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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
1-0 , 1-0
Vanderbilt
0-1 , 0-1
Rebels Get Past Vanderbilt, 24-21, In Season Opener
8/30/2003 | Football
Aug 30, 2003
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By JIM PATTERSON
Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Jonathan Nichols kicked a 54-yard field goal with 3:01 left as Mississippi scored 10 unanswered points to beat Vanderbilt 24-21 in the season opener Saturday.
Nichols' field goal gave the Rebels their first lead of the game. He also had field goals of 51 and 20 yards in the second quarter as Ole Miss beat Vandy for the 10th time in the last 11 games.
The Commodores have lost 18 straight Southeastern Conference games dating back to November 2000. They had one last chance in the final minute, but Charlie Alexander hit Jay Cutler twice, and Cutler threw the ball away under pressure on fourth down.
Eli Manning threw for one touchdown and a 2-point conversion for the Rebels, but he fumbled twice and receivers dropped several passes. Vanderbilt sacked Manning twice and hit him repeatedly.
Manning was 22-of-33 for 275 yards. He also passed Kent Austin as Ole Miss' career completions leader. He needed only 12 coming into the game, and now has 576 for his career.
Vanderbilt outgained Mississippi in total offense with 399-370, but the Rebels came through when it mattered.
The Commodores last led 21-14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter on Cutler's 2-yard TD pass to Brandon Smith.
That is when Manning took over. He led the Rebels on a 75-yard drive that he capped with a 23-yard TD pass to Mike Espy to tie the game at 21. Then he completed three passes on the final drive to set up Nichols' winning field goal.
The Commodores led 7-6 at halftime and could have had a bigger lead if not for two turnovers deep in Ole Miss territory, including an interception in the end zone.
Vanderbilt, with 10 sophomores starting on defense, held the Rebels 48 yards of total offense in the first quarter. The Commodores also forced Mississippi to settle for a field goal at the end of the first half, stopping the Rebels three times from the Vandy 2.
Team Stats
UM 3, VU 0
UM - J. Nichols 51 yd field goal 11 plays, 42 yards, TOP 2:36
UM 3, VU 7
VU - C. Brancheau 1 yd pass from Jay Cutler (Tolga Ertugral kick) 10 plays, 61 yards, TOP 4:50
UM 6, VU 7
UM - J. Nichols 20 yd field goal 10 plays, 57 yards, TOP 4:58
UM 6, VU 14
VU - Erik Davis 50 yd pass from Benji Walker (Tolga Ertugral kick) 1 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:10
UM 14, VU 14
UM - Vashon Pearson 1 yd run (Kerry Johnson pass), 8 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:58
UM 14, VU 21
VU - Brandon Smith 2 yd pass from Jay Cutler (Tolga Ertugral kick) 5 plays, 44 yards, TOP 1:40
UM 21, VU 21
UM - Mike Espy 23 yd pass from Eli Manning (J. Nichols kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:53
UM 24, VU 21
UM - J. Nichols 54 yd field goal 7 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:01
