Mississippi State debuts Lebby's 'Showtime' era by clobbering Eastern Kentucky - The Vicksburg Post

Mississippi State debuts Lebby’s ‘Showtime’ era by clobbering Eastern Kentucky

Published 11:17 pm Saturday, August 31, 2024

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Mississippi State receiver Mario Craver (7) runs past Eastern Kentucky's Braden Sullivan (39) after making a reception in Saturday's season opener. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi State football head coach Jeff Lebby watches his team warm up before Saturday's season opener against Eastern Kentucky. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen (2) runs with the football in the season opener Saturday against Eastern Kentucky. Shapen threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead the Bulldogs to a 56-7 victory. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Eastern Kentucky football coach Walt Wells screams at an official during Saturday's season opener against Mississippi State. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi State defenders wrap up an Eastern Kentucky ballcarrier during Saturday's game in Starkville. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi State football players run onto the field before the start of Saturday's game against Eastern Kentucky. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Football players from Mississippi State and Eastern Kentucky shake hands at the coin toss before the start of Saturday's game in Starkville. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Members of Mississippi State's marching band play before Saturday's football season opener against Eastern Kentucky. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Fighter jets from Columbus Air Force Base fly over Davis Wade Stadium before Mississippi State's football season opener against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi State's mascot Bully rides into the stadium and fires up the crowd before Saturday's season opener against Eastern Kentucky. Mississippi State won, 56-7. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi State receiver Jordan Mosley (6) runs with the football after making a reception against Eastern Kentucky. Mosley caught five passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs' 56-7 victory. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

STARKVILLE — New head coach Jeff Lebby has branded his era at Mississippi State as “Showtime.”

It certainly looked that way at the premiere.

Blake Shapen threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Mosley on third play of the game to get the Bulldogs off and running, and they pasted Eastern Kentucky 56-7 in their season opener Saturday.

Shapen, a transfer from Baylor making his first start for Mississippi State, had a solid debut. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns, and also ran for a team-high 44 yards and one TD.

Nine players had at least one carry for the Bulldogs, who rushed for 203 yards as a team. Ten players caught a pass, led by Mosley and Kevin Coleman Jr. with five receptions and a touchdown each. Mosley had 104 receiving yards and Coleman finished with 88.

Mississippi State was flying from the start, with Shapen’s long touchdown pass to Mosley giving it a 7-0 lead 32 seconds into the game. Lebby’s high-powered and fast-tempo offense scored touchdowns on six of its first eight possessions before the defense and special teams got in on the act.

Mario Craver recovered a blocked punt in the end zone and Elijah Cannon returned an interception 51 yards for a TD, both in the fourth quarter, for the Bulldogs’ final two scores.

Craver also caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Shapen in the second quarter.

Mississippi State led 35-0 before Eastern Kentucky got its only points on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Matt Morrissey to Ron Vann with three seconds left in the first half.

Mississippi State earned its 19th straight victory over an FCS opponent, dating back to 2005. It’ll have a bit tougher test in Week 2 when it heads west to play Arizona State on Sept. 7. Kickoff is at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN.

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