Kentucky vs. Mississippi State · October 30, 2004

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Kentucky

7–22

Mississippi State

Opposing coach: Sylvester Croom [Mississippi State]

October 30, 2004

Game Preview

Kentucky traveled to Starkville at 1–6 overall and 0–4 in the SEC, looking to end a five-game losing streak. Mississippi State was 2–5 and 1–3 in conference play but carried fresh confidence from a 38–31 upset of Florida. Kentucky led the all-time series 18–13 and had won the previous meeting 42–17 in Lexington.

Shane Boyd was expected to return after missing the Auburn game with a shoulder injury, although the starting decision remained dependent on his health. Freshman Rafael Little was in line for his first start at tailback with Tony Dixon sidelined by an ankle sprain. Kentucky also had to replace injured defensive end Vincent Burns. Stopping Jerious Norwood and protecting the quarterback were major priorities against Sylvester Croom’s improving Bulldogs.

Game Summary

Kentucky’s offensive struggles continued in a 22–7 loss to Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium on October 30, 2004. The Wildcats remained scoreless through three quarters and could not complete a fourth-quarter comeback, suffering their sixth consecutive defeat and falling to 1–7. Mississippi State finished with 419 total yards, including 340 on the ground.

The trouble began on Kentucky’s third offensive play. Quinton Culberson intercepted Shane Boyd’s screen pass intended for Gerad Parker and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown just 62 seconds into the game. Kentucky spent much of the first half battling penalties, protection problems and poor execution, including a high shotgun snap that sailed over Boyd’s head. Keith Andrews’ 33-yard field goal late in the second quarter gave Mississippi State a 10–0 halftime lead.

Kentucky’s defense kept the margin manageable by forcing three turnovers, including two interceptions of Omarr Conner. The offense could not capitalize, however, and the Wildcats remained down 10–0 after a scoreless third quarter. Andrews added a 32-yard field goal early in the fourth to extend the lead to 13–0.

Boyd finally got Kentucky into the end zone on a six-yard run with 7:14 remaining. Taylor Begley’s extra point cut the deficit to 13–7, but Mississippi State answered with a clock-consuming possession and pinned Kentucky at its own two. Boyd was tackled in the end zone for a safety with 3:28 left. After Kentucky’s unsuccessful onside free kick, Fred Reid scored on a 32-yard run 11 seconds later to settle the outcome.

Jerious Norwood rushed for 165 yards on 24 carries, and Reid added 109 yards on 11 attempts. Boyd completed 11 of 24 passes for 103 yards and one interception, while Scott Mitchell caught three passes for 51 yards. Kentucky managed only 84 rushing yards and 251 total yards despite its defensive takeaways.

Senior safety Michael Williams provided a bright spot with 13 tackles, including a late stop of Reid well downfield after the game was out of reach. Kentucky’s inability to turn defensive stops into sustained offense left the Wildcats chasing a game that remained within one score midway through the final quarter.

Game time: 2:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. CT
Stadium: Davis Wade Stadium
Starkville

Box Score

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Kentucky	0	0	0	7	7
Mississippi State	7	3	0	12	22

Halftime: Kentucky 0; Mississippi State 10

TV: Not televised (no live or tape-delayed broadcast)
TV announcers: Not televised
Radio: UK Radio Network; WBUL-FM 98.1, WLAP-AM 630
Referee: Penn Wagers
Attendance: 40,810
Uniform combination:

Team Statistics

Statistic	Kentucky	Mississippi State
1st Downs	14	19
3rd down efficiency	3-16	3-13
4th down efficiency	1-3	0-1
Total Yards	251	419
Passing	167	79
Comp/Att	17/33	7/18
Yards per pass	5.1	4.4
Rushing	84	340
Rushing Attempts	35	49
Yards per rush	2.4	6.9
Penalties	6-50	7-55
Turnovers	1	3
Fumbles lost	0	1
Interceptions thrown	1	2
Possession	30:46	29:14

Scoring Summary

Period	Time	Scoring play	UK	MSU
1	13:58	MSU — Q. Culberson 35-yard interception return (Keith Andrews kick)	0	7
2	1:03	MSU — Keith Andrews 33-yard field goal	0	10
4	11:35	MSU — Keith Andrews 32-yard field goal	0	13
4	7:14	UK — Shane Boyd 6-yard run (Taylor Begley kick)	7	13
4	3:28	MSU — Team safety	7	15
4	3:17	MSU — Fred Reid 32-yard run (Keith Andrews kick)	7	22

Individual Statistics

Kentucky

Rushing

Player	CAR	YDS	TD	LONG
Shane Boyd	15	54	1	15
Alexis Bwenge	3	27	0	19
Rafael Little	9	25	0	14
Glenn Holt	1	3	0	3
Arliss Beach	2	1	0	1
Marcus McClinton	1	0	0	0
Andre’ Woodson	3	-8	0	1

Passing

Player	CMP	ATT	YDS	INT	LONG	SACKS
Shane Boyd	11	24	103	1	33	3
Andre’ Woodson	5	8	39	0	19	1
Anthony Thornton	1	1	25	0	25	0

Receiving

Player	REC	YDS	LONG
Glenn Holt	1	0	0
Arliss Beach	2	15	9
Scott Mitchell	3	51	33
Jeremiah Drobney	3	29	18
Gerad Parker	3	25	10
Dicky Lyons Jr.	2	11	6
Roger Williams	1	25	25
Justin Sprowles	1	6	6
Jacob Tamme	1	5	5

Punting

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	IN 20
Anthony Thornton	7	230	32.9	41	1
Sevin Sucurovic	2	105	52.5	61	0

Punt Returns

Player	NO	YDS	LONG
Dicky Lyons Jr.	2	15	14

Kickoff Returns

Player	NO	YDS	LONG
Dicky Lyons Jr.	1	23	23
Draak Davis	1	19	19

Interceptions

Player	INT	YDS	LONG
Muhammad Abdullah	1	20	20
Jon Sumrall	1	0	0

Defense

Player	SOLO	AST	TOTAL	TFL	SACKS	FF	FR
Roger Williams	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Muhammad Abdullah	6	0	6	0	0	0	0
Jon Sumrall	2	2	4	0	0	0	0
Michael Williams	11	2	13	1.0	0	0	1
Jason Leger	7	1	8	1.0	0	0	0
Wesley Woodyard	5	3	8	0	0	0	0
Brad Booker	3	2	5	0	0	0	0
Trey Mielsch	2	3	5	0	0	0	0
Durrell White	4	0	4	0	0	0	0
Lamar Mills	2	2	4	0	0	0	0
Chad Anderson	1	3	4	0	0	0	0
Earven Flowers	3	0	3	1.0	0	0	0
Antoine Huffman	2	1	3	0	0	0	0
Joe Schuler	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
Ray Fontaine	2	0	2	1.0	1.0	1	0
Ellery Moore	0	2	2	0	0	0	0
Warren Wilson	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Justin Haydock	1	0	1	0	0	0	0

Kicking

Player	FGM	FGA	LONG	XPM	XPA	PTS
Taylor Begley	0	1	0	1	1	1

Mississippi State