|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Ticker) -- In a game that featured 12 turnovers, No. 18 Mississippi State made the most of its free opportunities. Eugene Clinton returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown and Ivan Bille's 25-yard fumble return for a score helped break open the game as the Bulldogs posted a 35-17 victory over Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky. "It was a wonderful day for our defense," Clinton said. "We came back, showed our poise and played the way we are used to playing." Dicenzo Miller and Dontae Walker each rushed for 100 yards and a score for Mississippi State (6-2, 3-2 SEC West), which became bowl eligible with the win, overcoming five turnovers by forcing seven from the Wildcats (2-7, 0-6 SEC East). "I was very pleased with our running game today," Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill said. "Both Dicenzo and Dontae rushed for more than 100 yards and anytime you have two running backs do that, it is more than likely that you will win." Wayne Madkin completed 11-of-20 passes for 212 yards with two interceptions. His 44-yard touchdown pass to Larry Huntington gave MSU a 21-6 lead early in the third quarter and Billie's fumble return made it 28-9 less than two minutes into the fourth period. Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen was 23-of-53 for 264 yards and four interceptions, including Clinton's catch and runback that opened the scoring 3:01 into play. "We knew if we put pressure on Lorenzen, then he would make the mistakes that he made and throw the ball to us," Clinton said. "Joe Lee Dunn is a great defensive coordinator," Kentucky coach Hal Mumme said. "Mississippi State has a great defensive unit. I wasn't a very good coach this week. Jared didn't play very well today. We had other freshmen who made mistakes, but unfortunately for Jared, their mistakes aren't as visible." The Bulldogs have won nine of their last 12 games against SEC East foes. "It is a big win because it was on the road," Sherrill said. "It made us bowl eligible and it keeps us in the hunt for the SEC West title and a chance to play in Atlanta for the SEC Championship." After Clinton gave MSU the early lead, Miller, who rushed for 117 yards on 19 carries, went in from 11 yards out 4:26 into the second quarter as the Bulldogs opened a 14-0 bulge. Lorenzen got Kentucky back into contention with a 13-yard TD pass to Quentin McCord with 6:50 left in the first half. But Madkin's long TD strike to Huntington and Billie's return put the Wildcats away before Walker's one-yard plunge made it 35-9 with 4:35 to play. Freshman Chad Scott carried 21 times for 119 yards for Kentucky and capped the scoring on a five-yard jaunt with 1:08 left. "Chad has great vision, great speed and a big heart," Mumme said. "He's doing really well for a freshman playing in the Southeastern Conference. Anyone who can run for over 100 yards against (Mississippi State's) defense is pretty good."
|
