Vick Ballard rushed for a career-high 134 yards and three touchdowns, quarterback Chris Relf had 104 rushing yards and a score, and Mississippi State routed Houston 47-24 on Saturday.

Ballard and Relf became the first time Mississippi State duo to top 100 rushing yards in the same game since Jerious Norwood and Fred Reid in 2004, and helped the Bulldogs top 500 total yards for the second consecutive game. The Bulldogs finished with 544 total yards, including 417 on the ground.

Ballard scored on runs of 5 and 12 yards in the first half, and added another 12-yard touchdown scamper on the Bulldogs' first possession of the second half. Relf scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter.

LaDarius Perkins added 79 yards on 12 carries, including a 20-yard touchdown run, for Mississippi State (4-2), which has won three straight.

After falling behind 7-0, the Bulldogs led 23-7 after one quarter, and 33-10 at halftime.

Freshman David Piland made his first start at quarterback for Houston (3-2), completing 30 of 55 passes for 298 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Piland hooked up with Kierrie Johnson for a 19-yard score on Houston's first possession, and he hit Patrick Edwards for an 18-yard touchdown in the third quarter.