OXFORD, Miss. - Auburn capitalized on a failed fourth down conversion by Ole Miss from its own 41 yard line by kicking a 35-yard field goal to give Auburn a 34-17 lead.
With just more than two minutes left in the second quarter, senior cornerback Demond Washington returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, giving the Auburn Tigers a 31-17 lead over Ole Miss.
The play punctuated a wild first half, as both teams combined for 614 yards of total offense.
Auburn junior quarterback Cameron Newton finished the first half with 188 yards passing for one touchdown, while Ole Miss senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli finished the half with 118 yards passing.
Auburn sophomore runningback Onterio McCalebb led the Tigers in rushing with 88 yards on eight carries for one touchdown.
The Tigers and Rebels got off to a fast start, putting up 14 points apiece and 410 yards combined in total offense during the first quarter.
On the second play of the game, Ole Miss freshman runningback Jeff Scott found a hole and dashed 83 yards for a touchdown, giving Ole Miss a 7-0 lead.
Auburn responded with a 6 play, 71-yard drive that was capped off with a 20 yard pass from senior wide receiver Kodi Burns to Newton in the corner of the end zone.
McCalebb ran 68 yards for a touchdown during the Tigers' next possession, putting the Tigers up 14-7 with 8 minutes left in the quarter. Ole Miss responded with a 8 play, 80-yard drive, tying the score at 14.
Auburn added 10 points in the second quarter on senior placekicker Wes Byrum's 25-yard field goal and Newton's 24-yard touchdown pass to Adams, which capped off a 98 yard drive set up by an interception by senior quarterback Demond Washington.
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