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Mississippi States first game without star quarterback Dak Prescott was a dud.The offense stalled, the defense gave up big plays and special teams had crucial errors in a stunning 21-20 home loss to South Alabama. Now coach Dan Mullen is trying to figure out some answers before Mississippi State (0-1) opens Southeastern Conference play against South Carolina (1-0) on Saturday.There are issues everywhere that weve got to get fixed, Mullen said.Mississippi State had a productive offense the last two seasons largely thanks to Prescott, who is about to make his first NFL start with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Prescott was a perfect fit for Mullens version of the spread offense -- gifted at running and throwing while making quick decisions with the ball.Now the Bulldogs -- who blew a 17-0 halftime lead on Saturday -- are trying to run the same offense with quarterbacks Damian Williams and Nick Fitzgerald.Through one game, the results werent pretty. The Bulldogs had 382 total yards and scored just three points in the second half against a Conference USA defense.If you look at grades, guys actually graded pretty well and did a good job, Mullen said. Then there would be a glaring critical error at a key moment of the game.Williams played most of the game under center and had some success, completing 20 of 28 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown while also running for 93 yards.But the 6-foot-1, 229-pound junior isnt much of a threat to throw deep down the field. Once South Alabama figured that out, the Jaguars were able to contain the Bulldogs short passes and running plays.South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said Mississippi States offense hasnt changed much, though it was obvious that Prescotts talent is hard to duplicate.Schematically, theyve been very successful over the years, Muschamp said. They tailor their system to what their quarterback can do. Theyre not going to give that quarterback as much as they gave Dak.Fitzgerald -- who started against South Alabama -- has a better arm and would be more likely to give Mississippi State a vertical passing option. But the sophomore missed on his first three passes of the afternoon and was quickly benched.Mullen didnt give many clues about who would play on Saturday.Everybody competes every single week for us, Mullen said. Well see how everybody does in practice this week.Mississippi States defense and special teams could use some improvement as well. The Bulldogs are young in the secondary and gave up several big plays in the second half. South Alabama quarterback Dallas Davis -- a sophomore making his first career start -- threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns.Mississippi State kicker Westin Graves made a career-long 48-yard field goal in the game, but also missed a 28-yarder in the final seconds that would have given the Bulldogs the win. It bounced off the left upright.Its the consistency of performance, Mullen said. Not `Can we do it? We can do it, because weve shown that we can do it. We have to do it every single snap of the game and have a consistent performance.---AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this story.---Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP . AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org . Kendall Sheffield Falcons Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Calvin Ridley Falcons Jersey .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. http://www.thefaclonsshoponline.com/Youth-Steve-Bartkowski-Falcons-Jersey/ . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Qadree Ollison Youth Jersey . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. Tony Gonzalez Jersey . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. SEATTLE -- Edwin Diaz will take over as the Seattle Mariners closer just two months removed from Double-A, replacing struggling Steve Cishek.Manager Scott Servais announced the decision prior to a game Tuesday night against the Red Sox. Cishek blew a three-run lead Sunday in a loss to the Cubs then allowed a tiebreaking homer to Mookie Betts in the ninth inning of a loss against Boston on Monday night.Diaz was promoted from Jackson on June 4 and has a 1.80 ERA in 24 appearances. The 22-year-old right-hander has struck out 49 and walked seven over 25 innings and held opponents scoreless in 20 of his appearances.I like to pitch under pressure. I feel more confident when its a close game, he said. I dont know why but I feel really, really good.Diaz has thrown 8 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings.I will do the same job I do in the seventh or eighth, get three outs and try to win the games, he said.Servais told Diaz and Ciishek of the switch after Mondays 2-1 loss.ddddddddddddHe looks like hes ready to go, Servais said of Diaz.Servais said other relievers, including Cishek, may still be called on to close out games. Right now, though, Diaz is the go-to arm in save situations.He hasnt backed off. He has been very aggressive, Servais said. He believes he belongs in this league. He certainly has produced at a level like he should believe he belongs here.Diazs fastball has peaked at 101.8 mph this season, according to BrooksBaseball.net , and he also throws a slider. Diaz credits veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit with helping him adjust to the big leagues. Benoit was traded to Toronto on July 26.Every start I learn something new, Diaz said. I try to put it into the next start. Right now, I feel 100 percent ready. ' ' '