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Inside the numbers: Mississippi State-Alcorn State halftime stats

Paul Jones Mississippi State Bulldogsby: Paul Jones7 hours agoPaulJonesOn3
NCAA Football: Alcorn State at Mississippi State
Sep 13, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Fluff Bothwell (24) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Alcorn State Braves at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images

Mississippi State and Alcorn State have reached halftime at Davis Wade Stadium and Mississippi State holds a commanding 42-0 lead.

The Bulldogs needed just two plays to get the offensive fireworks started early. Quarterback Blake Shapen connected with Jordan Mosley for a 75-yard touchdown and State led 7-0 just 17 seconds into the game.

After a defensive stop and a 41-yard punt return by Anthony Evans, the Bulldogs increased their lead to 14-0 and took advantage of a short field. Fluff Bothwell capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 9:15 left in the first period.

The Bulldogs kept the foot on the gas later in the quarter. After a DeAgo Brumfield interception, freshman quarterback KaMario Taylor tossed his first collegiate pass and connected with Brenen Thompson for a 42-yard touchdown. State led 21-0 with 8:02 left in the opening quarter.

Another 40-plus yard punt return by Evans set up State with another short field on its next possession. Shapen did the honors this time with a six-yard touchdown run and the Bulldogs led 28-0 with 5:12 remaining in the first quarter.

Alcorn State put together its best offensive drive of the half early in the second quarter. Bit Grandin Wilcox misfired on a 36-yard field goal to keep the Braves scoreless with 13:33 left in the half.

Shapen tossed his second touchdown of the half midway through the second quarter, hitting Evans for a 22-yard touchdown and State led 35-0 with 7:20 remaining in the half.

The Bulldogs kept rolling later in the quarter and increased the lead to 42-0 after Bothwell scampered 25 yard to the end zone with 3:50 remaining in the opening half. That closed out the first-half scoring for the Bulldogs.

In the first half, State piled up 348 yards of offense with 215 coming through the air. The Bulldogs had five penalties for 40 yards and were 2 of 4 on third down. State was also 2 of 2 on fourth down and held the ball for just 12:58 of the first half.

The visiting Braves had 124 yards of offense in the first half with 74 passing. The Braves had five penalties for 35 yards and were 3 of 8 on third down. Alcorn State held the ball for 17:02 of the first half and had two turnovers.

Individually, Shapen was 10 of 14 for 173 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Bothwell had 12 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns while Evans had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

For Alcorn State, quarterback Jaylon Tolbert was 9 of 15 passing for 74 yards with one interception. Jacorian Sewell led the Braves on the ground with seven carries for 19 yards while Omarion Blakes had two catches for 27 yards.

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