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football Edit

Raiders drop hard fought game at MSU

Game Ticker
STARKVILLE, Miss.(AP) Anthony Dixon rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mississippi State to a 31-22 victory over Middle Tennessee Saturday in Starkville.
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The Bulldogs (3-5) rushed for 168 yards in the contest, their second highest total of the season.
The Blue Raiders (2-6) dropped to 0-3 against Mississippi State. Middle Tennessee is 3-16 against SEC teams.
Dixon had his eighth career 100-yard rushing game, and his third score broke a school record for career rushing touchdowns with 29.
Tyson Lee was an effective 17-for-25 for 199 yards for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State's 367 yards of total offense marked only the fourth time this season the unit has gained more than 300 yards.
Middle Tennessee's Joe Craddock finished 24-of-41 for 237 yards and one touchdown pass. Eldred King had 11 catches for 162 yards.
Mississippi State scored on its opening possession of the game, driving 80 yards before Dixon plunged in from four yards out.
After a 30-yard field goal by Alan Gendreau tightened the score, Dixon scored again on a 62-yard run.
Middle Tennessee responded in the second quarter, getting another field goal by Gendreau before Craddock connected with King for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
After the half, the Blue Raiders drove 67 yards in 14 plays and took the lead on Gendreau's 23-yard field goal.
The Bulldogs responded with a 12-play drive of their own, retaking the lead on a 5-yard run by Lee.
After Adam Carlson's field goal late in the third quarter put the Bulldogs up 24-16, Dixon scored again from 1 yard.
Phillip Tanner scored for the Blue Raiders with just under three minutes left in the game, but the 2-point conversion attempt failed.
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