MSU hangs on for the win over Ole Miss 31-23

Chris Relf threw for a career-high 288 yards and three touchdowns as No. 25 Mississippi State beat Mississippi 31-23 on Saturday night in the Egg Bowl. The Bulldogs dominated for most of the game, with a 498-326 advantage in total yards. But Ole Miss nearly rallied from a 31-9 fourth quarter deficit, scoring two touchdowns to pull within 31-23 with 4:21 remaining.

The Rebels' comeback ended when Jeremiah Masoli was sacked on fourth-and-24 with 59.4 seconds remaining.

Mississippi State's LaDarius Perkins caught three passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. The freshman also rushed for 98 yards on 13 carries.

As usual, the Bulldogs' were steady on the ground, rushing for 210 yards. But the potent passing game was a pleasant surprise, as Relf completed 13 of 20 passes. He also added 66 rushing yards.

Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4 SEC) won for the first time in Oxford since 1998. The road team has won only twice in the past 12 years of the series.

Masoli, who ended a disappointing senior season in Oxford after transferring from Oregon over the summer, led Ole Miss (4-8, 1-7) with 261 yards passing, one touchdown and one interception.

The scene in Oxford was far different than two years ago, when Ole Miss destroyed MSU 45-0, a humiliating defeat that helped send then-coach Sylvester Croom packing.