By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Sept. 12, 2004
STARKVILLE The Mississippi State University Bulldogs of the last three years returned to Scott Field in Davis Wade Stadium Saturday afternoon.
After an impressive season-opening performance against Tulane last week, MSU was throttled 43-14 by No. 17 Auburn (2-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) in front of 51,021 fans.
The loss to Auburn marked MSU's ninth straight defeat at the hands of a SEC West foe. The Bulldogs haven't won a division game since defeating Ole Miss in the final game of the 2001.
Auburn ran over MSU to the tune of 465 yards. Tiger tailbacks Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown combined for 286 offensive yards.
Williams carried the ball 19 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns, and Brown had 15 carries for 147 yards and two catches for 16.
MSU was held to 271 yards, and the Bulldogs could only muster 99 rushing yards.
Bulldogs running back Jerious Norwood was held to 41 yards, after he gained over 100 in the season opener last week. Quarterback Omarr Conner completed 16-of-26 passes for 113 yards.
Auburn rolled out to 14-0 lead 11 minutes into the game.
The Tigers scored on its first two positions, keeping the ball mainly on the ground Williams and Brown combined for 122 rushing yards in Auburn's first two offensive series.
Auburn rumbled 75 yards on 11 plays in the game's opening drive, finishing with a five-yard touchdown pass from Jason Campbell to Anthony Mix.
Williams rushed for 37 yards and Brown ran for 33 on the drive that put the Tigers up 7-0 with 10:08 left in the first quarter.
After MSU went three and out on its first series, Auburn traveled 61 yards on nine plays for its second touchdown of the game.
Williams, who ran the ball five times for 42 yards on the drive, scored from one yard out to finish the series, as Auburn took a 14-0 advantage with 4:11 left in the first
Auburn made its way into the end zone again with 7:48 left in the first half to take a 21-0 lead.
Campbell tossed his second touchdown of the game, a 25-yarder to Ben Obomanu, after Williams carried the ball to MSU's 30-yard line from Auburn's 11.
Auburn scored two more times in the third to take a 35-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
Williams scored on a three-yard run, and Mix tallied a 58-yard touchdown reception in the closing second of the third.
Tigers second-string quarterback Brandon Cox connected with Obomanu with 11:24 left in the game on a seven-yard pass for his team's final touchdown.
MSU scored its 14 points in the game's final minute and a half.
Kyle York, who took over for Conner at the end of the third quarter, connected with Jason Husband for touchdowns of one and nine yards.
MSU continues its season against Maine at 6 p.m. Saturday at Scott Field.