World News – USA – Erroll Thompson hits important milestone, Bulldog D hard again

Zach Arnett has routinely brought a competitive unit to the field despite countless injuries, opt-outs, and inexperience. Every week the device brings it and most of the time it leaves the device with the short end of the stick. Saturday was no different for the Bulldogs.

After doing three quarters of everything to keep the Bulldogs in the ball game, they collapsed in the fourth. Auburn took advantage of this and got two touchdowns to remove them for good, but it wasn’t without another tough fight.

Bo Nix and the Tiger Offensive had 178 yards offensive in the last frame. They were less than 100 yards in any quarter by the fourth. At this point they broke off the two long journey and were 165 meters in that quarter. It’s been a disappointing last quarter, but it’s hard to fault the crew on a night like Saturday.

« I think he did a great job. I think our defense continues to grow too, ”said Mike Leach of Arnett. “I thought they played extremely hard. I think Zach gets a lot out of them and has a lot of intensity and I think the players live from that too. ”

It was a milestone for Erroll Thompson, who made 12 stops in the game and surpassed 300 tackles in his career. It was the first time in nearly 20 years anyone in maroon and white had as many tackles as Mario Haggan was the last Bulldog to dwarf that brand in 2002.

Thompson wasn’t shy about reaching this mark. He started the season aiming to hit that milestone of 300 tackles and he looked forward to doing it after the game. In a career full of diverse defense plans from 3-4 to 4-3 and now 3-3-5, Thompson has been the only constant of defense year after year. With four different coordinators in his career, he’s also learned to just do his job, but he can’t help but think highly of Arnett’s work.

« He meant everything. He’s probably the best defensive coordinator I’ve ever had, ”Thompson said of Arnett. « He puts the time and work behind the scenes and we really feed off him. There is still a long way to go. ”

Thompson is set to leave Starkville as one of the great Bulldog linebackers in school history despite the sour taste of an upcoming season.

« When I first got here, I didn’t talk that much. I just wanted to lead by example, and I’ve grown as a section leader over the past few years, ”said Thompson. « I feel like I’ve left my mark as a role model, and I’m grateful for that. ”

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Mississippi State Bulldogs Soccer, Mississippi State University, Auburn Tigers Soccer, Linebacker, Offense