Kevin Snyder/MSU Athletics
Football
Logan Lowery, Assistant Director/Communications
TUCSON, Ariz., – Although “Bear Down” is Arizona’s battle cry, it was Mississippi State’s defense that seemed to embody that mentality on Saturday night in a 39-17 win against the Wildcats.
The Bulldogs saw Arizona methodically march 75 yards on the game’s opening drive that ended in a touchdown for the Wildcats. But from there, MSU was able to shore things up defensively and only surrendered two more scores on short fields the rest of the way.
Arizona rushed for 39 yards on its first possession, 34 of which came on Michael Wiley’s opening touchdown. The Wildcats would only net one more rushing yard the remainder of the game.
“The first drive, they punched it in and we had to regroup,” said linebacker Nathaniel Watson. “As we regrouped, we knew we had each other’s backs and went out there and fought.”
The Bulldogs broke up nine passes in the game while Watson, Jalen Green and Emmanuel Forbes all snagged interceptions. Forbes also had another pick in the end zone that was eventually overturned following a replay.
“We saw on film that their quarterback stares down his routes,” Watson said. “Coach harped on it all week about him staring down routes and when we got to the game, he was staring them down then. That really helped us.”
Watson’s interception late in the third quarter is what ultimately helped create some separation for State. Tyrus Wheat tipped Jayden de…
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