.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
No. 19 Mississippi, Facing Injuries, Opens SEC Play Against Auburn
9/5/2000 | Football
Sept. 5, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) -- With injuries mounting, Mississippi plays host to Auburn and Rudi Johnson on Saturday in the conference opener for both teams.
The 19th-ranked Rebels (1-0) impressed in their season opener with a 49-20 win over Tulane on Saturday. But the game wasn't without consequence.
Mississippi center Ben Claxton will be out indefinitely with a fracture in his lower left leg that he suffered in the contest.
Claxton, who started as a freshman last season, was injured in the first half during a pile up that Rebels coach David Cutcliffe described as a "freak accident."
Senior Charlie Perkins will replace Claxton in the starting lineup.
Middle linebacker Eddie Strong, who sat out Mississippi's season-opening victory, is still day-to-day with a bone contusion in his left foot.
Strong's presence will be badly needed against Auburn (1-0), which unleashed a talented, hard-running halfback in its season opener.
Johnson had 174 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns, including a 70-yard TD run, in the Tigers' 35-21 win over Wyoming on Saturday.
Johnson, who became the first Auburn running back to carry for more than 170 yards in his first career game, was named SEC player of the week Monday.
"It's great to see a running game - a guy that can break tackles and pull people down with him," said Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, formerly the coach at Mississippi. "Running well will help everything - our defense, time of possession."
Johnson's 174 yards rushing were the most by an Auburn back since Stephen Davis piled up 186 against Georgia in 1994. He is the first back to rush for three touchdowns since Davis had four against Chattanooga in 1995.
Deuce McAllister, the Rebels' star running back, wasn't as effective.
McAllister had just 29 yards on nine carries Saturday, but did contribute as a receiver. He had two catches for 52 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown.
Quarterback Romaro Miller led Mississippi with 302 yards and three touchdowns. It was Miller's third career 300-yard passing game, tying the school record held by Archie Manning.
Auburn leads the all-time series, 17-7. Mississippi snapped a six-game losing streak in the series with last year's 24-17 win.
