Mississippi State Rebounds

Scott Westerfield made a 44-yard field goal with four seconds left as No. 18 Mississippi State rallied for a 23-20 victory over No. 23 Mississippi at Starkville, Miss.

It’s the third time in school history that Mississippi State (9-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) has won nine games, and the second consecutive year they’ve won six conference games. Mississippi finished 7-4, 4-4.

Mississippi State, which trailed throughout the game, scored 17 fourth-quarter points.

Mississippi State quarterback Wayne Madkin took the Bulldogs 88 yards, hitting C.J. Sirmones with a 38-yard touchdown to tie it at 20 with 27 seconds left. Then, Eugene Clinton intercepted Romaro Miller’s pass and returned the ball 27 yards to set up Westerfield’s kick.

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Instead of Thursday night’s traditional lighting of the bonfire in preparation of the game against Texas, dozens of smaller flames burned around sunset at a memorial candlelight vigil on the Texas A&M; campus.

Thousands of mourning Aggies flocked to the scene of the collapse. “Once an Aggie, always an Aggie,” said Bob Staffel, wiping tears from his cheeks by the bonfire site. Staffel attended A&M; in the 1940s. “It’s just--you just can’t explain it.”

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Two people, including an Alabama State coach, were arrested Thursday after a bench-clearing brawl after the 76th Turkey Day Classic between Tuskegee and Alabama State in Montgomery, Ala.

A police officer sustained minor injuries in the fight, which broke out shortly after Tuskegee’s 37-34 victory. Montgomery police Lt. John McCall said some Tuskegee players ran to the Alabama State sidelines and began taunting the players, making “vulgar gestures.”

Frederick Nigel Newton, 24, a member of Alabama State’s coaching staff, was arrested and charged with harassment after he allegedly shoved a police officer.