SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 6, 2012
No. 19 Mississippi State 27, Kentucky 14: Tyler Russell threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 19 Mississippi State past host Kentucky in cross-divisional SEC play.

Russell was 23-for-39 and connected with Chad Bumphis for a 27-yard score to give the Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0 SEC) a 27-7 lead 2:17 into the third quarter. LaDarius Perkins added 105 rushing yards and a score.

Russell found fullback Adrian Marcus on a 10-yard touchdown pass six minutes into the game before Perkins scampered in from 31 yards out to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead with 1:32 left in the first quarter.

Patrick Towles finished 5-for-6 for 71 yards and a touchdown for Kentucky (1-5, 0-3) while rotating at quarterback with fellow freshman Jalen Whitlow. Towles’ 32-yard touchdown pass to La'Rod King halved the deficit three minutes into the second quarter, but he sprained his ankle and was unable to return in the second half.

Devon Bell converted 20- and 37-yard field goals to give Mississippi State a 20-7 halftime lead before Russell connected with Bumphis on the Bulldogs’ first drive of third quarter. Whitlow scored on a 3-yard run six minutes later to finish the scoring.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mississippi State is 5-0 for only the third time in program history and the first since 1999. ... Kentucky managed just 90 yards of total offense in the first half. ... Marcus’ first-quarter touchdown was his first career reception and came on a cross-field screen pass.