Oct 11, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) drops back to pass the ball during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium. Photo Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
STARKVILLE, Miss. — It was the game of the week nationwide and it didn’t disappoint.
In front of the largest crowd in Davis Wade Stadium history at 62,945, third-ranked Mississippi State used the home-field advantage to get its biggest home win in school history by knocking off No. 3 Auburn, 38-23, on Saturday.
Mississippi State (6-0, 3-0 in the SEC) used a fourth-quarter fumble on a kickoff return to take a 38-20 advantage and ultimately put away the Tigers (5-1, 2-1).
Quadry Antoine stripped the ball loose from Tiger returner Ricardo Louis and Matthew Wells jumped on the ball at the 15 and the Bulldogs scored two plays later on Josh Robinson’s one-yard run.
It was much of the same early in the game for Mississippi State, as the forced two turnovers on Auburn’s first two offensive plays of the game.
The Bulldogs got an interception from safety Jay Hughes and a forced fumble by Taveze Calhoun and cashed in on those for touchdowns to take a 21-0 lead in the first quarter before anyone could blink.
Mississippi State would keep that lead, thanks to the Bulldog defense.
With two of three Auburn possessions in the red zone ending only in field goals, Mississippi State would take the 28-13 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Auburn cut that lead at 28-20 with a 99-yard drive ending with Marshall’s touchdown pass to D’haquille Williams from 16 yards out.
As the defenses stiffened, the Bulldogs headed into the fourth quarter needing some points.
Robinson got Mississippi State a good start with a 37-yard run into Auburn territory at the 35. The Bulldogs moved it down to the two but stalled and Evan Sobiesk’s 21-yard field goal made it 31-20 with 11:22 left.
That’s when Mississippi State got the biggest play of the game with the fumble on the kick return and two plays later, Robinson was in the end zone with 11:07 left.
Auburn would get only a field goal the rest of the way and Justin Cox’s interception in the red zone clinched the victory for the Bulldogs.
Quarterback Dak Prescott again was the workhorse for Mississippi State with 367 yards of offense. He completed 18 of 34 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions.
Prescott also had 21 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
Marshall also had a stellar day, scrambling for 100 yards on 17 carries. He completed 17 of 35 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions.
Williams had six catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
NOTES: Quarterback Dak Prescott became the Mississippi State’s all-time leader in touchdowns responsible for at 53. … The Bulldogs got its third victory against a top 10 opponent and has beaten three top 25 teams in the same season for the first time in school history.
