot of man, so we just had to win our 1-on-1 battles. I just went out there and played like I knew I could play,” he said.
Mullen had Mixon in mind when he was creating the mismatches, knowing Mixon is the perfect player to take advantage of them from the slot position. His mismatch ability and the effective MSU rushing attack combined for the ease of his 40-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
On the play, MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald faked a counter handoff to running back Aeris Williams; the action left Mixon running behind the entire LSU defense and going untouched to the end zone.
Fitzgerald said MSU had been setting up the play for the entire game, but he admitted he feared it would not work: “Honestly I didn’t think they were going to give us the right defense for it.”
Not long after the snap, Mixon knew exactly how the play would transpire.
“We were pounding and pounding, so I knew it was going to be wide open because the safety was coming down hard,” Mixon said. “Nick put it right on me.”
Not all of his catches were as wide open as his touchdown grab. For the rest of his success, he credits the defense he faces every day.
“I have to thank our (defensive backs) because they work us every day,” Mixon said. “During the game, I was like, ‘Man I’m glad I go against you every day in practice because these boys aren’t on your level.'”
Cory Thomas, Gabe Myles out
MSU defensive lineman Cory Thomas and wide receiver Gabe Myles, a Starkville native, did not play against LSU. Both were seen on scooters propping one leg up and Myles had a cast on his left foot.
Mullen said after the game both have foot injuries. He said he expects Thomas to be out for at least two weeks and that Myles could be questionable this week as MSU prepares to play Georgia.
Also on the injury front, Mullen said wide receiver Malik Dear practiced all week before not playing against LSU. He added he expects Dear to be able to play at Georgia, which would be his first action of the season after injuring his knee in the spring.
Leo Lewis back with a vengeance
The seven days before Saturday night’s game were not the easiest for MSU linebacker Leo Lewis.
It started with last week’s game at Louisiana Tech, in which he only had three tackles and generally limited playing time as MSU spent so much time in pass-based defenses to stop Louisiana Tech. The following Monday, Lewis was in Covington, Kentucky, as part of the Ole Miss football program’s hearing in front of the NCAA Committee on Infractions for the alleged recruiting improprieties.
He channeled that into the LSU game, finishing second on the team with eight tackles to go with a forced fumble and a pass breakup. His teammates could tell he was particularly excited for this game.
“He was. He came back and he was juiced up the whole day,” MSU defensive lineman Braxton Hoyett said. “Everyday after practice he was saying, ‘We got to beat these boys. They’re coming to our house, we have to bring that energy,’ which he did, he brought that energy today.
“I feel like he balled out today.”
Fitzgerald keeps climbing
Fitzgerald’s two rushing touchdowns in the first half gave him 53 career touchdowns accounted for, enough to pass Don Smith (1983-1986) for second in school history. The second rushing touchdown was the 24th of his career, moving him into a tie for 5th in school history.
In the second half, Fitzgerald hit LSU with two passing touchdowns that moved him to 6th in school history with 31.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter, @Brett_Hudson
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