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11/07 19:22 CST Vanderbilt holds off Mississippi State to win its first SEC
game 25-23
Vanderbilt holds off Mississippi State to win its first SEC game 25-23
By James Murphy
Associated Press
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) --- Vanderbilt withstood a comeback attempt by
Mississippi State and won 25-23 on Saturday. It's the Commodores' first
Southeastern Conference win of the year, and it snaps a five-game losing streak.
The Commodores (4-5, 1-5 SEC) led 16-0 at halftime, but the Bulldogs scored two
touchdowns in 52 seconds to make it a two-point game in the third quarter.
Vanderbilt answered with back-to-back field goals between the third and fourth.
Mississippi State (4-5, 2-5) got all the way to the Commodores' 8-yard line
late in the fourth quarter, but it could not get into the end zone and settled
for a field goal. Vanderbilt tacked on another field goal, and the Bulldogs
responded with a touchdown from A.J. Swann to Sanfrisco Magee. However, the
ensuing two-point conversion was no good.
Vanderbilt got the scoring started with a field goal late in the first. On its
next drive, the Commodores marched 87 yards on 18 plays in 10 minutes, 19
seconds to make it 10-0 midway through the second quarter.
MSU had no counters for whatever punches Vanderbilt threw its way early. They
did not make a first down on four straight drives between the first and second
quarters. With 1:37 to play in the first half, Jordan Matthews intercepted A.J.
Swann. Vanderbilt capitalized with another field goal to make it 16-0 at
halftime.
The Bulldogs landed their first punch on their first drive of the third
quarter, as Swann found Sanfrisco Magee for a 65-yard touchdown. On
Vanderbilt's ensuing drive, Tyshun Willis got to Curtis and ultimately forced a
scoop-and-score by Will Whitson, making it 16-14 with 10:28 left in the third
quarter.
The takeaway Vanderbilt: The Commodores controlled the ball on offense and the defense capitalized on a dysfunctional MSU attack. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs couldn't get much going on offense, and the defense broke down one too many times as a result. Up next Vanderbilt: hosts No. 5 Alabama on Saturday. Mississippi State: hosts Auburn on Saturday. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here |
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