STARKVILLE | Summary and statistics from No. 8 Auburn's game against Mississippi State at Davis-Wade Stadium.

FIRST QUARTER

Auburn began the game with consecutive 3-and-outs and totaled just eight yards on its opening two drives, but the defense came up with a big play as Jeremiah Dinson intercepted a Nick Fitzgerald pass and returned it to the MSU 44-yard line. Anders Carlson made a 46-yard field goal four plays later to give AU a 3-0 lead. MSU responded with a 67-yard, 9-play drive to tie the game 3-3 on a 25-yard field goal.

SECOND QUARTER

Auburn drove 42 yards, converting a 4th and 1, but Carlson missed a 50-yard field goal. MSU responded with a quick 39-yard drive to take the lead on a 47-yard field goal. Jarrett Stidham overthrew a wide open Darius Slayton on 3rd down to end the next drive, his second overthrow of the game. After stop by the D, the punt return was muffed by Auburn and MSU recovered on the AU 34-yard line. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown on a Fitzgerald 1-yard run on the last play of the half.

THIRD QUARTER

MSU opened the half with a 13-play, 60-yard drive, taking a 16-3 lead on a 32-yard field goal. AU responded with a 55-yard drive including a 42-yard pass from Jarrett Stidham to Ryan Davis as Carlson made a 37-yard field goal to cut the lead to 16-6. JaTarvious Whitlow appeared to have got Auburn back in it with a 43-yard TD run but it was ruled a fumble before he crossed the goal line and a touchback to MSU.

FOURTH QUARTER

Auburn came up with a big 4th down stop on its own 42-yard line early in the 4th. Auburn drove to the MSU 6-yard line but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Carlson to cut the lead to 16-9 with 11:24 left. MSU drove deep into AU territory but a 31-yard field goal was blocked by Marlon Davidson and returned by Daniel Thomas to the AU 42-yard line with a 15-yard penalty putting the ball in MSU territory. Auburn passed on a 47-yard field goal attempt and turned it over on an incompletion on 4th and 9 with 6:33 left. MSU iced it as Fitzgerald ran in from 21 yards for a 23-9 lead.

TEAM STATS

Total yards: AU 304, MSU 418; Pass yards: AU 214, MSU 69; Rush yards: AU 90, MSU 349; Penalties: AU 1-5, MSU 1-15; First downs: AU 15, MSU 22; Third downs: AU 3-14, MSU 7-17; Turnovers: AU 2, MSU 1; Sacks: AU 0, MSU 3

Time of possession: AU 18:07, MSU 41:53

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Jarrett Stidham 19-for-38 for 214 yards, 5 carries for -22 yards

JaTarvious Whitlow 8 carries for 88 yards, 1 reception for 3 yards

Kam Martin 4 carries for -2 yards

Shaun Shivers 1 carry for 8 yards

Anthony Schwartz 1 carry for 17 yards

Asa Martin 1 carry for 0 yards

Malik Willis 1 carry for 1 yard

Ryan Davis 8 receptions for 91 yards

Darius Slayton 4 receptions for 58 yards

John Samuel Shenker 1 reception for 26 yards

Tucker Brown 1 reception for 9 yards

Chandler Cox 1 reception for 10 yards