 |
|
 |
||
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|||
MFA Agri Services River Hills - CLICK - MFA CONNECT Perryville, Farmington Bulk Plant, & Ste. Genevieve, MO.
|
|
Printable Page
09/19 20:38 CDT Taylor's four TDs rally Mississippi St. from 16-0 down to 41-34
win at South Carolina in SEC opener
Taylor's four TDs rally Mississippi St. from 16-0 down to 41-34 win at South
Carolina in SEC opener
By PETE IACOBELLI
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) --- Kamario Taylor threw for 251 yards and four touchdowns
as Mississippi State rallied from 16-0 down to open Southeastern Conference
play with a 41-34 victory at South Carolina on Saturday night.
Taylor and the Bulldogs looked overmatched as the Gamecocks (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
created a double-digit lead on LaNorris Sellers' touchdown pass and three field
goals by first-time kicker Malik Orson.
Once Taylor got going, so did Mississippi State (3-0, 1-0). He had scoring
passes of 30 yards to Sanfrisco Magee and 43 yards to Zion Ragins to start the
comeback. Taylor's 23-yard TD pass to Marquis Johnson drew the Bulldogs within
23-21 and then moved in front on a five-yard scoring toss to Anthony Evans.
South Carolina could not respond behind Sellers, who threw interceptions inside
Gamecock territory on consecutive drives that the Bulldogs turned into a field
goal and a 7-yard touchdown pass from receiver Gracen Harris to tight end Sam
West.
Mississippi State tailback Fluff Bothwell ran for a season-high 115 yards, his
second straight game over 100 yards rushing. Taylor finished 18-of-24 passing
with an interception on his first throw of the game. His four touchdowns tied
his career high.
Sellers went 25-of-40 passing for 282 yards, two touchdowns with the two costly
interceptions after the Gamecocks lost the lead. Tailback Matt Fuller ran for a
6-yard score and had a 25-yard TD pass that cut the Bulldogs lead to 41-31 with
under four minutes to play.
Orson hit a career-long 52-yard field goal with 52 seconds left to make it
41-34, but that was as close as South Carolina could get in losing its sixth
straight SEC game.
The game's start was delayed an hour and 20 minutes due to persistent lightning
near Williams-Brice Stadium. South Carolina's 45-9 win over Towson last week
was halted for more than hour due to inclement weather.
Takeaways Mississippi State: The Bulldogs showed they may have the staying power on both sides of the ball to make some noise in the SEC. Mississippi opened 4-0 a year ago before losing its last eight. Taylor came into the game as the SEC's leader in passing yards and successfully led an attack that had fallen into an early hole. South Carolina: The Gamecocks were tops in the SEC in points allowed after victories against Kent State (57-0) and Towson (45-9). But South Carolina's defense was steadily worn down by Taylor and the Bulldogs' high-speed offense.
Up next Mississippi State: Returns home to face No. 20 Missouri on Saturday night. South Carolina: Plays its first road game of the season at No. 10 Alabama on Saturday night. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
Takeaways Mississippi State: The Bulldogs showed they may have the staying power on both sides of the ball to make some noise in the SEC. Mississippi opened 4-0 a year ago before losing its last eight. Taylor came into the game as the SEC's leader in passing yards and successfully led an attack that had fallen into an early hole. South Carolina: The Gamecocks were tops in the SEC in points allowed after victories against Kent State (57-0) and Towson (45-9). But South Carolina's defense was steadily worn down by Taylor and the Bulldogs' high-speed offense.
Up next Mississippi State: Returns home to face No. 20 Missouri on Saturday night. South Carolina: Plays its first road game of the season at No. 10 Alabama on Saturday night. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
