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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Mississippi State is 4-0 for the first
time since 1965. Lou Holtz is 0-4 for the first time ever.
"It's discouraging. I don't know how many times you can keep
getting off the mat and keep getting your teeth kicked," Holtz
said after South Carolina lost 17-0 Saturday night at 23rd-ranked
Mississippi State.
Holtz is in his 28th season as a coach, having ended a
two-season hiatus from the field when he took on the challenge of
reviving the South Carolina program. So far, it's been a
frustrating venture.
|  | | South Carolina running back Derek Watson sprints past Mississippi State defensive end Bobby Pressley. |
South Carolina (0-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) has outgained
its last three opponents, but has scored just one touchdown this
season while its losing streak has stretched to 14 games. The
Gamecocks had an edge in every major offensive category except
scoring against Mississippi State, including 20 first downs and 296
yards.
"I'm tired of moral victories," said linebacker Corey Atkins,
who led the Gamecocks with 12 tackles.
Ashley Cooper returned an interception 52 yards for a score and
Wayne Madkin had to scramble out of trouble for the only offensive
touchdown by Mississippi State, which had just nine first downs and
181 yards in its SEC opener.
Mississippi State had just 102 yards in the first half, but led
10-0 after Cooper intercepted a tipped pass and raced 52 yards for
a touchdown with just 21 seconds left.
"We're only three up and they starting getting momentum and
controlling the ball. The edge is going to them and we come up with
a big play," Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill said. "We
just didn't control the clock. We had a chance to get some big
plays and didn't."
Phil Petty, sacked for a 9-yard loss on the previous play, was
under pressure again when his overthrown ball tipped off the hands
of his receiver. Cooper grabbed the ball inches off the ground,
gained his balance and raced down the sideline almost untouched.
"I made the catch, thought I was going to fall, but the good
Lord picked me up and I scored," Cooper said.
The Gamecocks opened the second half with a 15-play possession
that took nearly eight minutes. But they come up empty, after
driving 61 yards to the Mississippi State 19, when Derek Watson was
stopped for a 2-yard loss on fourth down.
South Carolina was shut out for the second time this season, and
for the second year in a row by Mississippi State, which won 38-0
in Columbia a year ago.
"We had everything that can go wrong go wrong at an opportune
time," Holtz said. "That's a pretty good defense, though. Let's
give them credit."
Mississippi State, whose SEC Western Division title last year
was its first league football championship since 1941, has allowed
just 28 points this season.
The Bulldogs went ahead 17-0 late in the third quarter when
Madkin, scrambling away from pressure on third-and-18, found Kelvin
Love in the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown. South Carolina
defender Kevin House misjudged the ball, and missed a chance to at
least knock the ball down when he stepped forward a couple of steps
-- and Love made the catch undefended.
"That was a big play. Wayne was flushed out of the pocket and
came around to find Love, who made an outstanding play," Sherrill
said.
On the final play of the third quarter, South Carolina lost
Petty to an injured left knee. The extent of the injury wasn't
known, but the starting quarterback was visibly in pain and unable
to put weight on the injured leg.
Reserve Kyle Crabb had a 20-yard completion on his first play,
but his second pass was tipped at the line and intercepted by
Barrin Simpson.
South Carolina squandered its best chance to score on its second
possession of the game. After Antione Nesmith was stuffed for no
gain on third down at the Mississippi State 2, the Gamecocks turned
down the chance to attempt a game-tying field goal.
Petty, who had completed his only two passes on the drive for 37
yards, was sacked on fourth down by Alvin McKinley.
The Gamecocks got just three first downs the rest of the first
half, two of coming on the drive ended by Cooper's interception
return.
Mississippi State led 3-0 after Scott Westefield's 43-yard field
goal less than five minutes into the game.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
South Carolina Clubhouse
Mississippi State Clubhouse
Top 25 overview
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