Published: November 01, 2009 04:16 am      

Miss. St. bumps Cats

LEXINGTON — Anthony Dixon continued to erase the name Jerious Norwood from the Mississippi State record books, but his sights are on returning to a destination his predecessor never reached: a bowl game.

"I'm pouring all I've got into getting a bowl game," Dixon said following the Bulldogs' 31-24 victory over Kentucky on Saturday. "It's an us against the world mentality."

Dixon certainly did his part in trying to carry the Bulldogs to their first bowl game since 2007 and second since 2000, prior to the arrival of Norwood, who is now with the Atlanta Falcons.

He rushed for two scores and a school-record 252 yards Saturday to top Norwood's single-game record of 247 yards just two weeks after he surpassed Norwood's career rushing mark of 3,212. Norwood set the one-game record in 2005 against Houston.

"He brings energy at all times," coach Dan Mullen said of Dixon. "Whatever it takes to help this team win, he's done. He wanted to do a lot, and we let him."

Mississippi State (4-5, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) won its second straight matchup in Lexington against the Wildcats (4-4, 1-4), who defeated the Bulldogs last year in Starkville.

Dixon scored his second touchdown from 3 yards out with a minute left in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs their winning margin.

Kentucky freshman quarterback Morgan Newton led the Wildcats inside the 20 in an attempt to tie, but turned the ball over on downs with 1 minute to go.

Dixon was already the Bulldogs' all-time leader in attempts, touchdowns and 100-yard games, and came into the game 15th in SEC history in rushing.

"I told people I wanted to get as many yards as possible to get the W, and this is what it took," Dixon said. "We were just out there trying to get the job done. We were grinding."

Kentucky led 14-3 early, but the Bulldogs never let the Wildcats maintain momentum, answering big plays with bigger ones of their own.

"What's most disappointing is that we gave up big plays rather than small doses," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. "Some of those possessions they didn't have the ball very long."

Dixon's first score, a 1-yard plunge, was set up by a 53-yard sprint by Chris Relf, who briefly relieved struggling Tyson Lee at quarterback in the first half. Dixon got 116 of his record yardage before halftime.

After Randall Cobb put the Wildcats up by a touchdown in the third quarter by scoring from 3 yards out on a direct snap, Lee turned in the longest play of the game two snaps later. He found O'Neal Wilder sprinting down the center of the field and hit him in stride for a 67-yard touchdown, tying the score at 24.

Newton, starting just his third game for Kentucky, had no plays of that length but displayed the most poise of his brief career, three times completing passes on third-and-long. The first two led to scoring drives, but the third was in Kentucky's final drive, which fell short.

Newton scored once with his legs, dragging multiple defenders with him and running it in from 11 yards out. Earlier, Derrick Locke gave the Wildcats a 7-3 lead by scampering 10 yards into the end zone, largely untouched.

Mississippi State had plenty of chances early ’ including one drive where the Bulldogs advanced to the Kentucky 2. However, on fourth-and-goal, Lee's pass was picked off by Sam Maxwell to end the threat. He threw another interception ’ this one by Randall Burden ’ on his next pass, sparking the brief change to Relf.

Kentucky led 17-10 at halftime on a 38-yard field goal by Lones Seiber. Cobb gave the Wildcats an opportunity to tack on those points with a 46-yard punt return.

Cobb was largely contained on offense, often stopped for short yardage when he lined up in the wildcat formation. Mississippi State's players acknowledged that was part of the game plan.

"If he has some room, he'll take it the distance," said linebacker Jamar Chaney, who had a key interception. "We knew if we stop him, we stop them."

It was just the second punt return of the half for the Wildcats, and the first appeared to be even bigger as Gene McCaskill tiptoed the sideline and sprinted toward the end zone. However, Kentucky was forced to start the drive near midfield when officials ruled he was pushed out of bounds.

The Wildcats quickly gave up the ball. Newton threw a backward pass intended for Cobb that was instead picked up by Chris White.

Mississippi State flipped field position with a 37-yard run by Dixon, setting up a 33-yard field goal by Derek DePasquale for the first points of the game.