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Friday, December 13, 2002
Mississippi State 47, No. 3 Florida 35
Associated Press
BOX SCORE
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- DiCenzo Miller ran for 172 yards and
Dontae Walker had 156 as Mississippi State made No. 3 Florida look
defenseless in a 47-35 victory Saturday.
|  | | Florida's Robert Gillespie tries to jump over the Bulldogs defense during the Gators loss to Mississippi State. |
Florida coach Steve Spurrier openly questioned his defense's
effort after last week's poor performance against Kentucky, and saw
no improvement against the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State (3-1, 1-1 SEC) gained 517 yards, 351 on the
ground. Miller and Walker each had a touchdown run, and Wayne
Madkin ran for two scores and threw for one.
Florida's offense wasn't much better against Mississippi State's
pressure defense. The Gators (4-1, 2-1) turned the ball over three
times and missed three fourth-and-1 attempts in the first half.
It was Mississippi State's first victory over a top three team
since beating No. 1 Alabama in 1980.
Florida scored a touchdown on the final play of the game, but
never got to attempt a conversion as the fans stormed the field and
tore down both goal posts.
Florida trailed 31-23 and was driving with 10 minutes left when
the Gators' shotgun formation misfired.
The Gators had a first-and-10 at their own 49, when two straight
snaps by center David Jorgensen sailed over quarterback Rex
Grossman's head. The plays resulted in a 46-yard loss and a
third-and-56 for Florida.
Florida coach Steve Spurrier elected to have his quarterback run
through the end zone for a safety, giving the Bulldogs the ball and
a 33-23 lead with 9:22 left.
The strategy seemed to backfire when Walker broke a 61-yard run
all the way to the Gators' 1. Madkin sneaked over on the next play
to make it 40-23 with 8:16 left.
Spurrier used three quarterbacks, including one drive when
starter Jessie Palmer, Brock Berlin and Grossman all took snaps.
Palmer left for good after a sprained ankle in the first half.
All three of the quarterbacks received a steady dose of blitzes
throughout the game.
A sack by Conner Stephens forced a fumble that set up the
Bulldogs' first score of the second half.
Mississippi State took over after recovering the fumble at the
Florida 35. After seven straight runs by Miller, Walker leaped into
the end zone on third-and-goal.
Madkin hit Donald Lee for the 2-point conversion to give the
Bulldogs a 24-10 lead at 8:04 of the third quarter and send the
record-breaking crowd of 43,816 at Scott Field into a frenzy.
As the fans shook the bleachers, the Mississippi State players
danced on the sidelines.
But Florida quickly put an end to the "Dog Pound Rock."
Grossman hit Jabar Gaffney with two touchdown passes in less
than four minutes to cut the lead to 24-23 at 3:48 of the third.
Jeff Chandler missed the PAT on the second touchdown.
But Florida's defense again went soft on Mississippi State's
next possession. The Bulldogs put together an 80-yard, 11-play
drive, with Madkin teaming with Larry Huntington on a 17-yard
touchdown pass to make it 31-23 with 12:46 left in the fourth.
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| | AUDIO/VIDEO |
 A hoarse Steve Spurrier said the better team won.
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