Mississippi State
3-4 , 0-4
#13 South Carolina
6-1 , 4-1
Late Score By #15 Gamecocks Downs Bulldogs, 14-12
October 15, 2011 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. - On this sun-drenched fall afternoon at Scott Field, an abundance of points weren't required. Unfortunately for Mississippi State, though, No. 15 South Carolina scored just enough to barely escape with the win.
Trailing 10-7 with 9:44 to play, the Gamecocks orchestrated a 12-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard scoring strike from Connor Shaw to Alshon Jeffery for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown en route to a defensive dominated 14-12 victory.
The Bulldogs (3-4, 0-4) got the football back for one more opportunity and drove to the USC 32. But on first-and-10, the drive stalled when Tyler Russell, starting for the first time in his young career, threw an interception at the 12 with 1:45 to play.
MSU never got another opportunity, as Shaw took a safety on the final play of this unseasonably warm day.
"We've just got to continue to get better," said Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen, whose team is off next week before returning to action on Oct. 29 at Kentucky.
Mississippi State, which has now matched its loss total from a year ago, got on the scoreboard first when Chris Smith hauled in a 19-yard pass from Russell for a 7-0 advantage with 1:09 left in the opening quarter.
But in the second frame, the lead vanished when All-SEC running back Marcus Lattimore scored from the 4. However, it was the lone highlight for the SEC's leading rusher, who left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury after totaling just 39 yards on 17 carries. He entered the game averaging 129.8 yards an outing.
Mississippi State, which has now dropped a series-high six-straight games to USC, regained the lead in the fourth at 10-7 on a 22-yard Derek DePasquale field goal. However, South Carolina answered on its next possession with Shaw's game-winning touchdown pass.
Defensively, the Bulldogs held the Gamecocks to just 289 yards of total offense. Leading the attack was junior linebacker Cameron Lawrence, who was credited with 11 tackles. Also turning in impressive performances were defensive tackle Fletcher Cox with a career-best four tackles behind the line of scrimmage and Nickoe Whitley and Johnthan Banks with interceptions.
Banks now has an SEC-best five picks on the year, a total that's also second-best in the nation.
Offensively, MSU manufactured 296 yards, with Russell completing 11 of his 29 passes for 165 yards. On the ground, Vick Ballard had 67 yards on 20 carries, while Ladarius Perkins had nine rushes for 46 yards.
Team Stats
SC 0, MS 7
MS - Chris Smith 19 yd pass from Tyler Russell (D. DePasquale kick) 10 plays, 69 yards, TOP 4:19
SC 7, MS 7
SC - M. Lattimore 4 yd run (Jay Wooten kick), 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:34
SC 7, MS 10
MS - D. DePasquale 22 yd field goal 12 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:15
SC 14, MS 10
SC - Alshon Jeffery 4 yd pass from Connor Shaw (Jay Wooten kick) 12 plays, 79 yards, TOP 5:54
SC 14, MS 12
MS - TEAM 9 yd safety
