Auburn 42, Mississippi St. 14

STARKVILLE, Miss., Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Daniel Cobb passed for three touchdowns in the second quarter and Carnell Williams rushed for a pair of scores in the fourth Thursday night as the Auburn Tigers concluded a difficult stretch of the season with a 42-14 Southeastern Conference rout of Mississippi State.

Auburn (3-1, 2-0 SEC West) erased a 7-0, first-quarter deficit with 21 points in the second period and pulled away with 21 more in the fourth.

The Tigers capped a stretch of four games in 18 days. They have won three in a row since a season-opening loss at nationally ranked Southern California.

Auburn has eight days off before facing Syracuse.

Dontae Walker scored both touchdowns for Mississippi State (1-2, 0-1), which dropped its SEC opener and has lost both games against Division I-A opponents this season.

The Bulldogs defeated Division I-AA Jacksonville State, 51-13, last week after opening with a 36-13 setback at Oregon.