LEXINGTON, Ky. — It's tough to stop a five-game losing streak against the nation's 18th-ranked team. It's nearly impossible when that team is Mississippi State and features defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn's unconventional blitzing attack.

        The Bulldogs (6-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) forced a season-high seven turnovers and returned two for scores Saturday in a 35-17 victory over Kentucky.

        Eugene Clinton had two interceptions, including an 81-yard return for a touchdown, and Fred Smoot and Kendall Roberson had one each as the Bulldogs' frenzied pass rush wreaked havoc on Kentucky redshirt freshman Jared Lorenzen.

        “We knew if we put pressure on Lorenzen, then he'd make mistakes and throw the ball to us,” Clinton said.

        Mississippi State also recovered three fumbles, including one run back 25 yards by defensive end Ivan Billie for another score early in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

        “Mississippi State has a great defensive unit, and I wasn't a very good coach this week,” Kentucky coach Hal Mumme said. “Joe Lee does a great job of forcing quarterbacks to throw interceptions and make mistakes. I'll use that to help Jared put this in perspective. There are a lot of lessons to be learned.”

        Offensively, Mississippi State powered its way up and down the field. Dicenzo Miller and Dontae Walker each ran for more than 100 yards and a touchdown as the Bulldogs racked up 253 yards on the ground.

        Miller carried 19 times for 117 yards and had an 11-yard touchdown run, and Walker ran 15 times for 101 yards and a 1-yard score.

        Wayne Madkin also hurt the Wildcats on the few occasions he had to throw the ball, completing 11 of 20 passes for 212 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

        “I was very pleased with the running game today,” Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill said. “Any time you have two running backs rush for more than 100 yards, it's more than likely that you'll win.”

        Lorenzen, the SEC's leader in passing yards and total offense, threw for a school-record 528 yards two weeks ago against Georgia. Against Mississippi State, however, he completed only 23 of 53 passes for 264 yards, a touchdown and a career-high four interceptions as the Wildcats (2-7, 0-6) dropped their sixth straight game.

        “My nerves were shot all day,” Lorenzen said. “When you play Mississippi State, you know they're going to bring a whole bunch of people. You just don't know when they're going to bring them. I tried not to let them get into my head, but I guess they did a little.”
       “It felt like they blitzed every play. The line did a great job picking it up, but it seemed like they sent at least one extra guy on every play.

        Freshman Chad Scott also carried the ball 21 times for 119 yards and a touchdown, and Derek Smith caught six passes for 102 yards for the Wildcats.

        Despite Lorenzen's four first-half interceptions, the Wildcats trailed by only eight points at halftime.

        On Kentucky's opening drive, Clinton took Lorenzen's first interception 81 yards for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 11:58 to play in the first quarter.

        Following another interception, the Bulldogs drove 72 yards and went up 14-0 on Miller's 11-yard TD run with 10:34 remaining in the first half.

        Kentucky rebounded on its next possession as Lorenzen found Quentin McCord on an interior slant between Roberson and Smoot to cut the margin to 14-6 at halftime.

        Madkin hit Larry Huntington with a 44-yard TD pass on Mississippi State's first possession of the second half to increase the lead to 21-6. Seth Hanson's 36-yard field goal pulled Kentucky to 21-9 with 7:37 remaining in the third quarter.

        The Bulldogs put the game away early in the fourth quarter when free safety Josh Morgan forced a Lorenzen's fumble, which was scooped up by defensive end Ivan Billie and returned 25 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-9 with 14:54 remaining.

        Walker scored on a 1-yard run with 4:32 to play to put the Bulldogs up 35-9. Scott came back with a 5-yard TD run with a minute to play to complete the scoring.

        Miss St. ....... 7 7 7 14—35

        Kentucky ....... 0 6 3 8—17

        First Quarter

        MSU—Clinton 81 interception return (Westerfield kick), 11:58.

        Second Quarter

        MSU—Miller 11 run (Westerfield kick), 10:34.

        UK—McCord 13 pass from Lorenzen (kick failed), 6:50.

        Third Quarter

        MSU—Huntington 44 pass from Madkin (Westerfield kick), 11:25.

        UK—FG 36 Hanson, 7:37.

        Fourth Quarter

        MSU—Billie 25 fumble return (Westerfield kick), 13:21.

        MSU—Walker 1 run (Westerfield kick), 4:35.

        UK—Scott 5 run (Lorenzen pass to Smith), 1:08.

        A—62,159.

        INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

        RUSHING—Mississippi St, Miller 19-117, Walker 15-101, Madkin 7-27, Griffith 1-9, Williamson 1-3, Jenkins 1-(minus-4). Kentucky, Scott 21-119, Homer 3-14, Lorenzen 7-(minus-11).

        PASSING—Mississippi St, Madkin 11-20-2 212. Kentucky, Lorenzen 23-53-4-264.

        RECEIVING—Mississippi St, Huntington 3-81, Miller 2-40, Jenkins 1-38, Griffith 1-24, Parker 1-12, Lee 1-12, Roberson 1-5, Dinkins 1-0. Kentucky, Smith 6-102, Robinson 4-55, McCord 3-32, Simms 3-27, Abney 2-24, Scott 2-7, Homer 1-10, Brown 1-6, Allen 1-1.

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