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STARKVILLE, Mississippi (Ticker) -- No. 19 Mississippi State exploded for four touchdowns in a span of just over 11 minutes bridging the final two quarters and rallied for a 30-10 victory over Memphis in the season opener for both schools. Underdog Memphis (0-1) quieted the crowd at Davis Wade Stadium by building a 10-0 lead in the third quarter. But Dicenzo Miller caught a swing pass from Wayne Madkin and raced 51 yards for a touchdown with 4 1/2 minutes left in the period. Less than three minutes later, linebacker Curtis Stowers blocked a punt and defensive end Nathan Jackson returned it 10 yards for the go-ahead score. Miller ran six yards for a touchdown 4:42 into the fourth quarter and Madkin hit Justin Jenkins for a 22-yard TD just 96 seconds later to make it 27-10. "Games will turn quickly," Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill said. "One (mistake) in the kicking game is one that can turn the game around." Miller rushed for 108 yards on 12 carries and Madkin was 12-of-21 for 174 yards and two scores. Madkin also recorded his 24th win as a starter, becoming the winningest quarterback in school history. A 24-yard field goal by John Marlin sealed Mississippi State's 20th win in the last 22 season openers. The Bulldogs (1-0) extended their lead in the series to 29-11, including a 13-4 advantage at home. "Emotions always change," Sherrill said. "The stadium was a lot louder tonight because of the expansion. Our people really got involved and we scored 30 points in a short period of time. That's football. One thing that is important is to put players in position to make plays." Defensive back Glenn Sumter returned a fumble 73 yards to set up the lone touchdown for Memphis, which lost in coach Tommy West's debut. West was promoted from defensive coordinator last November after the Tigers ranked fifth in the nation in total defense. But Memphis was just 111th in total offense last season and generated almost nothing over the final 25 minutes against Mississippi State. The Tigers managed just 162 total yards, including 76 in the air as four quarterbacks combined to complete 10-of-17 passes. "Our real problem is that we did not handle adversity well," West said. "After we had kept them under control for the first 2 1/2 quarters, we collapsed. We could not handle the momentum change. Not bouncing back after we get down is a mental thing in which you can blame the coaching staff. The good thing is that it is correctable, so we will go back to practice and work on that." The Bulldogs were their own worst enemy in the first half. After driving into Memphis territory on the game's opening possession, Madkin fumbled at the 39-yard line. Madkin also coughed up the ball at the Tigers' 26 with just over a minute to go in the first quarter. In between, Tigers quarterback Travis Anglin was stopped on 4th-and-1 at the Mississippi State 13. "The offense made some critical mistakes in the first half which didn't give us the opportunity to score when we moved the football," Sherrill said. "I thought when we did move the ball, we all of a sudden took it away." A 31-yard pass from Anglin to Bunkie Perkins set up Ryan White's 33-yard field goal with 4:13 left in the first half and Memphis took a 3-0 lead into the locker room. The Tigers turned over the ball on downs on their first drive of the second half, but receiver Justin Jenkins fumbled on the next play from scrimmage and Sumter raced 73 yards to the Mississippi State 20. Two plays later, Anglin found Perkins wide-open in the left side of the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown and a surprising 10-0 cushion. Anglin was Memphis' most effective quarterback, going 6-of-7 for 56 yards. He also was the Tigers' second-leading rusher with 36 yards on 16 carries. "I thought we might have to use three quarterbacks if the situation dictated, and that is what happened," West said. "The situation just called for us playing all three. They have a good defense. I am not ready to give up on our new offense at all."
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