The Southeast : Mississippi State Snaps Losing Streak in Big Way, 42-7

They had to go back--to 1916--in the football record books to match what happened Saturday night at Mississippi State.

Ending a 10-game losing streak, Mississippi State used two-touchdown performances by Orlando Wade and Kenny Roberts to beat Vanderbilt, 42-7, in a Southeastern Conference opener at Starkville, Miss.

It was the largest victory margin ever for Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference, which was formed in 1933, and the largest over a team now in the SEC since 1916, when Mississippi State routed Mississippi, 36-0.

Mississippi State Coach Rockey Felker said: “We wanted to get off to a good start and we did. This was a mighty big football win for us because it’s that positive start we’ve talked about.

“I thought it would be close, nothing like this.”

The victory ended an 0-7 drought in the SEC over two seasons for Mississippi State and was only the Bulldogs’ fourth win in the SEC in four seasons.

The loss was Vanderbilt’s sixth straight, including the final five games of the 1988 season.

After building a 14-7 halftime lead, Mississippi State, a four-point favorite, scored on its first four possessions of the second half.

Wade ran for touchdowns of one and eight yards to cap third quarter drives, and Roberts, a redshirt freshman, raced 37 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter and 87 for another early in the fourth.

Tennessee 17, Colorado St. 14--In Earle Bruce’s first game as the Colorado State coach, the Rams gave the Volunteers a scare before falling at Knoxville, Tenn.

Tennessee scored the winning points on Greg Burke’s 21-yard field goal with 8:37 left for a 17-6 lead.

Colorado State got close on Kevin Verdugo’s two-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion pass from Verdugo to Sean Willis. The touchdown came four plays after Bob Stratman recovered a fumble at the Tennessee 37.

Late in the third quarter, Colorado State lined up with 12 men on the field on a Tennessee punt, allowing the Volunteers to keep possession. They scored seven plays later on an 11-yard run by Greg Amsler.

The Volunteers scored first on a 21-yard run on a fake reverse by Reggie Cobb.

Mississippi 20, Memphis St. 13--John Darnell passed for 255 yards and one touchdown as the Rebels won at Memphis, Tenn. Darnell’s touchdown pass play to Willie Green covered 53 yards and gave Ole Miss a 17-3 lead.