Mississippi State Falls to Alabama Again, 13-7

Twice, Stacy Harrison said, he was in the right place at the right time, and it’s a good thing for Alabama.

The strong safety for the No. 7 Crimson Tide scored on a 64-yard interception return and snuffed out Mississippi State’s last drive with an end-zone interception as Alabama defeated Mississippi State, 13-7, Saturday.

Matt Wethington’s two fourth-quarter field goals provided the difference as the Crimson Tide, 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference, defeated Mississippi State for the 11th consecutive year.

Mississippi State (5-4, 2-3) drove to a first down at the Alabama three with less than three minutes left. Michael Davis got to the one on first down, was held to no gain on the next and then the Bulldogs drew a motion penalty. Davis ran to the three, and then Harrison intercepted Sleepy Robinson’s pass just inside the end zone.

“The quarterback rolled out right, but he got in trouble and had to just throw it up and I was in the right place at the right time,” Harrison said.

John Copeland, Alabama’s defensive end, said he “got mad” when the Bulldogs got close to the goal.

“I looked at it like they were coming into my house,” he said. “They came in saying they were more physical than us. Nobody comes into Bryant-Denny and outhits Alabama.”

Harrison’s first interception came off a halfback pass by Tony James, but Harrison began celebrating almost too soon as he went down the left sideline.

George Teague blocked James, who was closing in on Harrison, at the 10 to allow Harrison to make it to the end zone.

“I just stayed at home,” Harrison said of that interception. “He tried to throw it back, and I was in the right place at the right time.”

“It was kind of funny,” Teague said, “because it seemed like Stacy thought he was guaranteed to get into the end zone. I was out there just playing escort and saw Tony James, with all his speed, coming up to make the tackle. Luckily I was able to get a block on him.”

Wethington’s field goals of 23 and 22 yards came in the fourth quarter after Robinson hit Treddis Anderson on a four-yard pass to tie the score, 7-7, in the third quarter.