MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Anthony Dixon became Mississippi State's career rushing leader, and the Bulldog defense shut down any major threats by Middle Tennessee's offense, as the Bulldogs to a 27-6 road triumph over the Blue Raiders Saturday afternoon.
State (3-4) broke a three-game losing skid with the win, while the Blue Raiders (3-3) dropped their second in a row after a 3-1 start to the season.
In the second quarter, the senior Dixon burst through the line for a 57-yard score, a run which handed him the all-time MSU rushing yardage record. He surpassed Jerious Norwood (3,212 yards, 2002-05) for that mark. Dixon ended the game with 135 yards and two scores on the ground - his fifth consecutive 100+-yard game.
Defensively, the Bulldogs limited MTSU to 248 total yards and registered four interceptions - two each by freshmen Corey Broomfield and Johnthan Banks.
Scoring in the game took some time in getting going. After each team had two drives that stalled, State finally broke scoring ice with 6:24 to go in the first period when quarterback Tyson Lee broke free up the middle for a 39-yard touchdown run, the longest of his Bulldog career. Derek DePasquale's extra point made it 7-0.
Lee also ended very efficient 14-of-20 for 155 yards through the air for State in the game.
The ensuing Blue Raider drive stalled after 43 yards from scrimmage before the teams traded field goals on their next two drives, both very lengthy marches that were halted in the red zone. MSU drove 78 yards to the Middle Tennessee 7 to set up a 24-yard kick from DePasquale. The Blue Raiders then tallied 62 yards to the MSU 1, where the Bulldogs stymied the MTSU drive on three downs to set up an 18-yard field goal by Alan Gendreau.
Mississippi State would answer that score with its second touchdown of the contest, Dixon's record-setting rumble.
The Blue Raiders would close out scoring in the first half with another solid drive that stalled inside the MSU 10. Gendreau nailed his second field goal of the game to cap the drive, good from 24 yards out.
Neither team was able to manufacture much in the third quarter. State generated the only points of the period when DePasquale connected on a 36-yard field goal with 3:37 on the clock. The kick capped a short eight-play, 35-yard drive by the Bulldogs, who led 20-6 at that point.
A sequence of two plays cost Middle Tennessee a score early in the fourth period that would have brought MTSU to within a touchdown. Quarterback Dwight Dasher connected with Chris McGlover for an apparent 36-yard touchdown, but McGlover was called for offensive pass interference, negating the score. On the very next play, Dasher was picked off by Broomfield, who would add another interception to his ledger on the next MTSU possession as well.
The Blue Raiders could never muster any semblance of a late comeback. Dasher would be picked off on the next two drives as well - both times by Banks. His second pick setup the final score of the afternoon - a 1-yard leap by Dixon with 3:25 remaining in regulation.
The Bulldogs now return home to host the top-ranked Florida Gators next Saturday, Oct. 24. The game, which will kickoff at 6:30 p.m., will be televised be on ESPN.
Release provided by MSU Athletics.
