STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Cameron Newton threw two touchdown passes and accounted for 206 total yards to help No. 21 Auburn beat Mississippi State 17-14 on Thursday night in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.

Mississippi State’s last drive ended at the Auburn 40 when Chris Relf’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 22 seconds remaining.

Newton, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound junior, outgained Mississippi State 146-125 all by himself in the first half. After leading 17-7 halftime, the Tigers managed to hold off the Bulldogs for the win.

Auburn (2-0) has won 17 of its past 18 SEC openers. The Tigers outgained the Bulldogs 348-246. Mississippi State (1-1) hasn’t won its first two games in a season since 2000.