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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Razorbacks And Rebels Battle In Key SEC Matchup
11/3/1999 | Football
Nov. 3, 1999
OXFORD, Miss. - Mississippi, fresh off a victory that made the school bowl eligible, plays host to an Arkansas team looking to accomplish the same feat Saturday when the two teams clash in an SEC showdown.
The Rebels (6-2, 3-2) defeated LSU 42-23 last week, but coach David Cutcliffe isn't as concerned about going to a bowl right now as he is with winning the conference, where they trail Mississippi State by 1 1/2 games.
"Our focus has been all along on trying to win the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference," he said. "The only way to do that is to remain focused on every game you play, one game at a time."
If Arkansas (5-2, 2-2) has any hopes of taking the division, it needs a win just as badly. The Razorbacks will be looking to win their postseason-needed sixth game and trying to move their league mark above .500 for the first time.
That won't be easy if Ole Miss gets a performance from its running backs similar to the one it got last week, however. Deuce McAllister and Joe Gunn each eclipsed the 100-yard mark in the win over the Tigers.
McAllister ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns, while Gunn had 135 yards and a pair of scores. While the two-headed rushing attack could produce problems for Arkansas, it has some offensive weapons of its own.
Quarterback Clint Stoerner completed 19-of-26 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns in the Razorbacks 34-10 win over Auburn last Saturday and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
Stoerner became the first Arkansas player to earn conference player of the week honors this season and the first Razorback to win offensive honors since October 28, 1995.
Stoerner is half of an explosive aerial combination with senior wideout Anthony Lucas. Lucas, the school's all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,529, is averaging a whopping 24.9 yards per catch this season.
"I think we are playing the most balanced team that we have played so far this year," said Cutcliffe. "Arkansas is outstanding on offense, outstanding on defense and excels in the kicking game. We have a great challenge in front of us."
The Razorbacks have won four of the last five meetings against Mississippi, including a 34-0 blowout last season.
