Rexrode details how it ended here.
I'm sure the guys who actually attended the game will have a better sense of what happened, but a glance at the stat sheet shows much to be encouraged about:
- Looks like our relative optimism about the quarterback position was justified: Nichol went 20-28 for 357 (!) yards, 4 TDs, and no INTs; Cousins was 29-43 for 357 yards (same as Nichol, apparently), and also 4 TDs and no INTs. (Though Cousins did throw an INT on the 2-point conversion attempt on the last play of the game.) If anything, it seems like QB this season may be an upgrade for us this season.
- Some huge receiving performances: for Green, Blair White had 6 catches for 89 yards; Mark Dell, 4 for 77 and a TD; Charlie Gantt, 4-70-2; Chris D. Rucker, 5-64-0. For White: Brian Linthicum (wow!), 6-69-1; Keshawn Martin, 3-89-0; BJ Cunningham, 3-63-1; Myles White, 2-86-1.
Some more troubling points, briefly:
- It's difficult to figure out defensive performances from stats alone, but, yeah, 714 passing yards in the game, 8 TDs, only one interception. Yikes.
- The two leading contenders at running back this year? Caulton Ray: 9 rushes, 9 yards; Ashton Leggett, 10 rushes, 7 yards. Back to square one, I guess.
(Photo credit: msuspartans.com)