STARKVILLE — Anthony Dixon still has some unfinished business.
Even after the Mississippi State senior running back had become the school’s all-time leading rusher and then rushed for a new single-game record 252 yards Saturday in a 31-24 victory against the University of Kentucky, there’s more on his mind.
Dixon, who has 3,604 rushing yards, wants to help the Bulldogs make it to a postseason bowl.
To do that, MSU (4-5, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) has to win two of its last three regular-season games, and Dixon wants to win all three.
“If we don’t win, we’re going to be looked upon as losers,” Dixon said. “It’s going to be bad for us all.”
As the Bulldogs come down the stretch, Dixon said victories like the one the team earned Saturday make the workouts worth the effort.
“It was what pushed myself during the offseason when I was in the (weight room) trying to get myself pumped up to lift weights,” Dixon said. “It’s why I talked myself into getting up this morning to go to the workouts.
“It all goes back to hard work paying off. I can look back and say I’m glad I got up that morning and glad I went ahead to lift weights when I didn’t feel like it. When I was tired, I’m glad I went on and did it.”
Dixon’s production against Kentucky earned him SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday. The 252 yards is the SEC’s highest total this season.
It’s the second time Dixon has been named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. He also received the award Nov. 24, 2008, after rushing for 179 yards against the University of Arkansas.
Even though flattered to receive honors and to break records, the individual honor doesn’t mean much to Dixon unless the team is enjoying success.
“Just to show we can compete in the SEC, that’s really the big one for me,” Dixon said. “When I watched Mississippi State, they weren’t doing a lot of winning before I decided to come here. It’s been big for me to go back home and say we won this week and we’re in the win column this week.”
Dixon will take advantage of the bye week this weekend to visit his family in Jackson.
Dixon also holds school records in 100-yard games (15), rushing attempts (835), rushing touchdowns (39), and scoring (258 points).
The yardage Dixon collected Saturday also helped him eclipse the 1,000-yard mark (1,001) for the second time in his career. He rushed for 1,066 yards in 2007.
Dixon was sore after the Kentucky game, but he said winning has helped him recover more quickly.
After getting treatment Monday, Dixon planned to watch film of the Kentucky game and begin preparations for the Nov. 14 game against the University of Alabama.
Auburn University cornerback Walt McFadden and University of Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis also were named players of the week.
McFadden tied a career-high with five tackles and returned the first of two interceptions for a touchdown against Mississippi.
Sturgis won special teams honors after kicking a career-long 56-yard field goal and making a 44-yarder in Florida’s win over Georgia.
Arkansas guard Mitch Petrus was offensive lineman of the week, while Auburn end Antonio Coleman won defensive line honors. Tennessee defensive back Janzen Jackson was freshman of the week.
Associated Press reports were included in this story.
Danny P Smith is the Assistant Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
