1 working day in the past
AP
AP
LEXINGTON, Ky. — – Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for 196 yards and two fourth-quarter scores, Will Levis returned from a a person-match absence to toss a go-ahead touchdown pass and No. 22 Kentucky topped No. 16 Mississippi State 27-17 on Saturday night time to halt a two-game slide.
Rodriguez experienced a vocation large with 30 carries and a year significant in yardage in his third game back again from a suspension. He rushed for touchdowns of 16 and 7 yards. The Wildcats (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Meeting) sorely desired his second rating for insurance policies, coming appropriate after Emmanuel Forbes returned an interception 59 yards for a landing to get the Bulldogs (5-2, 2-2) inside 20-17.
“That operating back again pounded us,” Mississippi Condition mentor Mike Leach reported about Rodriguez. “We didn’t tackle really effectively. The offensive line took turns finding penalties. All of this is my fault for the reason that I call the offense.”
Levis begun following missing very last week’s 24-14 reduction to South Carolina with a left foot injury and commenced promisingly, even while Kentucky had only a discipline purpose to clearly show for it in a 3-3 first fifty percent marred by 16 put together penalties for 124 yards. His 33-yard completion to Barion Brown led to a go-ahead discipline aim in the 3rd quarter, but he landed difficult on his shoulder soon after remaining strike although throwing and went to the locker room for evaluation.
Levis was back for the up coming possession and ultimately threaded a 3-lawn touchdown move to Rahsaan Lewis on fourth down to place Kentucky up 13-10 with 4:10 remaining in the 3rd. Rodriguez bulled ahead to make it 20-10 with 11:43 remaining, and Kentucky had a possibility to increase its lead in advance of Levis threw the interception that obtained the Bulldogs shut.
Forbes had it examine correct away and jumped the route for an quick pickoff. It was his 2nd decide on-six in 3 games and the fifth of his job, tying an SEC history.
Levis speedily regrouped to strike Dekel Crowdus with a 50-property strike, and Rodriguez dragged a number of defenders with him for the 7-lawn TD run that was upheld on evaluation.
Levis completed 17 of 23 passing for 230 yards to outdo document-breaking MSU counterpart Will Rogers, who was 25 of 37 for 203 and a 1-yard TD to Austin Williams.
FLAG Working day
This recreation was noteworthy for the number and yardage shed to penalties by both equally groups. MSU was flagged 13 moments for 109 yards, with blame shared on the two sides of the line. Kentucky was whistled 11 occasions for 81 yards.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Mississippi Condition really should keep on being ranked, albeit a few spots lower after its successful streak finished. Kentucky will stay rated soon after redeeming alone.
THE TAKEAWAY
Mississippi Point out: The Bulldogs entered the game clicking in all phases and averaging above 40 points in the course of their 3-recreation successful streak. Every thing arrived to a screeching halt as they attained the finish zone just after, and that was halfway by way of the 3rd period. The floor recreation managed just 22 yards.
Kentucky: The Wildcats appeared additional full with Levis again and Rodriguez incorporating yet another stable functionality. Their protection bounced back again huge time from a flat 2nd 50 % past 7 days, pressuring Rogers and limiting his receivers’ space just after the capture. Matt Ruffolo skipped a 51-lawn field goal, but converted from 28 and 37 yards for points his staff required.
“I failed to know the final result going into this sport, but I realized we would perform like that, like we engage in,” coach Mark Stoops claimed. “Hard, resilient, jointly and perform tough like we do. And that we’d react.”
UP Upcoming
Mississippi Point out visits No. 3 Alabama on Saturday.
Kentucky has a bye before checking out No. 6 Tennessee on Oct. 29.
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