Bulldogs squeak by Troy St.

Posted 8:07AM on Sunday 13th October 2002 ( 22 years ago )

STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI - Fred Reid ran for a career-high 111 yards and scored Mississippi State's only touchdown on a 15-yard pass from Kevin Fant as the Bulldogs atoned for last year's loss to Troy State with an 11-8 win Saturday. The victory was Mississippi State's first against a Division I-A team this season. The only other victory for the Bulldogs (2-4) this season came against I-AA Jacksonville State. The Bulldogs intercepted six passes and limited Troy State to 197 total yards. Despite that, the Trojans (2-5) still had a chance. Trailing 11-0, Troy State got on the board with 6:23 remaining on a 6-yard touchdown run by LeBarron Black. The TD was set up by defensive lineman Devern Williams, whose sack forced a fumble at the MSU 12-yard line. Black's touchdown was all Troy State could muster, however. The Trojans threatened to score earlier in the fourth quarter before receiver Jason Samples rolled out on a handoff and threw an interception at MSU's 5-yard line. Mississippi State took advantage of two penalties to get its only touchdown with 11:17 left in the third quarter. The Bulldogs moved the ball to Troy State's 15 on penalties for roughing the passer and holding. A couple plays later, Fant found Reid open in the middle of the field for the easy 15-yard TD pass to make the score 11-0 after a 2-point conversion. Troy State beat Mississippi State 21-9 last year in a quagmire. That game was delayed for over an hour by a tornado warning. The six interceptions set a school record for Troy State, but Mississippi State wasn't any better taking care of the ball. The Bulldogs tied a school record with six fumbles. Darren Williams picked off three passes, including one to set up Mississippi State's first score. Williams intercepted a Hansell Bearden pass at Troy State's 30-yard line and returned it to the 22. That set up Brent Smith's 31-yard field goal to make it 3-0. Mississippi State was driving down the field on its next possession after Fant's 20-yard pass to Darius Tubbs. Three plays later, running back Dontae Walker fumbled the ball on the handoff, and the Trojans recovered it at the 3-yard line. Troy State had an opportunity to tie the game when Fant dropped back to pass and was hit by defensive end Osi Umenyiora and fumbled the ball, setting up the Trojans on the Bulldogs' 19-yard line with 3:05 left in the first half. After three unsuccessful runs, Troy State had to settle for a 36-yard field-goal attempt by Thomas Olmsted, which went wide right. Fant finished 22-of-33 for 210 yards. Bearden was 7-of-25 for 61 yards.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/188969