Bulldogs' Six-Game Win Streak Snapped At Alabama

Saturday, November 13

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6:15 PM

Mississippi State

7-3 , 3-3

#11 Alabama

8-2 , 5-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Mississippi State

Alabama

Bulldogs' Six-Game Win Streak Snapped At Alabama

November 13, 2010 | Football

Box Score

By: hailstate.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - In a key SEC matchup featuring two ranked teams Saturday night, it was a simple case of one team creating more big plays and keeping mistakes at a minimum.

Unfortunately for No. 17 Mississippi State, it was Alabama enjoying those critical advantages.

In front of raucous crowd of 101,871 at historic Bryant-Denny Stadium, the No. 11-ranked Crimson Tide rebounded from its loss at LSU to turn back the up-and-coming Bulldogs, 30-10.

The win was the third-straight for Bama in this long-standing series, while the loss snapped MSU's six-game winning streak.

Yet, despite the margin of victory, it was just a 6-3 affair midway through the second quarter. However, it was at that point Alabama began to find its offensive rhythm as well as keeping its defensive intensity intact.

The momentum swing came with 7:06 left in the opening half on a 45-yard scoring strike from Greg McElroy to Marquis Maze that produced the first touchdown of the evening and extended the Tide's lead to 13-3.

Five minutes later, the Bulldogs' D gave up the rare big play on the season, as last year's Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram turned a short screen pass into a 78-yard scoring scamper to put his team up 20-3.

In the third, the Tide wasted little time extending the deficit, as its first play from scrimmage resulted in a 56-yard run by Julio Jones to swell the lead to 27-3.

However, the Bulldogs didn't fold.

Instead, the defense tightened, while the offense finally found the end zone in the final frame.

With 8:08 to play on this cool, breezy fall night, backup quarterback Tyler Russell hit wideout Chad Bumphis in the back of the end zone from 28 yards out, making it a 30-10.

It was the fifth TD pass on the year for the freshman from Meridian and the fifth receiving touchdown for Bumphis.

MSU's first points of the night came on a 24-yard field goal by Derek Depasquale with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter that evened the score at 7-apiece.

For the game, Alabama (8-2, 5-2) outgained MSU in total offense, 452-299. Mississippi State did manufacture 149 yards on the ground, led by Vick Ballard's game-high 80 yards. Through the air, Russell and Relf combined for 150 yards on 12-of-23 passing.

Defensively, the Bulldogs held the All-American Ingram to just 53 yards on 18 carries, well below his average. However, McElroy completed 12 of his 18 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns.

Mississippi State, which fell to 7-3, 3-3, returns to action on Nov. 18 at Scott Field against Arkansas in the final home outing for the Bulldog seniors. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be televised by ESPN.