Rebels Winning The Battle In The Trenches

Nov. 1, 2003

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by Chris Purser
Ole Miss Media Relations Student Assisant

OXFORD, Miss. - For the second straight week, the Ole Miss Rebels faced one of the top rushing teams in the Southeastern Conference. It didn't matter though, for the second straight week, the results were the same.

Ole Miss (7-2, 5-0 SEC) fresh off facing the number one rushing offense in the SEC last weekend in Arkansas, faced a South Carolina team that possessed the fifth ranked rushing offense in the conference. And once again, the Rebel front four held their own, yielding just 118 yards rushing. That kind of play has helped Ole Miss get off to a perfect 5-0 in the SEC, it's best start in conference play since 1963. "It's great because we haven't done this since I have been here," said defensive end Charlie Anderson. "It's a great feeling at this point, but we have got to stay focused."

Focus has continued to be the key for the Rebel defensive line. Just last season, critics of Ole Miss chastised the linemen for being undersized, and unathletic. So it was no surprise that the Rebel defensive front has stepped it up a notch, allowing just 86.6 yards per game for opponents, and holding their second straight opponent to under their season average.

"We've just got to stay focused," Anderson said. "You can't lose your focus in SEC action."

South Carolina entered Saturday's game averaging 168 yards per game rushing. Arkansas entered last Saturday's contest averaging 225 yards per game. Last Saturday, the defensive line helped hold the Razorbacks to just 82 yards on the ground. Saturday, they helped contain the Gamecocks to just 118 yards on the ground, including 2 sacks and four tackles for loss.

And part of that focus has been to put pressure on opponents' quarterback, not just contain the run. And Ole Miss has done just that. Against the Gamecocks, senior Jesse Mitchell recorded his second sack of the season. That sack helped Ole Miss improve to 25 straight games where the Rebel defense has recorded a sack. In fact, since their trip to Florida almost a month ago, the Rebels have not allowed a single running back to record a 100 yard rushing performance. That has helped Ole Miss amass the third ranked rushing defense in the SEC.

"It's real big," said McKinley Boykin. "As long as we take things one game at a time we'll be okay."

And with focus, determination, and play of the Ole Miss defensive line, they will be just fine.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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