NEW ORLEANS (AP) -Michael Henig passed for one touchdown and ran for another and Mississippi State outscored Tulane 21-0 in the second half on its way to a 38-17 victory Saturday night in the Superdome.
Henig, who tied a school-record six interceptions in a 45-0 loss to No. 2 LSU in the season opener last week, completed 20-of-31 for 223 yards and threw one interception. He rushed six times for 23 yards.
Anthony Dixon rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. He gained 101 of his yards and scored both of his touchdowns in the second half as the Bulldogs wore down the Green Wave.
Tulane was playing its first game under Bob Toledo, who was last a head coach with UCLA in 2002.
Green Wave quarterback Scott Elliott completed 15-of-26 for 197 yards with one touchdown and one interception before giving way to Anthony Scelfo in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs broke a 17-17 tie on the first possession of the third quarter when Henig completed all five of his passes for 56 yards, ending with an 8-yard touchdown toss to Jeremy Jones.
Later in the quarter, Dixon ran 27 yards for a touchdown that gave Mississippi State a 31-17 lead. Dixon added a 7-yard touchdown run with 9:33 left in the game.
The Bulldogs scored first. On the third play from scrimmage, Elliott’s pass was tipped and cornerback Gabe O’Neal grabbed the ball for an interception and ran 47 yards for a touchdown.
Tulane tied the score 7-7 on its next possession, as Matt Forte ran 39 yards for a touchdown.
Another Green Wave turnover led to another Bulldog touchdown later in the quarter. Forte fumbled and O’Neal recovered at the Mississippi State 44. Six plays later, on third-and-9, Henig scrambled 18 yards for a touchdown.
Tulane tied the score again on its next possession. Elliott’s 67-yard completion to Jeremy Williams helped set up Elliott’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy McKinney.
Adam Carlson, who missed a 42-yard field goal early in the second quarter, made a 23-yarder to give the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead with 6:25 remaining in the second quarter.
On the ensuing possession, Ross Thevenot kicked a 26-yard field goal to tie the score.
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