Head coach Jeff Lebby pleased with State's second-half response against Georgia
The first half of Jeff Lebby’s debut season has been filled with struggles and a current five-game losing streak. But following Saturday’s 41-31 setback at No. 5 Georgia, the Mississippi State head coach did take away some positives.
First and foremost, Lebby was pleased with the way his team bounced back after getting in a 34-10 hole early in the second half.
“Again, our guys responded,” remarked Lebby. “Man, they did. They answered the challenge, they answered the bell. I hate that were sitting here disappointed, frustrated that we’re not on the right side of it. But our guys are continuing to fight like heck for each other and I’m proud of them for that.”
After experiencing a rough first half, quarterback Michael Van Buren picked up the pace significantly in the second half. Making just his second career start, the Bulldog true freshman passed for 306 yards against Georgia’s defense and had three touchdown passes and one interception. For Lebby, he was glad to see Van Buren settle in after his slow start.
“He settled in there late in the first half and then played really well in the second half,” Lebby added. “That’s without watching the tape but early on, I think it’s a young kid in an unbelievable environment where we have the opportunity to do some things. I’ve got to continue to coach him better, put him in positions to succeed. But proud of him for getting himself out of that hole and then answering the right way to be able to go play the way we needed him to go play.”
Van Buren is steadily building the confidence in his teammates, as well.
“It’s just one of those situations where you just got to bring him up since he’s a young guy,” said receiver Kelly Akharaiyi, who had three catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns. “The team just rallies around him, making sure that he’s comfortable over there. And he just makes plays and we help him out.”
Whether it was Akaharaiyi or Kevin Coleman (103 receiving yards), Van Buren did just that in the second half to help State climb back in the game.
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“He just has to calm down,” Akharaiyi mentioned. “Obviously, he’s a young man playing in a big game. Once he calms down he can compete with anybody.”
Georgia also received good quarterback play from Carson Beck, who threw for 459 yards and three touchdowns against Mississippi State on Saturday. The Bulldogs’ defense did manage to collect a couple of turnovers against Beck, including an interception at State’s goal line by senior DeAgo Brumfield. The former Memphis transfer missed State’s first five games of the season with an injury.
“Yeah it’s huge,” said Lebby of Brumfield. “It’s huge having DeAgo back. This is a guy who has played a ton of football. We couldn’t have been more excited about him and for this to be the first time he actually gets action, it’s been a long time coming. But proud of who he’s been. He’s stayed the course and then takes advantage of the opportunity today.”
Of course, State’s next obvious step is to snap the losing streak and that next opportunity comes next Saturday at home. The Bulldogs get another nationally-ranked SEC foe in Texas A&M at Davis Wade Stadium in a 3:15 p.m. kickoff.
“We’re putting together drives, putting together plays,” noted Akharaiyi. “Receivers are making plays, running backs are running hard. So it’s just one of those things where you just build up on and do better. Go back to practice and then get back to what we know how to do.”
