Mississippi State showed its resiliency in bowl win.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

SHREVEPORT, La. _ Mississippi State twice trailed by two touchdowns. Four inches of snow were falling. Scores of the Bulldogs' defenders were falling in the wake of Ja' Mar Toombs, Texas A&M's 265-pound fullback.

State was backed into a corner Monday night in the 25th Independence Bowl, and coach Jackie Sherrill's Bulldogs responded.

State forced an improbable overtime with a touchdown in the final 90 seconds, and the Bulldogs' special teams provided the play of the game, propelling MSU to an incredible 43-41 victory.

"This football team," Sherrill said, "is very resilient."

State finished its season 8-4 while posting its second consecutive bowl victory. Sherrill, the Bulldogs' 10th-year coach, is hopeful the triumph will put State back in the national rankings. State knocked off the two teams in the Southeastern Conference championship game, Florida and Auburn, early in the season.

The Aggies (7-5) appeared to again take control in overtime when Toombs rambled 25 yards for a score on the first play from scrimmage. But when Texas A&M lined up for the extra-point attempt, the Bulldogs were on the verge of changing everything.

Willie Blade, the Dawgs' senior defensive tackle from Warner Robbins, Ga., blocked his second kick of the night, and State's Eugene Clinton picked up the loose ball before lateraling to teammate Julius Griffith near the MSU 40-yard line. Griffith outran the Aggies to the goal line, giving State two points and putting the Bulldogs in position to win with an overtime touchdown themselves.