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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Vanderbilt
Rebels Hold Off Commodores, 12-7
9/16/2000 | Football
Sept. 16, 2000
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Deuce McAllister rushed for 143 yards on 17 carries, including 121 yards in the first half, before leaving with an injured shoulder as Mississippi held off Vanderbilt 12-7 Saturday.
McAllister set a Mississippi record with his 11th career 100-yard rushing game, but bruised the joint in his right shoulder late in the third quarter and did not play in the fourth for the Rebels (2-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference).
Vanderbilt (0-3, 0-2) had a chance at winning the game in the closing seconds, but Greg Zolman overthrew receivers in the end zone on the final two plays.
McAllister, who broke the career 100-yard mark held by Dou Innocent, scored on a 50-yard run that capped a 10-play, 98-yard opening drive. But Les Binkley's extra-point try bounced off the right upright for a 6-0 lead.
Binkley added two field goals in the second quarter to put Ole Miss up 12-0.
Vanderbilt cut it to 12-7 with 1:28 left in the third quarter on a 7-yard scoring pass from Zolman to Nezih Hasonoglu. Zolman set up that TD by hitting Dan Stricker for a 58-yard gain on the previous play.
The Commodores had their chances late. They took the ball to the Ole Miss 20 with 7:46 left before Derrick Burgess sacked Zolman and forced a fumble that the Rebels recovered. With 2:51 left, Syniker Taylor recovered a fumble by Stricker.
Cornerback Jimmy Williams and linebacker Jamie Winborn, suspended by Vanderbilt the first two games of the season for accepting free financial planning advice from two alumni without their knowledge, returned to the lineup.
Williams intercepted Romaro Miller's pass late in the first quarter.
The game was the 1,000th in Ole Miss football history. The Rebels' first game was Nov. 11, 1893, and they have gone 554-411-35 since.
