Mississippi State
5-7 , 3-5
Ole Miss
5-7 , 2-6
Bulldogs Dominate Rebels, 55-20, To Reclaim Golden Egg
November 26, 2016 | Football
The Bulldogs (5-7, 3-5 SEC) went three-and-out on their first drive, then ramped up for an offensive explosion the rest of the game, quickly taking a 27-10 lead over the Rebels (5-7, 2-6) in the second quarter, before UM trimmed the margin to 27-20 at halftime. But State dominated the second half, outscoring the Rebels 28-0 to cruise to victory in the 113th all-time meeting between the teams. The Bulldogs' 55 points were the most scored in the annual rivalry since MSu score 65 in 1915.
MSU's offensive output came largely on the ground as the sophomore duo of quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and Aeris Williams helped MSU set a new school record for rushing yards in an SEC game (457). Fitzgerald set MSU's all-time rushing record by a player at any position with 14 carries for 258 yards and two touchdowns. Williams rushed 25 times for a career high 191 yards and two touchdowns. It was also the first time ever that State had 200-yard and 100-yard rushers in the same game.
Fitzgerald also finished 8-of-17 passing for 109 yards and three touchdowns. Donald Gray, Fred Ross and Malik Dear all had touchdown receptions for the Bulldogs in the win. Ross' was the 22nd of the senior's Bulldog career.
Defensively, MSU was paced in tackles by senior safety Kivon Coman and junior linebacker J.T. Gray who had eight tackles each, while sophomore defensive back Jamal Peters had a career game including an impressive interception in the end zone. Leo Lewis had six stops, including a sack, while senior Johnathan Calvin registered a pair of sacks in the contest. Senior Cedric Jiles added a 74-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap scoring and put the icing on the cake for the Bulldogs. It was the first pickoff of his career.
With the win, Mississippi State concludes its regular season.
Team Stats
MS 0, OM 3
OM - Gary Wunderlich 24 yd field goal 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:33
MS 6, OM 3
MS - Aeris Williams 16 yd run (Westin Graves kickfailed), 5 plays, 63 yards, TOP 1:48
MS 6, OM 10
OM - D. Stringfellow 19 yd pass from Shea Patterson (Gary Wunderlich kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:52
MS 13, OM 10
MS - Donald Gray 8 yd pass from Nick Fitzgerald (Westin Graves kick) 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:15
MS 20, OM 10
MS - Aeris Williams 13 yd run (Westin Graves kick), 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:49
MS 27, OM 10
MS - Malik Dear 24 yd pass from Nick Fitzgerald (Westin Graves kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:10
MS 27, OM 17
OM - D. Stringfellow 25 yd pass from Shea Patterson (Gary Wunderlich kick) 12 plays, 84 yards, TOP 4:17
MS 27, OM 20
OM - Gary Wunderlich 38 yd field goal 11 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:23
MS 34, OM 20
MS - Fred Ross 38 yd pass from Nick Fitzgerald (Westin Graves kick) 9 plays, 82 yards, TOP 4:27
MS 41, OM 20
MS - Nick Fitzgerald 61 yd run (Westin Graves kick), 3 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:48
MS 48, OM 20
MS - Nick Fitzgerald 30 yd run (Westin Graves kick), 11 plays, 55 yards, TOP 6:47
MS 55, OM 20
MS - Cedric Jiles 74 yd interception (Westin Graves kick)
