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          MISSISSIPPI ST 30, VANDERBILT 21

          Oct 5, 2003

            STARKVILLE, Mississippi (Ticker) -- Mississippi State finally
            found an opponent it could beat.

            Jerious Norwood rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 22
            carries as the Bulldogs snapped a nine-game losing streak with a
            30-21 Southeastern Conference victory over Vanderbilt.

            Mississippi State's losing streak was the third-longest in
            school history and the longest since a 10-game slide in 1988.

            The Bulldogs (1-4, 1-1 SEC West) never trailed in this one,
            avoiding the first 0-5 start on the field in school history.
            They did have to forfeit their first five games n 1976 and 1977.

            Norwood's scored on a five-yard TD run and Kevin Fant tossed a
            15-yard TD pass to Chris Young to give Mississippi State a 14-0
            lead after the first quarter.

            Vanderbilt (1-5, 0-3 SEC East) closed to 17-14 on Norval
            McKenzie's two-yard TD run with eight minutes left in the third
            quarter. But Brent Smith kicked a 45-yard field goal and Fant
            scored on a five-yard keeper to make it 27-14 with 1:32 left in
            the third.

            Fant completed 18-of-30 passes for 215 yards with an
            interception.

            Jay Cutler completed 22-of-35 passes for 295 yards and two
            touchdowns for the Commodores, who have lost eight of the last
            nine meetings with Mississippi State.