2002
November 28, 2002
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium · Oxford, MS
Mississippi State
12
Mississippi
24
The Bulldogs ended the 2002 campaign as they had so many times before,
playing the arch-rival Rebels from the University of Mississippi. It was a must-win for
the Red and Blue, as it needed the win to become bowl eligible. The Bulldogs were
looking for their first SEC win of the year. The homestanding team got its wish, as
UM beat State 24-12.
The Bulldogs started the game strong, gaining eight first downs in their first
two drives. Brent Smith ended the second charge with a 35-yard field goal to give
State the early first quarter lead. The teams swapped possessions to end the period.
In the second frame, the Rebels forced the Maroon and White to punt at the
Mississippi 49. Jared Cook's boot traveled 34 yards, but returner Jason Armstead
took it back 30 yards before Cook finally stopped him. Working with the short field,
Eli Manning led the Rebs to their first score, hooking up with Chris Collins on a 28-
yard TD strike. The PAT kick by Jonathan Nichols gave Mississippi a 7-3 advantage.
Both teams sputtered the rest of the half, as neither squad could put together
two consecutive first downs. The Rebels
led at the half 7-3.
On UM's second drive of the third
quarter, Manning connected on another
TD pass to Collins, this one covering 77
yards on a third-and-1 play. Nichols put
through the extra point to give the
Rebels a 14-3 lead.
State answered on its next drive,
earning three first downs to the UM 8.
The drive stalled there, and Smith
tacked on another field goal, this time
from 22 yards out, to trim the score to
14-6.
With time running down in the third
quarter, Nichols hit a 27-yard field goal
attempt to give Mississippi a two-score
advantage.
Starting the fourth quarter, the
Bulldogs put up a quick score to get
back in the game. In seven plays, State
covered 66 yards, ending the drive with
a 22-yard pass from Kevin Fant to Ray
Ray Bivines. The two-point conversion
attempt failed, leaving the Bulldogs
down by five.
After trading possessions again,
State's chances fell quickly. On the MSU
25, Travis Johnson picked off a Fant
pass and carried it to the 4-yard line.
Manning put the ball in the end zone
with a 1-yard sneak, giving Mississippi
the lead at 24-12.
MSU got the ball back twice but
could not sustain a drive. The Bulldogs'
last drive ended on the UM 19, when
Fant threw his third interception of the
game to Matt Grier. Mississippi took the
victory 24-12.
Mississippi State
3 0 3 6 = 12
Mississippi
0 7 10 7 = 24
MSU Smith 35 FG, 2:19, 1st
UM Collins 28 pass from Manning (Nichols
kick), 8:00, 2nd
UM Collins 77 pass from Manning (Nichols
kick), 8:52, 3rd
MSU Smith 22 FG, 6:38, 3rd
UM Nichols 27 FG, 0:33, 3rd
MSU Bivines 22 pass from Fant (pass failed),
12:54, 4th
UM Manning 1 run (Nichols kick), 4:51, 4th
MSU
UM
First Downs
19
27
First Downs
23
16
Rushes-Yards
35-79
27-90
Passing Yards
340
207
Passes (C-A-I)
23-42-3 16-29-2
Total Offense
419
297
Fumbles-Lost
0-0
1-0
Penalties-Yards
8-80
6-39
Time of Possession
32:59
27:01
RUSHING: (MSU) Griffith 13-40, Norwood 7-
26, Reid 6-23, Jenkins 1-12, Fant 8-(-22). (UM)
Turner 13-49, McClendon 10-38, Razzano 2-4,
Manning 1-1, Team 1-(-2).
PASSING: (MSU) Fant 23-42-3-340 TD. (UM)
Manning 16-29-2-207 2TD.
RECEIVING: (MSU) Bivines 6-115 TD, Jenkins
5-52, Miilons 3-85, Tubbs 3-33, Hargro 2-20, Lee
2-16, Griffith 1-18, Norwood 1-1. (UM) Collins 4-
130 2TD, Espy 3-32, Flowers 2-27, Johnson 2-13,
Johnston 2-24, Armstead 2-9, Razzano 2-2,
Manning 1-(-6).
Attendance: 60,245.
GAME NOTES
· The game was the 99th meeting between the
teams.
· With five tackles in the game, Mario Haggan
ended his career in eighth place on MSU's all-
time list.
· Ray Ray Bivines set career highs for
receptions (6) and receiving yardage (115) in
the game.
· Kevin Fant set career highs for completions
(23) and attempts (42) in the game.
