Too Many Games, Too Little Time: Weekend Football Highlights

At long last, college football is back. If you got stuck at work, a little too tipsy at a tailgate (please drink responsibly), or lost your friend’s ESPN password, don’t fret about having missed any games; we’ve got you covered. 

SEC

You may remember from our last article that Mississippi State was set to face off with Southern Miss this past weekend. MSU’s quarterback Blake Shapen returned to the field after a longstanding injury, helping the Bulldogs clinch a 34-17 win. While it’s an auspicious start to their season, Mississippi State still has a lot to prove this fall. 

Ole Miss also had a good showing this past weekend, crushing Georgia State in a 63-7 defeat. Fans from both teams were probably on the edge of their seats in the first half, but Ole Miss squarely turned the tide against the Panthers in the second half. They’re now the first team in SEC history to score 60-plus points in three consecutive season-openers.

College

In their season opener, the Delta State University Statesmen beat No. 22 Central Missouri. Both teams played hard, leaving it all on the field in a match that Delta State described as “gritty.” Delta State’s more seasoned players (Cole Kirk, Curtis Rearden, Cade Mangum, and Davion Alston) were formidable opponents. But one standout maneuver came from redshirt freshman Nick Clark, who punched in a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. Though it’s early in the season, Clark’s showing against Central Missouri has made him a player to watch. 

HBCU

Jackson State University beat the Hampton Pirates 28-14 in their season opener. Their victory moved the Tigers into the top 15 in FCS Top 25. Spectators may have noted running back Ahmad Miller’s stellar performance at the Hope Labor Day Classic this past Saturday: He ran for 180 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 15.0 yards per carry. Fans weren’t the only ones giving Miller props; Miller was just named HBCU National Co-Player of the Week.

Junior College

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Bulldogs took on the East Mississippi Community College Lions in a 41-21 victory. Despite a rocky opening start for the Bulldogs, the team regrouped and overtook the Lions. Gulf Coast coach Jack Wright reflected after the game that “you have no clue how good you are; you don’t know anything about your opponent. So it’s really a relief just to get it over.” Wright verbalized what all coaches felt this past weekend, the football equivalent of back-to-school jitters.

Now that the football floodgates are officially open, we’ll see which Mississippi schools sink and which schools swim.

Author contributor Faith Ellington