UK Falls To MSU, 28-16

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Mississippi State quarterbacks Tyler Russell and Chris Relf combined for 264 yards and each passed for a touchdown, and Relf ran for two touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 28-16 win over Kentucky on Saturday night.
Russell earned his second start of the season, and the two alternated drives in the first quarter.
The plan proved successful for the Bulldogs - Russell's style as a pocket passer contrasted with Relf's reputation as a running quarterback, and Kentucky's defense failed to adjust to either.
Then head coach Dan Mullen started mixing the two in on drives together. Russell completed a 40-yard pass to Michael Carr. As the rest of Mississippi State's offense ran to the new line of scrimmage, Russell and Relf swapped.
Two plays later, Relf ran untouched into the end zone from 3 yards out.
The Bulldogs (4-4, 1-4 Southeastern Conference) committed three turnovers, two of which were fumbles that Kentucky recovered inside the Mississippi State 25-yard line. But the Wildcats, who did not have a single turnover, were held to field goals on both drives.
Kentucky (3-5, 0-4) quarterback Morgan Newton suffered a right ankle sprain in the first quarter and did not return. Freshman Maxwell Smith replaced him and finished 26 of 33 for 174 yards.
The freshman struggled on early drives but found a rhythm in the second half. He led the Wildcats on a drive late in the fourth quarter with his team down two possessions, and he converted on third downs in the air three times on the drive.
But his fourth-and-7 pass from the Mississippi State 8-yard line sailed over La'Rod King's head.
Running back Vick Ballard added 87 yards for the Bulldogs.