Postgame Notes: No. 16 Mississippi State at No. 22 Kentucky
October 15, 2022 | Football
GENERAL
- Mississippi State won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
- MSU's game captain was WR Austin Williams.
- One Bulldog made his first career start: LB Sherman Timbs.
- Tonight marked the first game in the series (50 meetings) with both teams ranked in the AP Top 25.
- Tonight's attendance was 61,451.
OFFENSE
- Mississippi State has scored on 18 consecutive red zone opportunities with a touchdown on each of its last 15.
- MSU is now 21-for-22 in the red zone this season (95.5 percent), with 20 touchdowns.
- The Bulldogs are averaging 5.88 points per red zone drive.
- Completed passes to nine different receivers.
- The Bulldogs' 10 rushing attempts were their fewest under head coach Mike Leach and tied for the fourth-fewest by any Leach-coached team.
DEFENSE
- MSU has a takeaway in 25 of its last 31 games.
- The Bulldogs have a takeaway in every game of 2022 and their seven-game streak is tied for their longest under defensive coordinator Zach Arnett.
- S Jalen Green recovered a fumble that was forced by S Collin Duncan on Kentucky's opening drive.
- CB Emmanuel Forbes returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown.
- It was the Bulldogs' 12th multi-turnover game under Arnett, and they are 10-2 in such games.
- MSU has an interception in 18 of 31 games under Arnett with 31 picks in that stretch.
- 10 active players have recorded 27 total interceptions in their careers.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
WR Caleb Ducking
- Turned in his third career game with five or more receptions.
- Returned one kickoff 32 yards.
- Averaging 33.3 yards per return in his career, which is 6.6 yards better than the school record (minimum 30 attempts).
- Current record: 26.7, Leon Berry (2009-10).
- Averaging 33.3 yards per return in his career, which is 6.6 yards better than the school record (minimum 30 attempts).
- Now eighth in school history with 132Â career receptions.
- No. 7: 133, De'Runnya Wilson (2013-15).
- Led the team with seven receptions for 60 yards.
- Has now caught a pass in 30 consecutive games, which includes every game of his career.
- Boasts the second-longest streak in the SEC and is one of just two players in the league with catches in 25Â or more consecutive games.
- Now second in school history with 173 career receptions.
- School record: 199, Fred Ross (2013-16).
- Posted his 25th career 200-yard passing game, which is second in MSU history.
- School record: 29, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
- Holds the SEC career record with 972Â completions.
- Has now thrown 70 career touchdown passes which is tied with Dak Prescott (2012-15) for the school record.
- Has thrown for 9,039Â career passing yards, which is 337Â yards shy of the school record.
- School Record: 9,376, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
- Has recorded 8,830Â career total offense yards, which ranks third in MSU history.
- No. 2: 9,814, Nick Fitzgerald (2015-18).
- Responsible for 71 career touchdowns, which is third in school history.
- No. 2: 101, Nick Fitzgerald (2015-18).
- Made a season-long 30-yard reception with 23 yards after catch on the play.Â
- Hauled in a season-long 24-yard reception.
- Caught a one-yard touchdown pass for his 16th career receiving touchdown, which ranks sixth in school history.
- No. 5: 17, Justin Jenkins (2000-03) and Eric Moulds (1993-95).
- Now ninth in school history with 131 career receptions, which is one behind teammate RB Dillon Johnson.
- No. 7: 133, De'Runnya Wilson (2013-15).
- Has now played in a school-record 57 career games with 33 career starts.
- Forced the third fumble of his career on Kentucky's opening drive.
- Made a career-high eight tackles.
- Tied the SEC record with his fifth career pick-six on a 59-yard return.
- SEC Record: 5, Jackie Walker, Tennessee (1969-71).
- Now has 13 career interceptions, which leads the nation since 2020 and is the most among active SEC players.
- Third nationally among active players.
- Now stands alone in fourth place in MSU history.
- No. 3: 15, Nickoe Whitley (2010-13).
- Has four picks in his last three games.
- Now has five picks this season, which is tied for eighth in MSU single-season history.
- School Record: 6, Seven players, most recently Mark McLaurin (2017).
- Recorded his second career fumble recovery on Kentucky's opening drive.
- Recorded 10 tackles for his fourth double-digit tackle game of the season and sixth of his career.
- Six career double-digit tackle games is 11th-most by any Bulldog since 1988.
- Posted 0.5 tackles for loss.
- Broke up a pass in the third quarter, his second of the season.
- Split a tackle for loss.
- Split a tackle for loss.
- Added a QB hurry.
- Matched his career high with 11 tackles.
- Split a tackle for loss.
- Led MSU in tackles for the third time this year with a career-high 17.
- Tied for the 14th-most tackles in a game by a Bulldog since 1988.
- It was his fifth career double-digit tackle game, which is tied for 12th-most by a Bulldog since 1988.
- Marked the 31st time a Bulldog had 16 or more tackles in a game since 1988.
- Was his second career 16-plus tackle game, which trails only three others in that span (Reggie Stewart, 6, 1988-90; Mario Haggan, 3, 2000-02; Paul Lacoste, 3, 1996;).
- Posted nine stops in the first half alone.
- Recorded his third sack of the season.
- Now has 15.5 career sacks and is 0.5 shy of the MSU career top 10.
- No. 10: 16.0, Robert Young (1987-90); Preston Smith (2011-14).
- Now has 15.5 career sacks and is 0.5 shy of the MSU career top 10.
- Finished with 1.5 tackles for loss.
- Split a tackle for loss.
- Made a season-long 48-yard field goal in the second quarter.
- Booted a 56-yard punt, his second of the season and fifth of his career.
Players Mentioned
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