STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) Mississippi State started its season with four straight wins for the first time since 1999, beating South Alabama 30-10 on Saturday night.

Tyler Russell completed 13 of 27 passes for 171 yards for the Bulldogs (4-0) while LaDarius Perkins rushed for a team-high 69 yards - including a 44-yard touchdown run.

Nickoe Whitley and Johnthan Banks both had long interception returns that stopped South Alabama drives.

It was the 15th career interception for Banks - which ranks second among active players in the Football Bowl Subdivision - and third this season.

The Bulldogs led 20-0 at halftime, giving up just 104 yards at that point.

South Alabama (1-3) lost its first game against a Southeastern Conference opponent. C.J. Bennett completed 14 of 26 passes for 154 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Demetre Baker added 49 yards rushing.

The Bulldogs have a week off before facing Kentucky on Oct. 5.

South Alabama is a transitional BCS team that is in just its fourth season as a program. But the Jaguars managed to hang close for the majority of the first half before the Bulldogs slowly pulled away.

Russell tied a Mississippi State record for consecutive pass attempts without an interception (137) during the second quarter, but then threw an interception on his next throw. It wasn't a great game for the 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior, who looked tentative in the pocket.

While Mississippi State's offense didn't look sharp, the defense did, holding South Alabama without a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter.

It was a reassuring sign for the Bulldogs, whose veteran defense allowed 572 yards in last week's 30-24 victory over Troy.

The game started with an ugly first quarter that ended scoreless. The Bulldogs dropped a few passes, were called for a few penalties and generally looked uninterested against an opponent that was a heavy underdog.

But South Alabama couldn't take advantage. The Jaguars had a chance to take the lead early in the second quarter, but Michel Chapuseaux missed a 47-yard field goal and Mississippi State suddenly shook out of its extended malaise.

The Bulldogs needed just three plays to move 70 yards - capped by Perkins' 44-yard touchdown run - to take a 7-0 lead with 12:18 left in the second quarter.

Dak Prescott added a 2-yard touchdown run and Devon Bell made two field goals, both from 42 yards, as the Bulldogs built their 20-0 halftime lead.

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