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Mississippi State

Inside the numbers: Mississippi State-Arizona State halftime stats

Paul Jones Mississippi State Bulldogsby: Paul Jones09/07/25PaulJonesOn3
anthony evans4
Photo by Jared Thomas, Maroon and White Daily

Mississippi State and No. 10 Arizona State have reached halftime at Davis Wade Stadium and the Bulldogs lead the Sun Devils, 17-3.

Mississippi State wasted little time denting the scoreboard on the game’s opening possession. On the fourth play of the game, Blake Shapen hit Anthony Evans for a 48-yard touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 13:51 remaining in the first.

After both offenses struggled, the Bulldogs extended the lead later in the first period. Kyle Ferrie connected on a 37-yard field goal to put Mississippi State up 10-0 with 1:18 left in the quarter.

The Bulldogs’ defense continued to pressure Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt and a big sack put the State offense in good position early in the second quarter. Shapen connected with Brenen Thompson for a 47-yard touchdown pass as the Bulldogs increased their lead to 17-0 with 12:51 remaining in the half.

Arizona State needed a late flag to get on the scoreboard in the first half. With a personal foul extending a drive, Arizona State’s Jesus Gomez made a 51-yard field goal with time expired and the Sun Devils trailed 17-3 at the break.

In the first half, State had 209 yards of offense with 168 coming through the air. The Bulldogs were 3 of 8 on third downs and had four flags for 40 yards in the half. The Bulldogs also held the ball for 13:35 of the opening half.

Arizona State had just 95 yards of offense with 65 coming on the ground. The Sun Devils were 1 of 8 on third down and had six flags for 39 yards. Arizona State held the ball for 16:25 of the first half and are set to receive the second-half opening kickoff.

Individually in the first half, Shapen was 11 of 17 for 168 yards with two touchdowns. Davon Booth led State’s ground game with seven carries for 28 yards. Evans had five catches for 78 yards and one touchdown in the first half while Thompson had four catches for 73 yards and a score.

For Arizona State, Leavitt was just 5 of 15 passing for 30 yards with an interception. Kanye Udoh led the ground game for the Sun Devils with six carries for 40 yards while Jordan Tyson had two catches for 27 yards.

Will Whitson, who was injured in the first half, had two tackles for loss for the Bulldogs while Clayton Smith had two sacks for Arizona State.

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