Taylor throws for 354 yards and 4 TDs, Mississippi State routs Louisiana-Monroe 62-13

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Kamario Taylor led Mississippi State to a dominant 62-13 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in the season opener for both teams on Saturday. The sophomore quarterback completed 354 yards and four touchdowns, adding 59 rushing yards and a score. Mississippi State scored on all seven of their first-half drives and eight straight drives for the game, punting only with 6:52 left in the third quarter.

Taylor's first-half highlights included a 6-yard touchdown pass to Sanfrisco Magee, a 22-yard strike to Zion Ragins, and a 10-yard touchdown to Anthony Evans III, which put the Bulldogs ahead 28-3 with 13:15 remaining in the second quarter. The Warhawks' final offensive highlight came on the first play of the third quarter when Taylor connected with Marquis Johnson for a 70-yard touchdown, extending Mississippi State's lead to 48-3.

Anthony Evans and Marquis Johnson had standout performances for Mississippi State, with Evans catching seven passes for 118 yards and Johnson adding 99 yards on three catches. Louisiana-Monroe's Aiden Armenta completed 10 of 16 passes for 63 yards and Austin Carlisle rushed for 50 yards on seven carries. The Bulldogs' explosive offense, under third-year coach Jeff Leby, showcased their potential to make waves in the SEC.

Up next for Louisiana-Monroe is a trip to UAB next Saturday, while Mississippi State will face Minnesota next Saturday.