[Tuck4Bama]

NEW ORLEANS — Every team practices the tip drill.

Occasionally, it pays off big, the way it did for Mississippi State Saturday, when cornerback Anthony Johnson tipped a pass that linebacker Gabe O'Neal returned 47 yards for a touchdown 70 seconds into the Bulldogs 38-17 victory over Tulane at the Louisiana Superdome.

Two plays after the Green Wave stunned the Bulldogs with a 28-yard pass on the first play of the game, Johnson stepped in front of quarterback Scott Elliott's quick out toward Jeremy Williams and started the play that produced MSU's first touchdown of the season.

"Coach talked about that all week, reacting after a bad play," said O'Neal, a senior. "Do you guys stand up and make a stand? Tonight we made a stand."

Coming off a 45-0 loss to LSU, the pick-six was a quick pick-me-up for the Bulldogs.

Said State coach Sylvester Croom: "It sure makes things easier when you get seven points on the board early, regardless of how you get them, and particuarly on the road."

O'Neal also had a fumble recovery and was credited with four tackles for a defense that held Tulane to 16 plays, 6 net yards and zero first downs in the second half.

"I tell the players all the time, we've gotta have 11 Dogs on that bone

Johnson, O'Neal combine on pick-6, give Dogs early spark