VANDERBILT WIN STREAK OVER

STARKVILLE-- The name of this town is fitting for Vanderbilt: Starkville. Vanderbilt's Cinderella 5-0 start of the season ended here today with the defensive minded Mississippi State Bulldogs shutting down the Vanderbilt offense and picking off two Commodore passes to pick up their second win of the season, 17-14.

Mississippi State held Vanderbilt to a season low 108 yards total offense, including just 45 yards rushing.

The Bulldogs scored on their first drive on a Adam Carlson 33-yard field goal.

Vanderbilt, which was limited to only 62 yards total passing on 20 attempts, took advantage of an MSU 4-yard punt and a personal foul to get their first score. Chris Nickson scored on a 1-yard dive giving the visitors a 7-3 lead heading into the locker room.

The tough MSU defense continued to frustrate the Commodore offense into the second half. Mississippi State retook the lead on a Brandon Henderson 4-yard pass from walk-on quarterback Tyson Lee. The Bulldogs added another score when Christian Ducre punched it in from 3-yards out. Down 17-7, the Commodore staff elected to go with backup quarterback Mackenzi Adams, who quickly guided Vanderbilt on a 10-play, 57 yard scoring drive that was culminated on a Jeff Jennings 2-yard scoring run.

However, Vanderbilt went 3 and out on their next drive and then Adams threw an interception to MSU's Karlin Brown to seal the Bulldog win.

Vanderbilt drops to 5-1, 3-1 SEC, and will travel to Georgia next Saturday. Mississippi State improvss to 2-4, 1-2 SEC, and will travel to Knoxville to face Tennessee next Saturday.