Mississippi State erased a 25-point deficit Saturday at Auburn for the biggest comeback in school history, an eventual 43-34 win.

And it’s far from the first time the 2021 Bulldogs have played their best football late in games.

With three points in the first quarter, seven in the second, 13 in the third and 20 in the fourth, Saturday’s win marked the third time this season Mississippi State has scored the same amount of points or more points in each succeeding quarter. The Bulldogs did the same against LSU on Sept. 25 (0, 3, 7 and 15 points, respectively) and Arkansas on Nov. 6 (0, 7, 7 and 14).

The Bulldogs average 12.6 points in the first half, which ranks 75th in the nation; their average of 16.9 points in the second half is much higher at 23rd.

The split is even clearer when broken down by quarter. Mississippi State is tied for 83rd with 5.0 points on average in the first quarter, tied for 65th with 7.6 in the second quarter, alone in 48th with 6.8 in the third quarter and sitting at 13th with 10.1 in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs have scored in double digits in the fourth quarter six times this season, including the Auburn, Arkansas and LSU games; the Oct. 23 contest at Vanderbilt; Sept. 18 at Memphis; and Sept. 4 against Louisiana Tech (a season-high 21).

They’ve been shut out in just eight quarters all season; three times, that has happened in the first quarter.

So it’s clear to see why even facing a 28-3 deficit, Mississippi State wasn’t out of Saturday’s game.

The Bulldogs’ offense was just getting started.

Rogers in rare form with 6 TD game

Will Rogers became one of nine FBS quarterbacks with at least six touchdown passes in a game this season, dropping the sextet of scores Saturday at Auburn.

Rogers finished 44 of 55 passing for 415 yards and was not intercepted, delivering another statement game in a strong sophomore season.

“I think we’re protecting better,” Mississippi State coach Mike Leach said. “I think the receivers are more in tune with him. I think we’ve improved in other phases, which makes him look like he’s improved, which he has, but I think utilizing the weapons around a quarterback is the single most important thing they do. I think that he’s better at doing that.”

He’s just the second Southeastern Conference quarterback to throw six passing touchdowns in a single game this season; Emory Jones of Florida did the same Saturday against Samford without a pick.

SMU’s Tanner Mordecai tossed seven touchdowns to no interceptions in the Mustangs’ season opener against Abilene Christian on Sept. 4, and Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe had seven scores and one pick on Sept. 2 against UT Martin.

The SEC has only seen six or more scores 18 times since 2000, with Joe Burrow, Brandon Allen and Drew Lock accomplishing the feat twice. Only three of those have come in a loss, including Allen’s seven-touchdown, no-interception performance against Mississippi State in a 51-50 Bulldogs win in 2015.

With 300 or more passing yards in eight consecutive games, Rogers also reached a mark only achieved by Burrow and three Washington State quarterbacks under Leach among Power Five players in the College Football Playoff era. Gardner Minshew, Luke Falk and Anthony Gordon accomplished the feat with the Cougars.

Bulldogs’ punt coverage among nation’s worst

Mississippi State limited Auburn to just one punt return for no gain Saturday.

But the performance couldn’t elevate the Bulldogs from among the country’s worst punt coverage teams.

Opposing teams have racked up 287 yards on 14 punt returns this season against MSU. The total yardage and the 20.50 average yardage both rank No. 128, or third to last in FBS. Only Western Kentucky and Western Michigan have a worse average.

Mississippi State is also one of only seven teams to have allowed two punt return touchdowns, while 100 schools have not allowed one.

Besides a 74-yard return touchdown by Kentucky’s Josh Ali on Oct. 30, Memphis’ Calvin Austin III had a controversial 94-yard punt return score on Sept. 18. But even if Austin’s yardage were removed, the Bulldogs would still rank No. 126 with 193 yards on 13 returns.

Mississippi State’s kickoff coverage has done a better job, ranking No. 57 on opponent return yardage. Thanks to Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin’s heroics early in the season, the Bulldogs rank No. 7 in kick returns.

But MSU has struggled in areas besides punt coverage. The Bulldogs are No. 111 in average yardage per punt return and No. 125 in made field goal percentage.

Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.