OXFORD — Putting speed in the right positions worked well for Mississippi State to exploit the weaknesses of the Ole Miss defense.

Bulldog redshirt freshman LaDarius Perkins was the big beneficiary of State’s plan and he torched the Rebels (4-8, 1-7 Southeastern Conference) for 319 all-purpose yards as the Bulldogs built a 31-9 lead and held off a late comeback to keep the Egg Bowl with a 31-23 win Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Perkins caught two touchdown passes of 33 and 36 yards and then had a 71-yard pass-and-catch off a middle screen to set up a Vick Ballard score.