Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 54

al I rn I 9 (o) (o) wrap-around VN WSfSN )XvX section rO I Lfn LI Sunday, October 16, 1988 Sy JYjfL. VJ Vj VSVJ The Clarlon-Ledgsr Jackson Dally ,41 to (star oil play sums up State's day. By Rusty Hamption Staff Writer i i 4 i Hi I v.v I I fill cji- 'SJ 'if JM, Southern' Mississippi led 35-21 late in the fourth quarter but Mississippi State was still hoping. The Bulldogs faced fourth-and-2 at USM's 12-yard line. As usual, this had been another emotional Saturday in a series that appears two years from dying.

Momentum on this day belonged to USM early, was stolen away, then taken back. MSU was trying desperately for another reversal. With the sunshine reflecting off his helmet, MSU quarterback Tony Shell checked the sidelines for a play, then brought his team to the line. Shell pitched to tailback Jesse Anderson, who was supposed to sweep right end. That avenue was blocked, said Anderson, explaining why he cut up off tackle, where he was met by USM's Sam Thomas, Pat Jackson and Tony Pogue.

Boom! Anderson was stopped cold. The ball went over to USM and the Golden Eagles went on to clinch a 38-21 victory. It was their third consecutive in this series and 10th in the last 12 seasons. "We obviously thought it would work," said MSU coach Rockey Felker, whose team dropped to 1-5. "We had run the same play two plays earlier and got about eight yards.

I don't know what the problems were, but we apparently didn't block many people." Again, Felker was left with a lot of questions, not many answers. Again, the Golden Eagles, had an answer. "We just want it more than they do," said USM cornerbackpunt returner James Henry. "I wouldn't say we're that much better. Mississippi State's got a lot of talent.

We just outplayed them again today." "They were just a better team today," acknowledged MSU defensive tackle Bill Knight. The Golden Eagles were better on the scoreboard and stat sheet: Backup tailback Rickey Bradley, subbing for injured Shelton Gandy, ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns, sparking a 413-392 edge in total offense; Quarterback Brett Favre added another touchdown pass to his school-record career total while directing an offense that held the ball nine minutes more than State; Henry made the sixth punt-return touchdown of his career, going 73 yards in the second quarter for a 21-0 lead. When State drove 99 yards for a TD in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 21-14, the Golden Eagles came right back and made it 35-21. Shell was State's saving grace. The sophomore from Jackson passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns.

The yardage ranks second only to Dave Marler's 429-yard effort against Alabama in 1978 on MSU's all-time list. Rut. as Shell said. "It's hard to -i ir 1 1 J.D. SchwalmThe Clanon-LedgerJackson Only News rf you're To the victor goes the celebratory postgame ride.

USM first-year coach Curley Hallman gets his courtesy of Sam Thomas (70) and Maurice Oliver (49) following USM's win. scar -v 1 1 1 inn it 1 h. -ft '4 J.D. SchwalmThe Clarion-Ledger Jackson Daily News Rockey Felker (center) found little to smile about Saturday while pacing the sidelines. J.D.

SchwalmThe Clarion-Ledger Jackson Daily News USM quarterback Brett Favre rolls in pain after taking a hit from Jerry Myers (10) after releasing a third-quarter pass. 1 i i-t-r 1 'I J.D. SchwalmThe Clarion-Ledger Jackson Daily News State's Marcus Bush fights for yardage against USM's Doug Thigpen (26) and Gabriel Peck (14)..