.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Tangle with 7th-Ranked Tigers in Oxford
10/25/2006 | Football
DATE: Saturday, October 28, 2006
TIME: 11:30 a.m. CT
SITE (CAPACITY): Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field (60,580)
TV: The Ole Miss-Auburn game will be broadcast live on Lincoln Financial Sports. Dave Neal (play-by-play), Dave Rowe (color) and Dave Baker (sideline) call the action. A CSS replay of the Ole Miss-Auburn game will be on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.
RADIO: Ole Miss Radio Network (David Kellum, play-by-play; Pete Cordelli, color analyst; Stan Sandroni, sideline reporter; Richard Cross and Harry Harrison, pregame and postgame hosts). Sirius Satellite Radio channel 158 (Ole Miss broadcast).
POLLS: Auburn is ranked #7 in the Associated Press Poll and in the ESPN Coaches' Poll. Ole Miss is not ranked in either poll.
SERIES INFO: This meeting will be the 31st all-time between the Rebels and Tigers dating back to 1928, and Auburn holds a 22-8 advantage in the series. The Tigers boast an 8-1 edge in games played in Oxford and have won six-straight. Ole Miss' last win in the series came on a 24-20 win at Auburn in 2003. The Tigers prevailed 27-3 in last year's meeting in Auburn and have won 11 of the last 13 meetings dating back to 1993 and 20-of-23 dating back to Auburn's 35-28 win in the 1971 Gator Bowl.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The game versus Auburn will be Ole Miss' sixth television appearance of the season and the second on Lincoln Financial Sports ... Ole Miss is 0-2 versus teams ranked in the Top 25 this season with a 14-9 loss to Georgia and last week's 38-3 loss at #15/18 Arkansas ... Rebel senior LB Patrick Willis was named both a Rotary Lombardi Award and Butkus Award Semifinalist last week and continues to lead the SEC with 10.8 tackles per game ... Junior LB Rory Johnson has collected 41 tackles over the last three games ... Junior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis ranks third in the SEC in rushing with 88.2 yards per game.
OLE MISS HEAD COACH ED ORGERON: Ed Orgeron (Northwestern State, 1984) is in his second season as the Ole Miss head coach, having been hired on Dec. 16, 2004. The Rebels are 5-14 under Orgeron as he posted a 3-8 mark in his first season in Oxford. Ole Miss is Orgeron's first career head coaching position, although he possesses over 20 years of college coaching experience, most recently as an assistant head coach on USC's 2003 and 2004 national champion teams. Orgeron is 0-1 versus Auburn after falling to the Tigers last season in Auburn.
AUBURN HEAD COACH TOMMY TUBERVILLE: Tommy Tuberville is in his eighth season as the head coach of the Auburn Tigers. He is 67-28 with the Tigers and has a career mark of 92-48 in his 12th season as a collegiate head coach. He has led the Tigers to six-straight bowl appearances. He capped a perfect 13-0 campaign 2004 with a 16-13 win over Virginia Tech in the 2005 NOKIA Sugar Bowl. Tuberville posted a 25-20 mark in four seasons as the head coach at Ole Miss from 1995-1998. He is 5-2 facing the Rebels.
AUBURN SCOUTING REPORT: The Tigers moved to 7-1 on the season with a 38-13 win over Tulane in their last outing. Auburn has posted wins over LSU and Florida, but picked up their lone loss falling to Arkansas 27-10 at home. Senior Kenny Irons ranks second in the SEC in rushing to lead the Tiger's ground attack. Irons is averaging 96.8 yards per game. Junior Brandon Cox has completed 110-of his 169 passes on the season for 1,411 yards. He has eight touch downs and just two interceptions. Senior Courtney Taylor is Cox's top target as he has 35 receptions for 400 yards and a touch down. Senior linebacker Will Herring leads the Tiger defense with 42 tackles (25 solo). Herring also has 4.5 TFLs for minus 13 yards and two interceptions. Junior strong safety Eric Brock ranks second in tackles with 39 (24 solo) and has six passes defensed. Junior defensive lineman Quentin Groves leads the team with 7.0 sacks for minus 48 yards.
OLE MISS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
This game against #7/7 Auburn will mark the third ranked opponent the Rebels will face this season ... Georgia was ranked #9/10 the week they traveled to Oxford and Arkansas was ranked #15/18 last week.
The Rebels are 2-8 in their last 10 games against teams ranked in the top 10 ... Ole Miss' two wins over top 10 teams during that stretch came at No. 8 LSU, 36-21 on Oct. 18, 1997, and against No. 6 Florida, 17-14 on Oct. 5, 2002 in Oxford.
Ole Miss is 20-53 all-time versus teams ranked in the top 10.
Ole Miss is 6-14 versus top-25 opponents dating back to a 45-30 win over No. 25 Mississippi State in the 2000 Egg Bowl.
Ole Miss is 43-115-2 all-time versus ranked teams.
OLE MISS ON TV
The game against Auburn, to be televised by Lincoln Financial Sports, is one of six TV games on the schedule, to date and the secondon LFS.
Over the last four-plus seasons, 38 of the Rebels' 57 games have been televised.
Last year, the Rebels appeared on TV six times.
All-time, this game will be the Rebels' 156th TV appearance since Ole Miss made its TV debut in the 1953 Sugar Bowl versus Georgia Tech ... Ole Miss is 69-84-2 all-time in TV games.
The Rebels have won 13 of their last 26 TV games dating back to the 24-12 win over Mississippi State in the 2002 "Egg Bowl."
REB TALK SLATED FOR THURSDAY LINE-UP: Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron's weekly call-in radio show, Reb Talk, will air Thursday, Oct. 26, from 7 to 8 p.m. CT from the Oxford University Club just off the Oxford Square. A full listing of radio affiliates is available on page 6.
ALABAMA REBELS: Ole Miss has two players on its 2006 roster that calls the state of Alabama home in senior TE Lawrence Lilly (Montevallo) and junior RB Hiram White (Birmingham). Auburn five players on its roster who are Magnolia state natives in senior OL Tim Duckworth (Taylorsville), junior DE Quentin Groves (Greenville), sophomore LB Steve Gandy and sophomore RB Mike McLaughlin are both from Waynesboro and freshman LB Hendrick Leverette from Hattiesburg.
WILLIS NAMED MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICAN: Ole Miss senior LB Patrick Willis was recently named to two midseason All-America teams. Willis, who leads the SEC in tackles with 10.4 per game, earned a spot on the CBS Sportsline.com Halfway All-America Team First Team. Willis earned first team honors on the Collegefootballnews.com Midseason All-America Team. Also last week, Willis was named both a Rotary Lombardi Award and Butkus Award Semifinalist.
OFFENSIVE NOTES VS. ARKANSAS
Junior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis led Ole Miss in rushing for the eighth-straight game ... Green-Ellis finished with 79 yards on 20 carries.
QB Brent Schaeffer attempted a career-high 30 passes.
Redshirt freshman WR Michael Hicks grabbed a career-long 51-yard reception from QB Brent Schaeffer in the third quarter ... On the day, Hicks posted career-best marks in receptions with four and receiving yards with 88.
Freshman RB Cordera Eason recorded his first carry as a Rebel, carrying the ball for two yards. Eason finished the day with 10 yards on four carries.
Junior WR Carlos Suggs recorded his first catch of the year, a 19-yard pass in the fourth quarter from QB Brent Schaeffer.
Junior RB Bruce Hall grabbed a career-long 11-yard reception from QB Brent Schaeffer.
GREEN-ELLIS LEADS THE GROUND GAME: Ole Miss junior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis is the leader in the Rebel ground game. Green-Ellis has led Ole Miss in rushing in each of the first eight games with a career-high 135 in the Rebels' loss to Georgia. Green-Ellis posted his second-straight 100-yard rushing game with 101 yards on 24 carries in Ole Miss' win over Vanderbilt. It was his third time this season to eclipse the 100-yard mark. Green-Ellis currently ranks third in the SEC with 88.2 yards per game. With 706 yards through the first eight games, the New Orleans native is currently on pace to become Ole Miss' first 1,000-yard rusher since Deuce McAllister recorded 1,082 yards on 212 rushes during the 1998 season. Through the first 111 years of Ole Miss football, the Rebels have only had two players go over 1,000 yards rushing in McAllister (1,082 yards in 1998) and Kayo Dottley (1,355 yards in 1949 and 1,057 yards in 1950).
HICKS MAKING HEADLINES: Redshirt freshman WR Michael Hicks had a career-day in Ole Miss' loss to Arkansas. Hicks hauled in four receptions for 88 yards, both career-highs, in his second-straight start. He and QB Brent Schaeffer connected on Ole Miss' second longest play of the season in the third quarter after Schaeffer scrambled before tossing a 51-yard pass to Hicks. The 51-yard reception also marked a career-long for Hicks.
THE WICKER MAN: Ole Miss senior offensive lineman Andrew Wicker is a traveling man and one of the most valuable players on the Rebel squad. Wicker, who played his first three seasons on the Rebel defensive line, was moved to the offensive side of the ball with the hiring of Ed Orgeron. In his time on the offensive line, Wicker since picked up starts at two different positions in right tackle and his natural position of left guard. In all, Wicker has started at four different spots during his Rebel career, as he also picked up starts at defensive tackle and nose guard prior to his move to the offense.
DEFENSIVE NOTES VS. ARKANSAS
Senior LB Patrick Willis led the Rebel defense with 13 tackles (10 solo) ... Willis, who was credited with 11 tackles in the first half, has now recorded 10 or more tackles in 14 of his last 16 games.
Junior LB Rory Johnson finished with 11 tackles (10 solo) ... Johnson has now recorded 10 or more tackles in three-straight games and has a total of 41 tackles combined in his last three outings.
Junior DL Jeremy Garrett posted a career-best five tackles (two solo) on the afternoon.
Sophomore DL Chris Bowers forced his first career forced fumble when he stripped Arkansas QB Mitch Mustain in the third quarter ... The play also resulted in Bowers collecting his first sack of the season.
JOHNSON TACKLING THE SEC: Junior LB Rory Johnson arrived at Ole Miss' fall camp from Hinds CC two weeks late, leaving him scrambling to learn the Ole Miss defense. After picking up confidence with a good outing versus the Georgia in his first career start, Johnson had a breakout performance in guiding Ole Miss to its first SEC win of the 2006 season versus Vanderbilt. Against the Commodores, Johnson posted 16 tackles (nine solo), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass defensed. Johnson haulted a late Vandy drive by taking the ball out of Commodore QB Mackenzi Adams hands and giving the ball back to Ole Miss. For his play, Johnson was named this week's SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct 9. Johnson is the second Rebel player to earn SEC honors as Dexter McCluster was named the SEC's Freshman of the Week on Sept 4. Johnson did not stop there as he has recorded double-digits in tackles in each of the last three games and has collected 41 tackles over that span.
HARDY WREAKING HAVOC: Rebel freshman DE Greg Hardy picked up his fourth-straight start versus Vanderbilt collecting a career-high 10 (five solo) tackles. Hardy also turned in his third forced fumble of the season and one pass defensed. The 10 tackles mark his first double-digit tackling performance of his career. On the season, Hardy ranks sixth on the team in tackles with 34 (20 solo), while leading Ole Miss with three forced fumbles and two sacks. Since joining the starting line-up, Hardy has collected 31 (18 solo) tackles, three forced fumbles, three passes defensed, and two sacks on the season.
SPECIALTY NOTES VS. ARKANSAS
The Rebel special teams gave up a 100-yard kick-off return to Felix Jones to open the game ... It marked the first kick-off return for a TD given up by an Ole Miss team since Alabama's Pierre Goode returned one for 100 yards on October 8, 1988 ... The Rebels gave up three TDs on kick-off returns in 1988 and have not given up another one until Jones' 100-yard score.
Freshman K Joshua Shene connected on a 27-yard field goal with 2:34 remaining in the first half ... Shene is now 7-of-9 on the season and has connected on six-straight field goals.
CASSIUS GOES FOR THE KNOCKOUT: Ole Miss freshman DB Cassius Vaughn made a splash in a big way in Ole Miss' narrow loss to Georgia. Vaughn, who has played on special teams in each of the Rebels' first eight games, finally got a piece of the action picking up his first career punt block in the second quarter. The outstanding special teams play led to an Ole Miss field goal and got Ole Miss on the board versus the Bulldogs. Vaughn nearly repeated the feat against Vanderbilt, instead tackling the Commodore punter for a loss of 13 yards. Vaughn's play versus Vanderbilt led to an Ole Miss TD.
SHENE FINDING HIS GROOVE: Rebel freshman K Joshua Shene had a career day in Ole Miss' 26-23 overtime loss at Alabama. The Oklahoma City, Okla., native, made 3-of-3 field goals on the afternoon, both career bests, and also connected on a career long kick of 37 yards in the overtime period. After not attempting a field goal in Ole Miss' first three games, Shene has made 7-of-9 over the last five outings, including six-straight. He has also made all 11 of his PATs.
2006 TEAM CAPTAINS: On September 9, Ed Orgeron announced his two permanent team captains for the 2006 campaign. A pair of seniors wear the title LB Patrick Willis (Bruceton, Tenn.) and OL Andrew Wicker (Zachary, La.).
BLOCK PARTY: In the game versus Georgia, Ole Miss blocked two punts, although the first was called back for a holding penalty. Rebel DBs Dustin Mouzon and Cassius Vaughn each picked up a block on Georgia's Gordon Ely-Kelso in the first half of action. In addition, Ole Miss senior DB Trumaine McBride blocked a Kentucky field goal attempt earlier in the season. The Rebels' nearly recorded another block on a punt versus Vanderbilt, as the punter was tackled for a loss.
FIRST HALF REBELS: Ole Miss has been a strong first half team this season, posting 71 points in the first half of action. Of the Rebels' 104 points, 43 have come in the second period of play. Conversely, the Rebels have struggled to put points on the board in the second half, picking up just 10 points in the third quarter and 20 points in the fourth quarter.
NEWCOMERS THROWN INTO ACTION: Through the first eight games of the season, 22 members of the 2006 signing class have already seen game action, including 17 true freshmen. Ole Miss ranks second in the country with its 17 true freshmen seeing action. Temple has had 19 first-year players see action and Illinois has fielded 17. Jonathan Cornell (Fr., LB) and Bryan Kendricks (Fr, DB) were the latest newcomers to check into the game as both saw action for the first time against Georgia. The following newcomers have hit the field in their first season in the Red and Blue: Corey Actis (Jr., OL), Cordera Eason (Fr., RB), Daverin Geralds (Fr., DL), Marshay Green (Fr., WR), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Jr., RB), Bruce Hall (Jr., RB), Andy Hartmann (Fr., FB), Greg Hardy (Fr., DL), Jamal Harvey (Fr., DB), Shay Hodge (Fr., WR), Hayward Howard (So., DL), John Jerry (Fr., OL), Rory Johnson (Jr., LB), Kendrick Lewis (Fr., WR), Kentrell Lockett (Fr., DL), Dexter McCluster (Fr., WR), Preston Powers (Fr., LS), Brent Schaeffer (Jr., QB) Joshua Shene (Fr., K), Marcus Tillman (Fr., DE) and Cassius Vaughn (Fr., DB).
STARTING SOMETHING: Ten offensive players and seven players on the defensive side of the ball have picked up their first career starts through the first eight games of the season. Brent Schaeffer (QB), Mike Wallace (WR), Dexter McCluster (WR), Corey Actis (C), David Traxler (RT), John Jerry (RG), Marshay Green (WR), Michael Hicks (WR), Maurice Miller (OL) and BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB) have each started for the first time for the Rebel offense, while Greg Hardy (DE), Peria Jerry (DE), Hayward Howard (DT), Viciente DeLoach (DE), Marcus Tillman (DE), Rory Johnson (WLB) and Terrell Jackson (DB) have started for the Rebel defense.
RUN DMC: Ole Miss freshman WR Dexter McCluster is racking up yards in all phases of the game. McCluster, who was named Freshman of the Week by both the Southeastern Conference and Rivals.com after the Memphis game, is second on the team in all-purpose yards behind BenJarvus Green-Ellis. McCluster has gained 68 yards on the ground, 232 yards through the air and 274 on kick-off returns, despite missing the majority of the last three games with an injury.
YOUNG RECEIVERS: Ole Miss boasts experienced pass-catchers at the running back and tight end positions, but at wide receiver, the Rebel talent is young. Of the 90 receptions on the season, 74 are to first-time pass-catchers. True freshmen Dexter McCluster and Marshay Green lead the way. McCluster has 15 catches for 232 yards and a TD and Green has 16 receptions for 145 yards and two TDs. Redshirt freshman Michael Hicks was the most recent young receiver to get in the mix as he caught the first pass of his career versus Wake Forest, finishing the game with three catches for 53 yards.
SCHEDULE NOTES
Ole Miss will face six teams that went to bowl games last year: Memphis (Motor City), Missouri (Independence), Georgia (Sugar), Alabama (Cotton), Auburn (Capital One) and LSU (Peach).
The Rebels take on two first-time opponents in Wake Forest and Northwestern State.
For the first time in two years, Ole Miss plays seven home games this season, hosting Memphis (Sept. 3), Wake Forest (Sept. 23), Georgia (Sept. 30), Vanderbilt (Oct. 7), Auburn (Oct. 28), Northwestern State (Nov. 4) and Mississippi State (Nov. 25).
REBELS ADD HERALDED SIGNING CLASS: This preseason, Ole Miss has welcomed what many have called the greatest recruiting class in school history. Highlighted by JUCO All-American QB Brent Schaeffer and Parade High School All-American DL Marcus Tillman, the Rebels' signing class has been ranked as high as ninth in college football. Below charts where the media experts tabbed Ole Miss' 2006 incoming class:
CBS SportsLine.com 9th
SuperPrep 13th
ESPN.com 14th
Tom Lemming 15th
Scout.com 15th
CollegeFootballNews.com 15th
Rivals.com 16th
Max Emfinger 16th
2006 SEASON GAME-BY-GAME NOTES
GAME #1: OLE MISS 28
MEMPHIS 25
The Rebels' 28 points scored versus Memphis was the most by an Ole Miss team since they tallied 31 points at South Carolina on Oct. 9, 2004.
The newcomers on the Rebel offense had a warm welcome to their new home, accounting for 321 of Ole Miss' 337 yards in the win over Memphis. Transfers BenJarvus Green-Ellis (RB) and Brent Schaeffer (QB) tallied 127 and 48 yards, respectively, on the ground to go along with Dexter McCluster's (WR) 60 yards of rushing. McCluster also added 86 receiving yards.
Junior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis plowed his way to 127 yards and 2 TDs on 26 carries in his Rebel debut versus Memphis. Green-Ellis, who registered career highs of 203 yards and 3 TDs on 42 carries while spending his first two collegiate seasons at Indiana, tallied the most yards by an Ole Miss running back since Vashon Pearson turned in 139 yards on 21 carries versus Wyoming in 2004.
Behind Green-Ellis' performance, the Rebels picked up 240 yards on the ground, the most by an Ole Miss squad since the season-ending win over Mississippi State in the 2004 Egg Bowl. Ole Miss notched 283 yards versus the Bulldogs. The Rebels did not eclipse the 200-yard mark in rushing for all of the 2005 season, with the highest mark of 163 coming against Kentucky.
Junior CB Nate Banks posted a career-best 3 passes defensed versus Memphis.
Junior DE Viciente DeLoach forced a fumble in the third quarter versus Memphis. It was the first forced fumble of his career.
Freshman WR Dexter McCluster gained 122 yards on 5 kick-off returns for the Rebels.
Sophomore P Rob Park punted three times versus Memphis for an average of 47.3 yards, a single game career-best average.
GAME #2: OLE MISS 7
MISSOURI 34
Junior QB Brent Schaeffer completed his first TD pass in a Rebel uniform versus Missouri with a 30-yard strike to freshman WR Marshay Green in the second quarter. Schaeffer previously recorded 2 TD passes as a freshman at Tennessee.
The Rebels had the ball for just 57 plays versus Missouri compared to 83 vs. the Tigers. Despite the difference in the number of plays, Ole Miss led in possession time 30:49 to 29:11.
Freshman WR Marshay Green caught his first career pass with a 5-yard reception in the second quarter at Missouri. Green followed that up with his first career TD reception on the following play.
Ole Miss' 162 yards of total offense versus Missouri was the Rebels' lowest offensive output since posting only 136 yards versus Auburn in 1998.
Four Rebels recorded their first career reception in the loss to Missouri. Along with Marshay Green, junior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, sophomore WR Mike Wallace and freshman WR Kendrick Lewis each grabbed their first pass-catch.
Senior LB Patrick Willis recorded 10 tackles (6 solo) and also picked up a career-best two pass break-ups versus Missouri. The 10 tackles marked the fourth-straight double-digit tackling game for Willis dating back to last season. He has recorded 10 or more tackles in nine of his last 10 games.
Sophomore DL Peria Jerry was credited with his first career sack at Missouri. Jerry sacked Tiger QB Chase Daniel in the first quarter for a 2-yard loss. Jerry also recorded a career-high six tackles in the game.
In his first career start, true freshman DL Marcus Tillman posted a career-high six (five solo) tackles, including 2.0 TFLs for minus two yards.
Sophomore CB Dustin Mouzon posted a career-best five (four solo) tackles. Mouzon also recorded his first career forced fumble versus Missouri.
Rob Park had a career-high 10 punts for a career-high 405 yards at Missouri, including a long of 48 yards. Park's previous career-best marks came against LSU in 2005 when he punted nine times for 325 yards.
GAME #3: OLE MISS 14
KENTUCKY 31
Junior QB Brent Schaeffer completed 13-of-26 passes versus Kentucky for 190 yards, two TDs and one interception. The two TDs marked the first multiple TD performance of Schaeffer's career. The 190 yards were a new career best. Schaeffer also rushed 11 times for 65 yards, both career highs.
Junior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis finished the Kentucky game with 85 yards on 19 carries ... Green-Ellis now has 216 yards on 52 carries versus Kentucky in his college career.
Freshman WR Marshay Green hauled in his second career TD with a 47-yard pass reception from QB Brent Schaeffer with 1:03 remaining in the first quarter at Kentucky. The TD marked the first Ole Miss points scored in the first quarter of play this season ... Green's 47-yard reception was a career-long.
Junior TE Robert Hough caught his first career TD pass with a 27-yard grab from Schaeffer with 4:08 remaining in the second quarter versus Kentucky. Hough's TD was the first for a Rebel TE since Lawrence Lilly hauled in a 4-yard TD pass versus Mississippi State in 2004 ... The reception by Hough was also the first for an Ole Miss TE this season.
The Ole Miss offense tallied 395 total yards on 65 plays versus Kentucky, season-highs for both. The 395 yards were the most by a Rebel offense since recording 400 yards versus Vanderbilt in 2005.
Junior LB Garry Pack posted a career-best 14 tackles against the Wildcats. His previous career high was 10 tackles versus Mississippi State in 2005. His 14 solo tackles are also a career high.
Senior LB Patrick Willis recorded 13 tackles (seven solo) and also picked up 1.5 TFLs for minus five yards and a pass break-up versus Kentucky. The 13 tackles marked the fifth-straight double-digit tackling game for Willis. He has recorded 10 or more tackles in 10 of his last 11 games.
The Rebel defense held Kentucky to a punt on the first possession of the game. It marked the first time this season Ole Miss did not allow a TD on the opponents opening drive.
In his first career start at Kentucky, freshman DE Greg Hardy recorded his first career forced fumble and fumble recovery. Hardy also posted a career-best two passes defensed.
Freshman WR Marshay Green returned the second kick-off of his career in the first quarter for 41 yards versus the the Wildcats. The 41-yard return marked a career-high for Green.
On the final play of the first half, senior CB Trumaine McBride blocked a 37-yard FG attempt by UK's Lones Seiber. It was the first blocked FG for the Rebels since Jayme Mitchell blocked a 51-yard attempt versus Tennessee in 2005. It was McBride's first career blocked FG.
GAME #4: OLE MISS 3
WAKE FOREST 27
Redshirt freshman Michael Hicks picked up his first career reception with a 20-yard catch to end the third quarter. Hicks finished the game versus Wake Forest with three catches for 53 yards.
Junior QB Seth Adams saw his first career action versus Wake Forest. Adams was 8-for-11 passing for 84 yards.
Senior LB Patrick Willis collected 11 tackles, marking the sixth-straight double-digit tackling game for Willis. He has now recorded 10 or more tackles in 11 of his last 12 games.
Sophomore DB Jamarca Sanford tallied 10 tackles, a new career-high. He previously posted eight tackles on three occasions.
The Rebel defense gave up a TD on the opponents' first drive for the third time in four games this season.
Sophomore LB Quentin Taylor picked up 9 tackles, a new career-high. He previously posted eight tackles in the season opener versus Memphis.
Freshman DE Greg Hardy recorded his second-straight game with a forced fumble in the loss to Wake Forest. Hardy also forced a fumble last week versus Kentucky.
Junior DL Brandon Jenkins recovered his first career fumble following Hardy's strip in the first quarter. Jenkins also recorded a career-best six tackles.
Freshman K Joshua Shene connected on his first career FG in the second quarter, a 26-yard attempt. Shene was 1-of-2 on the evening after missing his first career attempt of 25 yards in the first quarter.
GAME #5: OLE MISS 9
#9/10 GEORGIA 14
Junior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis led the Rebels on the ground for the fifth-straight game versus Georgia as he finished the game with a career-high 135 yards on 24 carries ...The 135 Yards also marked the second time this season Green-Ellis has gone over the century mark, as he had 127 yards in the season-opener versus Memphis ... The 135 yards marked the most by a Rebel running back since Vashon Pearson ran for 139 yards against Wyoming in 2004.
Freshman WR Dexter McCluster's 49-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter versus UGA was his first of the season, and the longest reception of the season for the Rebels ... the 49-yard reception was also a career-long for McCluster.
The Ole Miss defense shut out its opponent in the first half for the first time this season when it held Georgia scoreless the first two periods.
Freshman SS Cassius Vaughn blocked a punt by Georgia's Gordon Ely-Kelso in the second quarter ... The block was the first of Vaughn's career and the first blocked punt by a Rebel since Bryan Brown blocked a punt versus Kentucky in 2005.
Freshman K Joshua Shene was 1-for-2 on the evening, knocking through a 23-yard attempt in the second frame after missing a career-long attempt of 53-yards in the first quarter.
GAME #6: OLE MISS 17
VANDERBILT 10
Junior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored his third TD of the season on a two-yard carry in the first quarter ... The TD was Green-Ellis' first since the season-opener versus Memphis ... The TD was only the second TD scored in the first quarter for the Rebels this season ... Green-Ellis led the Rebels' in rushing for the sixth time this season with 101 yards on 24 carries ... Green-Ellis posted his second-straight 100-yard rushing game and third of the season ...With 571 yards on the season, Green-Ellis becomes the fastest Rebel to reach the 500-yard mark in rushing since Vashon Pearson went over 500 yards in the sixth game of the season in 2004.
The Ole Miss offense posted 14 first quarter points after having scored only seven points in the first quarter in the first five games of the season.
The Rebels were held to a season-low 31 receiving yards ... The 31 receiving yards were the lowest by an Ole Miss offense in a victory, since the Rebels tallied 26 in a 43-14 win over Tennessee in 1977.
Junior LB Rory Johnson collected a career-best 16 (9 solo) tackles, including 12 in the first half ... The 16 tackles marked Johnson's first career double-figure tackling game ... Johnson also picked up his first career fumble recovery and returned it 28 yards ... He also turned in three forced fumbles on the afternoon, also a career-first.
Rory Johnson's 16 tackles are the most by an Ole Miss player since Broc Kreitz totaled 16 against Georgia in 1996.
Ole Miss freshman DE Greg Hardy forced a fumble in the third quarter, his third forced fumble of the season ... Hardy also recorded a career best 10 tackles and one pass defensed.
Rebel senior LB Patrick Willis collected 12 (8 solo) tackles ... Willis has now recorded 10 or more tackles in 12 of his last 14 games.
Rebel senior DB Charles Clark intercepted Vanderbilt quarterback Mackenzi Adams at the Ole Miss nine-yard line with 38 seconds remaining to preserve the win ...It marked his second career interception.
Freshman SS Cassius Vaughn downed Vanderbilt P Brett Upson in the first quarter of action ... With the TFL, Vaughn gave the Ole Miss offense the ball at the Commodore 17-yard line, which eventually led to a BenJarvus Green-Ellis 1-yard TD.
Sophomore RB Mico McSwain returned his first kick-off of the season for a career-best 69 yards in the second quarter.
Freshman K Joshua Shene connected on a career-long FG of 32 yards on the Rebels' opening drive of the second half.
Junior RB Hiram White recovered his first career fumble off a mishandled punt by Vanderbilt's Alex Washington in the third quarter of play.
GAME #7: OLE MISS 23
ALABAMA 26 (OT)
Junior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored his fifth TD of the season on a two-yard carry in the first quarter ... The TD was Green-Ellis' third in the last two games ... Green-Ellis led the Rebels' in rushing for the seventh time this season with 56 yards on 21 carries.
Junior QB Brent Schaeffer completed 13 passes on the afternoon, which ties a career high ... Schaeffer was 13-for-20 for 163 yards and one TD.
Sophomore Mike Wallace caught his first career TD on a 55-yard pass from Brent Schaeffer in the fourth quarter. It was the Rebels' longest play from scrimmage this season. Wallace finished with three receptions for 86 yards, both career highs.
Freshman WR Shay Hodge recorded a career-long reception of 18 yards in the second quarter.
Junior TE Robert Hough set a career-high with three receptions.
The Rebel offense did not give up a sack for the first time this season.
Junior LB Rory Johnson led the Rebels in tackling for the second-straight game ... Johnson finished with 14 tackles (6 solo) ... Johnson has now recorded 10 or more tackles in back-to-back games and has a total of 30 tackles combined in his last two outings.
Senior Patrick Willis recorded 11 tackles (7 solo) ... Willis has now recorded 10 or more tackles in 13 of his last 15 games.
Freshmen Greg Hardy and Marcus Tillman both posted their second career sack in the game.
Ole Miss started its sixth different set of players on the defensive line in seven games this season. A total of eight different players have accounted for the six different line-ups.
Freshman K Joshua Shene drilled a 36-yard FG with 7:39 remaining in the second quarter to knot the game at 10 points a piece ... Shene also connected on a 24-yard FG with :04 seconds left in the period ... He then hit on a 37-yard FG in overtime to give the Rebels' a 23-20 lead ... The 37-yarder was a career-long and the three FG makes and attempts are also both career-highs ... He is now 6-of-8 on the season.
Punter Rob Park completed a five-yard pass to Bruce Hall on a fake punt in the fourth quarter to convert a first down. It was the first attempt and completion of Park's career and the first fake punt for the Rebels this season.
