No. 21 Auburn Holds Off Upstart Mississippi State, 17-14

Starkville, MS (Sports Network) - Cameron Newton threw for a pair of touchdowns to help the 21st-ranked Auburn Tigers hold off the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 17-14, in SEC action.

Newton completed 11-of-19 passes for 136 yards and a pick for the Tigers (2-0, 1-0 SEC), who opened the year with a 52-26 victory over Arkansas State last weekend. Newton also rushed for 70 yards on 18 carries.

Onterio McCalebb carried the ball 12 times for 69 yards. Emory Blake and Darvin Adams each caught a TD pass.

Chris Relf connected on 12-of-26 passes for 110 yards for the Bulldogs (1-1, 0-1), who rolled past Memphis in the opener by a 49-7 final. Relf ran the ball 14 times for 25 yards.

Mississippi State, at the end of this game, had a good chunk of time to work with and a lot of field to cover. What they did instead was disguise a few very good passes with sacks, drops, and failure to capitalize on a huge pass interference penalty on Auburn that set up a crucial first down. Tigers win in Starkville; final score: Auburn 17, Mississippi State 14.

After absolutely no action to speak of throughout the rest of the third and most of the fourth quarters, with 4:30 remaining in the game, Cam Newton tosses a backward pass to Kodi Burns. Burns lobs it back, and Newton runs for close to 30 yards, with a net gain of 22, putting Auburn inside the 30-yard line. A Michael Dyer run puts the ball inside the 20 -- and then Newton is sacked in the backfield and Wes Byrum's 37-yard field goal attempt is blocked. 2:19 remaining.

Mississippi State's opening drive of the second half took just under six minutes off the clock, and ended with Marcus Green dropping a Chris Relf jump pass in the endzone on first and goal.

(All right, it didn't quite end there. Vick Ballard ran in a touchdown, bringing State within three.)

What's interesting, however, is what happened right after that, which was a successful (and frankly beautiful) onside kick by the Bulldogs. Hey, look, everybody, a football game!

State's offense has largely flamed out in the second quarter, and both sides have had turnover problems. Lee Ziemba's injury is confirmed as his right knee; he was last seen walking under his own power but heading to the locker room.

Chris Relf comes back in at QB, and (brace yourselves) fumbles the center exchange. The ball is recovered by (brace yourselves again) Nick Fairley, giving him one fumble recovery, one interception and half a sack this evening. Auburn drives down quickly, capitalizes with a field goal, and the Tigers lead, 17-7, with 4:34 remaining in the half.

Auburn returns the ensuing kick into State territory. On its second play from scrimmage, Newton is intercepted in the endzone for a touchback. It's Auburn's second turnover in the first quarter. Tyler Russell takes over at QB for State, and after about five plays, at 3rd and 8, he's intercepted at midfield by Nick Fairley, who's been a noticeable threat even in this short amount of time.

Right after Auburn takes back over, star offensive lineman Lee Ziemba goes down with some sort of leg injury and is helped off the field. And right after that, there's a mixup with the handoff exchange and Newton has to fall on a fumble for a loss of 4 in the red zone. This portion of Auburn-Mississippi State sponsored by Turfman's Finest Fireman Clown Shoes.

This portion, however, is not: Just as I was typing the above, Newton fires a 12-yard touchdown pass to Darvin Adams. 14-7 Auburn, 8:37 remaining in the half.

As previously suspected, we're looking at two entirely different teams from the last time the Bulldogs and Tigers met in Starkville. Where before neither outfit who couldn't score to save their lives, now they're humming machines with real moving parts at quarterback.

Following a sack on Chris Relf (who, at well over six feet and well over 200 pounds, is not the easiest guy to bring down), the Bulldogs punt on 4th and 23, and bobble the snap -- but catch a break. The punt slides right through the Auburn returner's hands, and State recovers at the Tiger 20. Auburn's special teams, it seems, will be a recurring issue this season.

A shovel pass from Relf to Marcus Green takes the ball down to the 9. Vick Ballard adds a 7-yard run, and Relf tries to take it in himself. He crosses the plane, and the ball comes loose, but it's recovered in the pile by Gabe Jackson for a Bulldogs touchdown. 7-7, 2:30 remaining in the first quarter.

Oh, and after the play, a State player headbutted an Auburn defender and then put on the most delectable "What, me?" play-acting show imaginable to the officials. Patrick Hanrahan is our early leader for Erk Russell Player Of The Game.

Before we get too far into your commitment to this game, please note: Craig James is in the booth (and has already used the word "irregardless"), which will drop reasonable persons' enjoyment of the proceedings considerably. All Jesse Palmer's doofish charm and Rece Davis' actual skill will be needed to even out the rising rage hormones in the viewing public.

Auburn gets a nice 31-yard kick return to open things up, and mounts a tidy drive with its hustle-happy offense that's only seriously stopped once, when it gets absolutely stymied on third and short. That's to no great defensive avail, as Newton darts through for a first down on fourth and one. In just over three and a half minutes, they're into Bulldog territory and Cam Newton throws a 39-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Emory Blake.

Auburn 7, Mississippi State 0. Dan Mullen Crazy Eyes Threat Level: Rob Riggle.

The Auburn-Mississippi State rivalry is a favorite of the internet, thanks to a 3-2 horrorshow the last time these two teams met in Starkville, and a box score you simply have to see to believe:

Last year's game was considerably more prolific, however, with the Tigers winning 49-24 at home, and this year promises to be a positive pointsapalooza, with the Chizik and Mullen war machines grinding into high gear.

The cowbells are ringing violently in Davis Wade Stadium; we'll be getting underway shortly with live updates throughout the evening. Join us, won't you?