Middle Tennessee-Ole Miss Postgame Notes

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MIDDLE TENNESSEE POSTGAME NOTES

VERSATILE LINEMAN: Redshirt sophomore Brandon Westbrook started at left guard today against Ole Miss, which was the first time in his career he has started at the guard spot. It also marks the third straight game Westbrook has started at a different position along the offensive line. He started at left tackle the first five games of the year, then started at right tackle at North Texas before moving in at guard vs Ole Miss. To showcase his versatility even more, Westbrook played left guard, left tackle and right tackle during the course of the game today.

NEWSON ALONE IN 2ND: Kendall Newson's second quarter touchdown reception was the 19th of his career and the fifth of the season for the senior. Newson entered the Ole Miss game tied for second all-time in TD receptions with Demetric Mostiller and his grab against Ole Miss put him in second place all alone.

STEPHENS SACK: Senior Wes Stephens, who made his first start of the season today, recorded his second sack of the year and pressured Ole Miss signal caller Eli Manning into an intentional grounding call all in the first half. Stephens, who later deflected a Manning pass, now has five sacks in his career.

KELLY SIGHTING: For the first time since the UL-Monroe game on Sept. 22 (a span of 16 quarters), placekicker Brian Kelly attempted a field goal when he drilled a 25 yarder in the third quarter against Ole Miss. For the season, Kelly is now 3-for-5 in the field goal department.

CALICO TIES SANFORD: Tyrone Calico's fourth quarter touchdown reception tied him with Sulecio Sanford for ninth on the Blue Raiders' all-time list. Calico, who has four TD catches on the year, now has 11 for his career and needs one more to tie Cory Simpson for eighth place.

FIRSTS: True freshman Blake Morris made his first collegiate start today when he lined up at the rightside linebacker spot ... LB Chris Gatlin made his first start of the season at linebacker ... Chris Johnson made his first start today at the left outside linebacker spot since the 2000 South Florida game ... DE Wes Stephens made his first start today since getting the nod against Florida in 2000.

PENALTIES HURT MT: The Blue Raiders were CALLED for 11 penalties for 103 yards and seven of those for 70 yards were called in the first half when the Blue Raider offense was making big plays. Comparatively, Ole Miss was flagged only four times for 36 yards.

LEE LEADS: For the second straight week and the third time this season, sophomore running back Reshard Lee paced the Blue Raiders in rushing. Lee had 12 carries for 84 yards (7.0 average).

QUICK HITTERS: Kendall Newson extended his streak to 39 consecutive games with at least one reception, which ranks as the third longest total in the country this year ... QB Jason Johnson recorded his first touchdown pass of the season when he hit Kendall Newson for a 14-yard score in the second quarter (the fifth of his career) ... LB Scotty Brown, who did not start today against Ole Miss, recorded his team-leading third sack of the season today when he dropped Eli Manning in the third quarter ... Tyrone Calico's fourth quarter touchdown was his fourth of the season and his 11th career scoring grab ... Jason Johnson threw for a season-high 115 yards on 11 of 25 passing ... Middle Tennessee's possession time of 22:36 was the lowest of the season for the Blue Raiders and marked the second straight week it has not topped the 23:00 minute mark.

INJURIES: Fullback Jason Spray received a right knee injury in the first quarter and did not return to the game ... RB Dwone Hicks reaggravated his hamstring injury in the third quarter and did not return.

OLE MISS POSTGAME NOTES

SERIES NOTES
* Today's meeting was the first-ever between Ole Miss and Middle Tennessee.
* The Blue Raiders were the second team from the Sun Belt Conference that Ole Miss had played this season. The Rebels defeated Arkansas State, 35-17, in Jonesboro, Ark., on Oct. 6.
* The Rebels are now 24-1-2 (.907 winning percentage) all-time against teams that currently compete in the Sun Belt Conference.

NOTING ELI
Manning: 25-of-31 passing, 257 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
First Half Stats: 18x23, 164 yards, TD
Second Half Stats: 7x8, 93, 2 TDs.

* Has thrown for at least 250 yards in all six games this season, a school record for consecutive 250-yard passing games.
* With three TD passes today, Manning now has 14 TD passes this season, four shy of the school single-season record of 18 set by Charlie Conerly in 1947, and Romaro Miller in 2000.
* 25 completions is a career high. His previous high was 24 set at Auburn on Sept. 8.
* Has completed at least 20 passes in 5-of-6 games this season. The only game in which he did not record 20 completions was at Kentucky on Sept. 29 when he was 19-of-36.
* Has thrown a TD pass in seven straight games dating back to last December's Music City Bowl against West Virginia, one shy of the school record of eight held by Eli's father, Archie Manning, and Romaro Miller.

FIRST TIME STARTERS: Junior WR Jason Armstead and redshirt freshman LB Rob Robertson both made their first career start in today's game.

TEAM NOTES
* Today's 45-17 win over Middle Tennessee marked the Rebels' 22nd consecutive regular-season win over a non-conference opponent dating back to a 38-0 win over Tulane on Nov. 12, 1994. Including bowl games, the Rebels have won 25 of its last 26 games versus non-conference opponents dating back to Nov. 12, 1994.
* Today's victory marked the Rebels' fifth consecutive Homecoming victory, and they are now 59-13-2 all-time in Homecoming games. The last time Ole Miss dropped its Homecoming game was on Nov. 16, 1996, losing 39-7 to LSU.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
* Sophomore WR Chris Collins had eight receptions for 82 yards and a TD in the first half, tying his career high for receptions set last week against Alabama. He left the game in the third quarter with a high left ankle sprain.
* Senior RB Joe Gunn rushed for 111 yards on 19 carries with one TD to record his 10th career 100-yard rushing game. He is now tied with Dou Innocent (1991-92, 1994-95) on the Ole Miss career list for 100-yard rushing games. The school record is 14 held by Deuce McAllister (1997-2000).
* Joe Gunn's 47-yard run in the third quarter was the longest of his career. His previous long was 42 yards at LSU on Oct. 30, 1999.
* Junior WR Jason Armstead caught a career-high five passes for 52 yards.
* Redshirt freshman WR Bill Flowers caught his first career TD pass with a 29-yard reception from Eli Manning in the third quarter. It was also his first reception since the season opener against Murray State. Flowers later scored on a 27-yard TD reception from Manning in the fourth quarter.
* Charles Stackhouse's two rushing TDs marked his first career multi-TD game.
* With 45 points today, Ole Miss has scored 30 or more points in 4-of-6 six games this season.
* Back-up QB David Morris saw his first action in the fourth quarter since the season opener against Murray State.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
* Senior CB Syniker Taylor intercepted the 10th pass of his career in the first quarter, tying him for seventh-place on the Ole Miss career list. Taylor also entered today's game as the SEC's active career leader in interceptions.
* The Rebels are 13-0 under Head Coach David Cutcliffe when allowing less than 20 points.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
* Redshirt freshman PK Jonathan Nichols made his first career field goal with a 27-yard kick in the first quarter. He missed on his first career attempt back on Oct. 6, a 46-yard attempt at Arkansas State.
* Jonathan Nichols scored a career-high nine points, with six extra points and one FG.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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