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College football
November 29, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. -- Eli Manning threw two touchdowns to Chris Collins and Mississippi defeated Mississippi State 24-12 on Thursday night in the Egg Bowl.
Ole Miss (6-6) snapped a five-game losing streak and took back the Golden Egg trophy that's gone to the winner the past 75 years.
The Rebels also became bowl eligible. They are likely headed to the Independence Bowl or Music City Bowl.
"Losing last year to State was the worst feeling I've had since I've been here," Manning said. "After losing last year, and five losses in a row this year, we really wanted it. We had a lot on the line."
The 99th meeting between the archrivals was a dreary ending to the worst season in coach Jackie Sherrill's 12-year tenure at Mississippi State (3-9).
The Bulldogs finished winless in the SEC for the first time since 1988 and lost their past five. For Sherrill, it's the first nine-loss season of his 25-year career.
Manning was 16-for-29 for 207 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown run. Collins had four catches for 130 yards.
Kevin Fant was 23-for-42 for 340 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions for Mississippi State. Brent Smith kicked two field goals.
Ray Ray Bivines had a career-high six catches for 115 yards, and his 22-yard TD with 12:54 left cut Mississippi's lead to 17-12. The Bulldogs failed on the two-point try.
But Mississippi State, the most turnover-prone team in the SEC, helped set up Ole Miss' final touchdown with its 37th giveaway of the season.
Travis Johnson, beaten by Bivines on the touchdown, intercepted Fant at the Bulldogs 26 and returned it to the 4 with about six minutes left.
Manning sneaked in from the 1 three plays later to make it 24-12.
Von Hutchins stopped a Mississippi State threat in the third quarter with an interception at the Ole Miss 14.
Manning and Collins took advantage with a big play two minutes later.
With the defense crowding the line on third and 1, Manning zipped a short pass to a slanting Collins, who sprinted away from Kevin Dockery for a 77-yard touchdown that made it 14-3.
N.C. STATE: T.A. McLendon was named AP rookie of the year in the ACC after rushing for 1,082 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound running back was a runaway winner in voting by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, getting 58 of a possible 74 votes.
TUSKEGEE 25, ALABAMA ST. 20: Terrence Jones threw for 169 yards and Cortland Florence returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown for the visiting Golden Tigers in the 79th Turkey Day Classic.