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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Top 25 football: Mississippi stuns No. 16 Mississippi State 31-28 in Egg Bowl

Mississippi running back Jordan Wilkins (22) scores in the first quarter against Mississippi State during an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. (Bruce Newman / Associated Press)
Associated Press

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Jordan Ta’amu threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, Jordan Wilkins ran for two scores and Mississippi upset No. 16 Mississippi State 31-28 on Thursday night.

Ole Miss (6-6, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) held off a late Mississippi State rally to win the Egg Bowl for the fourth time in six seasons. The Rebels had a 10-6 lead at halftime and broke it open in the second half with touchdown passes of 77 yards to A.J. Brown and 63 yards to D.K. Metcalf.

Brown, the SEC’s leader in yards receiving, had six catches for 167 yards. Wilkins had 110 yards rushing.

Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4) was a two-touchdown favorite, but had to play most of the game without starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. He was carted off the field in the first quarter with a right leg injury.