Payton Thorne (3 TDs), Auburn knock off Mississippi State
Behind three touchdown passes from Payton Thorne, Auburn rolled to a 27-13 win over visiting Mississippi State on Saturday.
Thorne got most of the snaps behind center and completed 20 of 26 passes for 230 yards. He added 38 yards on the ground.
Jarquez Hunter led the Tigers in carries (17) and yards (144) and had two receptions for 26 yards.
Ja’Varrius Johnson, Shane Hooks and Jeremiah Cobb were on the receiving end of Thorne’s touchdown passes. Johnson led Auburn (4-4, 1-4 SEC West) with two receptions for 59 yards.
Mike Wright started in place of Will Rogers for the second consecutive game and completed 16 of 32 passes for 161 yards and a score, with one interception. He also added 14 carries for 63 yards.
Seth Davis added seven carries for 62 yards for the Bulldogs (4-4, 1-4). Zavion Thomas led MSU receivers with nine receptions for 112 yards and a score.
Auburn jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its opening drive when Thorne connected with Hooks for a 27-yard touchdown pass.
The Bulldogs trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 7-3 on their ensuing possession when Kyle Ferrie capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive with a 29-yard field goal with 6:14 to play in the opening quarter.
But Auburn answered quickly on its ensuing possession when Thorne hit Johnson streaking down the left side of the field for a 45-yard catch and score.
Alex McPherson put the Tigers up 17-3 with 7:23 to play until halftime when he capped a six-play, 31-yard drive with a 39-yard field goal.
After stopping Mississippi State on a fourth-and-1 with 1:18 to play until halftime, Auburn marched down the field and took a commanding 24-3 lead on a 7-yard scoring reception by Cobb.
The Bulldogs cut the Tigers’ lead to 24-6 on their opening drive of the second half when Ferrie’s 40-yard field goal capped a 12-play, 50-yard drive.
Auburn extended the lead to 27-6 on a 49-yard field goal by McPherson, but a 14-yard touchdown reception by Thomas trimmed the lead to 27-13 early in the fourth quarter.
–Field Level Media
