Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Brenen Thompson (0) reacts after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Mississippi State vs. Arizona State: Inside the touchdown that won the game

Originally posted on Mississippi State Bulldogs on SI
By Taylor Hodges | Last updated Sep 7, 2025 11:48 AM ET

There are three or four plays that stand as critical, game-deciding plays.

The most obvious, of course, is the game-winning 58-yard touchdown pass from Blake Shapen to Brenen Thompson.

It was Thompson’s second touchdown of the game, both of which had a glaring similarity: Thompson beat his defender with speed.

For a defense, letting that happen once is forgivable. But twice is not.

It was surprising to see it happen, especially considering the moment.

Mississippi State, who had led all game, made a heroic goal line stand to force the Sun Devils into settling for a field goal. Five plays later, Thompson was running into the endzone and Davis Wade Stadium erupted.

Afterwards, the three main players involved in that play – Shapen, Thompson and coach Jeff Lebby – spoke to reporters and each talked about that play.

Here’s what they said:

Arizona State had taken possession with 10:32 left in the game at their own four-yard line. The Sun Devils ran their way (literally, there was one pass completion) down the field and had a first-and-goal from the Bulldogs’ three-yard line after DeAgo Brumfield make a touchdown-saving tackle.

The Sun Devils broke the 17-17 tie with an 18-yard field goal with 1:38 left to play and Mississippi State did use all of its timeouts.

On the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs ran four plays that brought them to their own 42-yard line. They lined in a spread formation with trips to the right side. The Sun Devils lined up in a single-high safety look, five defenders along the line of scrimmage and a defensive back in front of each receiver.

Lebby, Shapen and Thompson all saw the mismatch.

Just before the snap, Shapen sent tight end Seydoe Traore in motion towards the inside. At the snap the single high safety ran downwards to cover Traore who was running across the middle of the defense.

The defender in front of Thompson, who was lined up furthest outside in the trips formation, was Javon Robinson who seemed to be looking someplace at the snap. With the middle of the field wide open, Robinson didn’t stand a chance in his backpedal.

Mississippi State took the 24-20 lead with 30 seconds left in the game. On the Sun Devils’ first play on the ensuing possession, Sam Leavitt threw his second interception to end the game.

This article first appeared on Mississippi State Bulldogs on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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