 A week after being upset by LSU , Alabama returned to Bryant – Denny and began a three @-@ game <unk> to end the season by defeating long @-@ time rival Mississippi State 30 – 10 . The Crimson Tide took a 6 – 3 lead in the first quarter by trading field goals with the Bulldogs on a 36 @-@ yarder from Jeremy Shelley , a 24 @-@ yarder from Derek <unk> and a 45 @-@ yarder from Cade Foster . In the second , Alabama reached the end zone for the first time on the evening after Greg McElroy hit Marquis Maze for a 45 @-@ yard touchdown reception and a 13 – 3 lead . After a punt on the next <unk> series , an 80 @-@ yard Maze touchdown return was called back as a result of an illegal block on the play by Alex Watkins . On the next play , Mark Ingram took a short bubble screen pass from McElroy 78 @-@ yards for a 20 – 3 lead at the half . 
