STARKVILLE, Miss., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Cameron Newton threw for two touchdowns Thursday and No. 20 Auburn had more than 200 rushing yards, bringing the Tigers a 17-14 win over Mississippi State.
Mississippi State (1-1) drove 63 yards to a touchdown on its first possession of the second half to get within three points and the Bulldogs then successfully pulled off an onside kick.
The gamble failed to produce any points, however, and Mississippi State did not cross midfield again until the final minute of the game. Quarterback Chris Relf then threw four straight incompletions from the Auburn 40-yard line to end Mississippi State's comeback hopes.
In the first Southeastern Conference game of the season, Newton hit Emory Blake with a 39-yard scoring pass on the game's first possession and found Darvin Adams for a 12-yard touchdown midway through the second period. Wes Byrum's 34-yard field goal with 4:29 left in the second period gave Auburn (2-0) a 17-7 halftime lead.
Mississippi State's first touchdown came when offensive lineman Gabe Jackson picked up a fumble by Relf at the 1-yard line and lunged into the end zone to forge a 7-7 tie. Vic Ballard scored on a 1-yard run early in the third period.
Newton completed 11-of-19 passes for 135 yards and led the Tigers in rushing with 85 yards on 17 carries. Auburn gained 206 yards on the ground.
