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Inside the numbers: Mississippi State-Florida first half stats

Paul Jones Mississippi State Bulldogsby: Paul Jones10/18/25PaulJonesOn3
NCAA Football: Mississippi State at Florida
Oct 18, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) scores a touchdown against the Florida Gators during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Mississippi State and Florida have reached halftime at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and the host Gators hold a 13-7 lead.

The Bulldogs got off to a quick start on the game’s opening possession. Blake Shapen hit Anthony Evans for a 48-yard completion on the second play of the game to highlight the drive. Freshman quarterback KaMario Taylor capped off the 75-yard scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown run and State led 7=0 with 12:18 remaining in the first quarter.

Florida also dented the scoreboard on its first offensive possession but were kept out of the end zone. After three straight incompletions from DJ Lagway inside the State seven-yard line, the Gators settled for a 24-yard field goal from Trey Smack and trailed 7-3 with 8:55 left in the opening quarter.

After both teams swapped punts, Florida took its first lead of the game early in the second quarter. Jaden Baugh finished off a 69-yard drive with a 19-yard touchdown run and the Gators led 10-7 with 14:15 remaining in the first half.

Mississippi State got an interception from Brylan Lanier and looked poised to regain the lead. But Florida recovered a fumble inside the red zone. The Gators cashed in on the turnover and a season-long 54-yard field goal by Smack increased the Florida lead to 13-7 with 3:08 left in the first half.

State had a chance to draw closer later in the half but Kyle Ferrie missed a 41-yard field goal and the Dogs trailed 13-7 at halftime.

In the first half, State collected 231 yards of offense with 160 coming through the air. The Bulldogs were 4 of 8 on first down and were 0 of 1 on fourth down with one turnover. The Bulldogs had one penalty for five yards and held the ball for 15:40.

Florida had 298 yards of offense in the opening half and had 178 through the air. The Gators were 2 of 6 on third down and had four penalties for 35 yards. Florida had possession of the ball for 14:20 of the first half.

Individually, Shapen was 9 of 15 for 160 yards while Davon Booth led the ground game with 11 carries for 56 yards. Evans had four catches for 68 yards while Brenen Thompson had three catches for 76 yards.

For Florida, Lagway was 12 of 22 for 178 yards with two interceptions, both to State’s Lanier. Baugh had 10 carries for 89 yards and one touchdown while Vernell Brown had three catches for 68 yards.

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