Mississippi State
4-2
UAB [HC]
1-4
Fourth-Quarter Charge Pushes Bulldogs Past Blazers 30-13
October 06, 2007 | Football
? Official Statistics
? Official Statistics (PDF)
? Postgame Notes & Quotes (PDF)
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State (4-2) scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns, including two in a late 15-second span, to hold off a pesky UAB team (1-4) for a 30-13 victory Saturday afternoon at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. MSU is 4-2 for the first time since the 2000 season.
State trailed 10-3 at halftime and 13-9 after three quarters of play before putting together an impressive 11-play, 80-yard drive early in the fourth period that lasted seven minutes. The possession ended in a 10-yard Anthony Dixon touchdown run to put State up 16-13.
The Bulldogs would then shut down UAB's offense the remainder of the day, while producing two more scores of their own. After forcing a punt, State drove 60 yards for another score, capped by a 12-yard Dixon run. On the Blazers' next drive, State's Anthony Johnson picked off Sam Hunt's pass on the first play and return it 30 yards for a score.
Dixon led MSU's offensive performance on the day, registering a career-best 152 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries. It was his fifth career 100-yard contest on the ground, the third of 2007.
Neither team scored in the first quarter, but the Blazers broke the ice within the first minute of the second period with a 42-yard field goal from Swayze Waters, capping a 30-yard drive that was setup by an interception of MSU's Mike Henig. Wesley Carroll received the start for State, but Henig played for the majority of the first half, playing for the first time since breaking his hand Sept. 15 at
On the next Blazer drive, Bulldog Kyle Love blocked another Waters field goal attempt. That led to a 39-yard field goal from MSU's Adam Carlson to tie the game with 10:01 to go in the first half.
UAB answered that with its best drive of the afternoon, a 13-play, 87-yard march that was topped off with a 31-yard Hunt pass to Frantrell Forrest. That gave the Blazers their 10-3 lead at the intermission.
UAB's lone score of the second half came on the ensuing possession, Waters hitting from 29 yards away after a 69-yard drive by the Blazers.
Carroll ended his first career start for MSU 9-for-12 for 93 yards. His longest pass went to Aubrey Bell for 19 yards.
With his three rushing touchdowns on the day,
Team Stats
UAB 3, MS 0
UAB - WATERS, S. 42 yd field goal 6 plays, 30 yards, TOP 2:00
UAB 3, MS 3
MS - Adam Carlson 39 yd field goal 5 plays, 45 yards, TOP 1:53
UAB 10, MS 3
UAB - FORREST, F. 31 yd pass from HUNT, S. (WATERS, S. kick) 13 plays, 87 yards, TOP 6:41
UAB 10, MS 9
MS - Anthony Dixon 1 yd run (Adam Carlson kickfailed), 17 plays, 75 yards, TOP 9:06
UAB 13, MS 9
UAB - WATERS, S. 29 yd field goal 8 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:15
UAB 13, MS 16
MS - Anthony Dixon 10 yd run (Adam Carlson kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:18
UAB 13, MS 23
MS - Anthony Dixon 12 yd run (Adam Carlson kick), 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:52
UAB 13, MS 30
MS - Anthony Johnson 30 yd interception (Adam Carlson kick)
