Final
Kentucky-Mississippi St. Preview
Oct 25, 2010 - 7:57 PM By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports WriterKentucky (4-4) at No. 21 Mississippi State (6-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen isn't surprised his team came out sluggish during Saturday's game against Alabama-Birmingham.
He's just glad it didn't cost them a victory.
The Bulldogs, playing as a nationally ranked team for the first time since 2001, rallied for a 29-24 victory after trailing early in the fourth quarter. Though there were plenty of sloppy moments, Mullen said film study showed key plays were made when they had to happen.
"We didn't play our best game," Mullen said, "but we did the important things you need to do to win."
Now that the thrill of being ranked has subsided, Mullen expects No. 23 Mississippi State (6-2, 2-2 SEC) to be much more focused as it prepares to host Kentucky (4-4, 1-4) on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.
"All that's behind us - that's old hat now," Mullen said. "When you get that attention for the first time, you can lose a little bit of what got you there. Now we're bowl eligible, we don't have to worry about that, and we can concentrate on being a better football team."
The Bulldogs have won five straight, earning bowl eligibility for the first time since 2007, but Saturday's victory wasn't pretty. UAB outgained Mississippi State 207-103 in the first half, and briefly took a 24-23 lead after a touchdown with 10:16 remaining in the game.
"They did a good job of frustrating us at the very beginning because they came out punching," said Bulldogs linebacker Chris White, who led the team with 14 tackles. "They had an explosive offense and we figured that out quickly."
The Bulldogs responded with two field goals from Derek DePasquale to hold on for the win, and his five field goals in the game - one from 28 yards, two from 29, one from 39 and his longest from 43 - tied a school record.
Not bad for a guy who Mullen decided would handle the field goals just before kickoff. The kicking game has been a sore spot all season for the Bulldogs, with Mullen alternating between Sean Brauchle and DePasquale because of inconsistency from both.
Against UAB, Brauchle handled the kickoffs while DePasquale handled field goals and extra points. At least for one game, it was a success.
"Like I have said all year, I believe in our kickers," Mullen said. "They have the talent."
Now that the Bulldogs escaped UAB's upset bid, they can turn their focus on Kentucky, which lost to Georgia 44-31 on Saturday.
Mississippi State should be close to full strength against the Wildcats. Mullen said he expects starting running back Vick Ballard, who didn't play against UAB because of a sprained ankle, to practice Tuesday. Ballard leads the team with 12 touchdowns and 516 yards rushing.
Freshman LaDarius Perkins was stellar in Ballard's place during Saturday's game, rushing for a career-high 131 yards and a touchdown. Mississippi State's offense was fairly effective, even though quarterback Chris Relf had another spotty night, completing 8 of 19 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
"Chris is still a little shaky at times," Mullen said. "He missed a couple of easy ones. It's kind of funny. He misses some of the easy throws, and made the tough throws. We just have to get him confident again."
Having Ballard back would certainly help the offense, but Mullen sounded more concerned about making sure his defense is prepared to stop Kentucky's offense. Despite losing, the Wildcats gained 423 yards against Georgia. Quarterback Mike Hartline completed 27 of 43 passes for 353 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Considering the Bulldogs' secondary had issues stopping UAB's passing game, that raises concerns. UAB's Bryan Ellis completed 23 of 45 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown.
"We have a lot of things we need to clean up," Mullen said. "Kentucky's got a very, very explosive on offense."
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
KENTUCKY 7 3 7 0 17
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 10 7 0 7 24 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: MISSISSIPP - FG, DEREK DEPASQUALE 33 YD, 4:11.
MISSISSIPPI ST 3-0
MISSISSIPP - TD, VICK BALLARD 54 YD RUN (DEREK
DEPASQUALE KICK), 9:23.
MISSISSIPPI ST 10-0
KENTUCKY - TD, RANDALL COBB 48
Oct 30 10:11 PM - NCAAF
KENTUCKY 17
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 24 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 30 10:11 PM - 128
rootsRUWTbot Added 23 roots (Close Finish)
Kentucky 17, Mississippi State(23) 24 4th - 0:30Oct 30 10:10 PM - 105
roots - 92
roots
TD MISSISSIPPI ST CHRIS RELF 4 YD RUN (DEREK DEPASQUALE KICK)
Kentucky 17, Mississippi State(23) 24 4th - 10:28Oct 30 9:37 PM
TD MISSISSIPPI ST CHRIS RELF 4 YD RUN (DEREK DEPASQUALE KICK)
Kentucky 17, Mississippi State(23) 24 4th - 10:28Oct 30 9:37 PM- NCAAF
KENTUCKY 17
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 24 10:28 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Kentucky 17, Mississippi State(23) 24 4th - 10:28Oct 30 9:37 PM - 72
rootsRUWTbot Added 27 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Kentucky 17, Mississippi State(23) 17 4th - 12:55Oct 30 9:34 PM - NCAAF
KENTUCKY 17
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 17 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 30 9:24 PM
TD KENTUCKY MONCELL ALLEN 2 YD PASS FROM MIKE HARTLINE (CRAIG MCINTOSH KICK)
Kentucky 17, Mississippi State(23) 17 3rd - 1:37Oct 30 9:20 PM
TD KENTUCKY MONCELL ALLEN 2 YD PASS FROM MIKE HARTLINE (CRAIG MCINTOSH KICK)
Kentucky 17, Mississippi State(23) 17 3rd - 1:37Oct 30 9:20 PM
TD KENTUCKY MONCELL ALLEN 2 YD PASS FROM MIKE HARTLINE (CRAIG MCINTOSH KICK)
Kentucky 17, Mississippi State(23) 17 3rd - 1:37Oct 30 9:20 PM- NCAAF
KENTUCKY 17
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 17 1:37 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Kentucky 17, Mississippi State(23) 17 3rd - 1:37Oct 30 9:20 PM - NCAAF
KENTUCKY 10
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 17 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Kentucky 10, Mississippi State(23) 17 HalfOct 30 8:26 PM
TD MISSISSIPPI ST ARCETO CLARK 21 YD PASS FROM CHRIS RELF (DEREK DEPASQUALE KICK)
Kentucky 7, Mississippi State(23) 17 2nd - 9:38Oct 30 7:52 PM
TD MISSISSIPPI ST ARCETO CLARK 21 YD PASS FROM CHRIS RELF (DEREK DEPASQUALE KICK)
Kentucky 7, Mississippi State(23) 17 2nd - 9:38Oct 30 7:52 PM
TD MISSISSIPPI ST ARCETO CLARK 21 YD PASS FROM CHRIS RELF (DEREK DEPASQUALE KICK)
Kentucky 7, Mississippi State(23) 17 2nd - 9:38Oct 30 7:52 PM- NCAAF
KENTUCKY 7
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 17 9:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Kentucky 7, Mississippi State(23) 17 2nd - 9:38Oct 30 7:52 PM - NCAAF
KENTUCKY 7
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 10 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 30 7:42 PM
TD KENTUCKY RANDALL COBB 48 YD PASS FROM MIKE HARTLINE (CRAIG MCINTOSH KICK)
Kentucky 7, Mississippi State(23) 10 1st - 2:39Oct 30 7:34 PM
TD KENTUCKY RANDALL COBB 48 YD PASS FROM MIKE HARTLINE (CRAIG MCINTOSH KICK)
Kentucky 7, Mississippi State(23) 10 1st - 2:39Oct 30 7:34 PM
TD KENTUCKY RANDALL COBB 48 YD PASS FROM MIKE HARTLINE (CRAIG MCINTOSH KICK)
Kentucky 7, Mississippi State(23) 10 1st - 2:39Oct 30 7:34 PM- NCAAF
KENTUCKY 7
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 10 2:39 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Kentucky 7, Mississippi State(23) 10 1st - 2:39Oct 30 7:34 PM
TD MISSISSIPPI ST VICK BALLARD 54 YD RUN (DEREK DEPASQUALE KICK)
Kentucky 0, Mississippi State(23) 10 1st - 5:37Oct 30 7:27 PM
TD MISSISSIPPI ST VICK BALLARD 54 YD RUN (DEREK DEPASQUALE KICK)
Kentucky 0, Mississippi State(23) 10 1st - 5:37Oct 30 7:27 PM- NCAAF
KENTUCKY 0
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 10 5:37 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Kentucky 0, Mississippi State(23) 10 1st - 5:37Oct 30 7:27 PM
FG MISSISSIPPI ST DEREK DEPASQUALE 33 YD
Kentucky 0, Mississippi State(23) 3 1st - 10:49Oct 30 7:13 PM- NCAAF
KENTUCKY 0
MISSISSIPPI ST (23) 3 10:49 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Kentucky 0, Mississippi State(23) 3 1st - 10:49Oct 30 7:13 PM
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