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Mississippi State Dominates Rice 44-7 For 2013 Liberty Bowl Title
Mississippi
State ended the year and its 2013 season and year with a fitting
celebration Tuesday, ousting the Rice Owls 44-7 to claim victory in the
55th AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The margin of victory was the largest in
any bowl game played thus far in 2013.
With the win, the
Bulldogs secured their fourth-straight winning season and Dan Mullen
earned the record for most bowl wins by any MSU coach ever, now 3-1 in
four bowl appearances in his five seasons as the Bulldog mentor.
State
dominated the game on both sides of the ball, with the defense holding
Rice’s top-15 national rushing attack to only 61 yards on the ground in
the game while the Bulldog offense racked up 533 total yards on the
other side of the ball.
After the Owls took an early 7-0 lead,
the Bulldogs went on to score 44 unanswered points in the convincing
win. Five different State players scored touchdowns in the contest.
State
set school and Liberty Bowl records in the game. Sophomore quarterback
Dak Prescott accounted for five touchdowns responsible for (a Liberty
Bowl record) while throwing for 283 yards and three scores and rushing
for two others. Junior receiver Jameon Lewis set the all-time MSU
record for receiving yards in any game - regular or post season - with
220 yards on nine catches.
MSU ended 2013 on a flurry, winning
consecutive overtime games at Arkansas and against arch rival Ole Miss
at home to become bowl eligible and vault itself into Tuesday's contest
in Memphis.
The Bulldogs will open the 2014 campaign on August
30 , hosting in-state foe Southern Miss in the newly-expanded Davis
Wade Stadium.
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