Mississippi State
5-4 , 2-3
#14 Kentucky
6-3 , 2-3
'Dogs Chase No. 14 'Cats, 31-14
October 27, 2007 | Football
? Official Statistics
? Official Statistics (PDF)
? Postgame Notes & Quotes (PDF)
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Two critical turnovers by Kentucky early in the second half led to 10 Mississippi State points and helped the Bulldogs upset the 14th-ranked Wildcats 31-14 on the road Saturday afternoon. The victory upped State's record to 5-4 overall, 2-3 in the Southeastern Conference. UK fell to 6-3, 2-3 on the year.
The win also marked the highest-ranked opponent
With State leading 14-7 at halftime, UK took the opening kickoff of the second half but Alfonso Smith fumbled and Bulldog Keith Fitzhugh fell on the ball at the Wildcat 32. Seven plays later, place-kicker Adam Carlson hit a 31-yard field goal to give MSU a 17-7 lead early in the third period.
On UK's very next possession, the Bulldogs forced a punt, but a high snap to Wildcat punter Tim Masthay forced him to pull the ball down and run. He would fumble and Bulldog K.J. Wright recovered at the UK 26. After Wesley Carroll found Jason Husband to convert a third-and-11 to the UK 5, two Anthony Dixon rushes later, State was in the end zone and led 24-7 with 8:16 to go in the third quarter.
Though Kentucky had many chances to get itself back into the contest, State's defense would be the story the rest of the way, allowing the potent Wildcat offense just seven points the entire second half. Those points would come on the Wildcats' next drive. Facing a fourth-and-8 at the MSU 37-yard line, quarterback Andre Woodson threw deep for receiver Steve Johnson, who made a spectacular catch in the end zone.
But that would be it for UK's offense. The remainder of the game would see the Bulldog defense stop the Wildcats twice on downs, pick off three Kentucky passes, recover one UK fumble, and force one punt. The fumble set up State's final points of the day, occuring at the UK 39-yard line. Just two rushes by Bulldog Christian Ducre, the second a 34-yard scamper to paydirt, gave MSU its 31-14 advantage.
Jamon Hughes led the State defense with nine tackles. Avery Hannibal collected two sacks and Titus Brown added one more to his season totals as well. Fitzhugh, De'Mon Glanton and Marcus Washington all had interceptions for the Bulldogs.
UK's star quarterback Woodson ended the day 24-of-42 for 230 yards, but had the three interceptions against two touchdown passes. The Wildcat running game, with its top two backs out with injuries, managed just 89 yards on the ground.
Meanwhile, State's signal-caller - the rookie Carroll - produced another very solid day under center for the Bulldogs. He completed 17-of-28 passes for 152 yards and two scores. He was complemented very well by the running of Ducre and Dixon. Ducre tallied 119 yards and his TD run on 19 carries. Dixon ended with 75 yards and a score on the ground, and also hauled in one of Carroll's two scoring aerials.
The Bulldogs enjoyed a 14-7 halftime lead by notching impressive 80-yard drives on their first two possessions of the game. Strong running by Dixon and Ducre, and accurate throwing from Carroll, helped State manage the clock and limit Kentucky's offensive opportunities. Dixon ran for 58 yards in the half while Ducre amassed 35. Carroll completed 11-of-18 passes for 102 yards and two scores in the half as well.
State took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards on 14 plays. Carroll hit Husband on an 11-yard pass to cap the drive. UK would answer with a nine-play, 73-yard drive of its own. Woodson found Johnson for an 18-yard scoring pass and the teams were tied at 7-7 at the 5:17 mark of the first period.
The Bulldogs then came right back and went 80 yards again, this time on 17 plays. After a fumble that was recovered by Carroll nearly ended the drive at the UK 1, Carroll would find Dixon on the next play for a 1-yard pass to put MSU up 14-7 just 1:24 into the second quarter. Carroll was 6-of-7 for 60 yards on the drive.
The only other scoring threat by either team in the first half was when the Wildcats had a 34-yard field goal try sail wide right with 1:33 left before the intermission.
After a week off next Saturday,
Team Stats
MS 7, UK 0
MS - Jason Husband 11 yd pass from Wesley Carroll (Adam Carlson kick) 14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:52
MS 7, UK 7
UK - Steve Johnson 18 yd pass from Andre' Woodson (Lones Seiber kick) 9 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:45
MS 14, UK 7
MS - Anthony Dixon 1 yd pass from Wesley Carroll (Adam Carlson kick) 17 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:41
MS 17, UK 7
MS - Adam Carlson 31 yd field goal 7 plays, 19 yards, TOP 2:33
MS 24, UK 7
MS - Anthony Dixon 1 yd run (Adam Carlson kick), 5 plays, 26 yards, TOP 1:58
MS 24, UK 14
UK - Steve Johnson 37 yd pass from Andre' Woodson (Lones Seiber kick) 6 plays, 63 yards, TOP 2:53
MS 31, UK 14
MS - Christian Ducre 34 yd run (Adam Carlson kick), 2 plays, 39 yards, TOP 0:53
