On an electric night at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, the Bulldogs of Mississippi State welcomed the Arizona Wildcats for an electric non-conference matchup under the lights. Mississippi State would open the game against Arizona as nine-point favorites from the odds makers in Vegas. Given the late kick, Mississippi State had all day in the Junction to prepare for the rock fight between the Bulldogs and Wildcats.

Davis Wade Stadium was near capacity well before kick-off, with the student section leading the charge. Mississippi State students started to line up outside the gates nearly two hours before the slated 6:30 kick, quickly filling the endzone with cowbell ringing Mississippi State Football craved students. From the time the student gates opened to the final whistle, Mississippi State students brought the energy, showing the visiting Arizona Wildcats what an SEC home-field advantage looks like.

Mississippi State opened the game with a 14-0 lead over the visiting Arizona Wildcats. Despite three interceptions in the first half, Arizona managed to stay within a touchdown at the break. Much like last week, the offense stalled throughout the first half, leaving points on the field and causing an uneasy feeling throughout Davis Wade Stadium for the start of the second half.

Mississippi State held Arizona to a punt to start the second half and would score on the following possession to extend the Bulldogs lead to 21-7 over the Wildcats with 11:07 on the clock in the third quarter. Arizona would quickly respond, cutting the Mississippi State lead to 21-14 mid-way through the third. Arizona would force another Mississippi State punt before tying the game at 21 with 9:14 remaining. Mississippi State would tack on a field goal with 6:47 remaining to make it 24-21. However, with five seconds remaining, Arizona would nail a field goal to send it to overtime in Starkville.

Mississippi State would lose the overtime coin toss opening overtime with the ball. Mississippi State would strike first from a Will Rogers to Jeffery Pittman touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 31-24 advantage. Mississippi State would hold the Arizona offensive unit scoreless in overtime as the Bulldogs escaped with a 31-24 victory.

Saturday’s win wasn’t pretty, but it was another victory for the Mississippi State Bulldogs as they improved to 2-0 on the season. Mississippi State will return home next Saturday as they welcome the LSU Tigers to Davis Wade Stadium for an early kick.