SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2012
Mississippi State 28, Auburn 10: Tyler Russell fired three touchdown passes and the host Bulldogs scored 14 third-quarter points to win their SEC opener for the first time since 1999.
Mississippi State (2-0, 1-0 SEC) trailed 10-7 after Auburn’s Onterio McCalebb returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. But the Bulldogs limited the Tigers’ offense from there, and Russell led two touchdown drives to push Mississippi State ahead 21-10.
After McCalebb’s return, Russell led the Bulldogs 75 yards on eight plays. He found Chad Bumphis for a 13-yard touchdown, and Devon Bell’s extra point gave Mississippi State a 14-10 lead with 11:35 left in the quarter. Russell later hit Marcus Green for a 3-yard touchdown with 4:38 left in the third to extend the lead to 21-10.
Russell and Green combined for a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Russell finished 20-for-29 for 222 yards.
The Tigers (0-2, 0-1) suffered through a miserable day offensively, finishing with 222 yards of total offense. Kiehl Frazier was picked off three times, twice by Johnthan Banks and once by Darius Slay, and lost two fumbles.
Cody Parkey kicked a 23-yard field goal for Auburn on its first drive.
Mississippi State’s LaDarius Perkins added a 21-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The victory is Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen’s first against Auburn in four tries. … The Tigers finished 2-for-12 on third downs. … Frazier completed just 13 of 22 passes for 125 yards. … Mississippi State finished with 388 yards of total offense.