Mississippi State dominates Kentucky

MISSISSIPPI STATE 45, KENTUCKY 7

STARKVILLE, Miss. — In just seven games under firstyear defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, Mississippi State’s defense has gone from being ranked 110th in the nation to being one of the country’s most intimidating.

The unit combined for 2 turnovers, 3 sacks and 7 tackles for loss Saturday and the Bulldogs beat Kentucky 45-7.

Mississippi State (5-2, 2-2 SEC) dominated game from the opening quarter and never trailed. The Bulldogs finished with 441 total yards of offense and averaged 5.9 per play.

“We still got it,” wide receiver Donald Grey said. “We’ve still got some growing to do, but we haven’t fallen all the way off.”

Junior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald had 270 total yards and three touchdowns. Fitzgerald led all rushers with 115 yards and became just the sixth SEC quarterback to rush for over 2,000 career yards. He also was 18-of-26 passing for 155 yards and a touchdown to Jordan Thomas.

Kentucky (5-2, 2-2) managed 260 total yards of offense and 14 first downs.

“They disguised their coverages really well,” quarterback Stephen Johnson said. “They were also very physical, more physical than we were the entire game.”

Kentucky trailed 17-7 at the half and crossed midfield on only three drives.

“We were able to take them out of what they wanted to do early,” Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen said. “I challenged our defense to really get after the quarterback in the second half, and they really stepped up.”

Johnson was 13 of 28 for 117 yards but threw 2 interceptions, including an 84-yard pick-six by Gerri Green.

“Right now we’re getting back to where we were before UGA,” Green said. “We know what we’re capable up, we just have to keep paying attention to the little details and putting the emphasis on stopping the big plays.”

Kentucky’s defense was even less successful. The nation’s No. 10 rushing defense allowed a season high 282 yards on the ground.

“We knew with their rush defense they were going to want to stop the run,” Mullen said. “So we tried to come out balanced so they couldn’t load up the line. Then we could wear them down.”

Mississippi State dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 34:49.