Rodriguez’s 2 TD runs push No. 22 Kentucky past Miss. State

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Chris Rodriguez Jr. rushed for 196 yards and two fourth-quarter scores, Will Levis returned from a one-game absence to throw a go-ahead landing cross and No. 22 Kentucky topped No. 16 Mississippi State 27-17 on Saturday evening to halt a two-game slide.

Rodriguez had a profession excessive with 30 carries and a season excessive in yardage in his third recreation again from a suspension. He rushed for touchdowns of 16 and seven yards. The Wildcats (5-2, 2-2 Southeastern Convention) sorely wanted his second rating for insurance coverage, coming proper after Emmanuel Forbes returned an interception 59 yards for a landing to get the Bulldogs (5-2, 2-2) inside 20-17.

“That operating again pounded us,” Mississippi State coach Mike Leach stated about Rodriguez. “We didn’t deal with very effectively. The offensive line took turns getting penalties. All of that is my fault as a result of I name the offense.”

Levis began after lacking final week’s 24-14 loss to South Carolina with a left foot harm and commenced promisingly, despite the fact that Kentucky had solely a discipline aim to indicate for it in a 3-3 first half marred by 16 mixed penalties for 124 yards. His 33-yard completion to Barion Brown led to a go-ahead discipline aim within the third quarter, however he landed onerous on his shoulder after being hit whereas throwing and went to the locker room for examination.

Levis was again for the subsequent possession and ultimately threaded a 3-yard landing cross to Rahsaan Lewis on fourth right down to put Kentucky up 13-10 with 4:10 remaining within the third. Rodriguez bulled forward to make it 20-10 with 11:43 left, and Kentucky had an opportunity to increase its lead earlier than Levis threw the interception that acquired the Bulldogs shut.

Forbes had it learn instantly and jumped the route for a straightforward pickoff. It was his second pick-six in three video games and the fifth of his profession, tying an SEC report.

Levis shortly regrouped to hit Dekel Crowdus with a 50-yard strike, and Rodriguez dragged a number of defenders with him for the 7-yard TD run that was upheld on evaluate.

Levis completed 17 of 23 passing for 230 yards to outdo record-breaking MSU counterpart Will Rogers, who was 25 of 37 for 203 and a 1-yard TD to Austin Williams.

FLAG DAY

This recreation was notable for the quantity and yardage misplaced to penalties by each groups. MSU was flagged 13 occasions for 109 yards, with blame shared on each side of the road. Kentucky was whistled 11 occasions for 81 yards.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Mississippi State ought to stay ranked, albeit a pair spots decrease after its successful streak ended. Kentucky will stay ranked after redeeming itself.

THE TAKEAWAY

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs entered the sport clicking in all phases and averaging over 40 factors throughout their three-game successful streak. All the things got here to a screeching halt as they reached the tip zone simply as soon as, and that was halfway by means of the third interval. The bottom recreation managed simply 22 yards.

Kentucky: The Wildcats regarded extra entire with Levis again and Rodriguez including one other stable efficiency. Their protection bounced again huge time from a flat second half final week, pressuring Rogers and limiting his receivers’ area after the catch. Matt Ruffolo missed a 51-yard discipline aim, however transformed from 28 and 37 yards for factors his staff wanted.

“I didn’t know the end result going into this recreation, however I knew we might play like that, like we play,” coach Mark Stoops stated. “Robust, resilient, collectively and play onerous like we do. And that we’d reply.”

UP NEXT

Mississippi State visits No. 3 Alabama on Saturday.

Kentucky has a bye earlier than visiting No. 6 Tennessee on Oct. 29.

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