Ole Miss Welcomes the Nation's No. 1 in LSU

HOME FINALE: Ole Miss (3-7, 0-6) vs. LSU (9-1, 5-1)

DATE: Saturday, November 17, 2007

TIME: 2:30 p.m. CT

SITE (CAPACITY): Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/ Hollingsworth Field (60,580); Oxford, Miss.

TV: CBS Sports (Verne Lundquist, play-by-play; Gary Danielson, analyst; Tracy Wolfson, sideline). A replay of the game will be available on OleMissSports.com, Saturday at 11 p.m., and on CSS, Sunday at 1 p.m.

RADIO: Ole Miss Radio Network (David Kellum, play-by-play; Pete Cordelli, color analyst; Stan Sandroni, sideline reporter). XM Satellite Radio channel 199. Listen Online

POLLS: LSU is ranked No. 1 in all four major polls. Ole Miss does not appear in the top-25 rankings.

SERIES INFO: This game will be the 96th all-time between the Ole Miss Rebels and LSU Tigers dating back to 1894. LSU is Ole Miss' second-most played opponent besides Mississippi State, whom the Rebels will play for the 104th time on November 23. LSU holds a 54-37-4 advantage in the series. The Tigers have won five straight overall and three in a row at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. LSU holds a 7-4-1 edge in Oxford and prevailed 40-7 in 2005. Ole Miss' last victory in the series was a 35-24 triumph in Baton Rouge in 2001 and the last win at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was a 37-31 overtime finish in 1998.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Four of the last five games in the Ole Miss-LSU series have been decided by three points or less, including the Tigers' 23-20 overtime win a year ago ... The Rebels are facing the nation's No. 1 team for the first time since 1994 ... Over the last two years, Ole Miss' average margin of defeat against top-10 opponents is 5.0 points (four games, including one in overtime) ... This will mark the Rebels' fourth game of the season against a top-25 foe and second against a top-five opponent ... Senior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis is 33 rushing yards short of 1,000 for the year ... He is averaging 96.7 yards per game and coming off his fourth 100-yard game of the year.

OLE MISS HEAD COACH ED ORGERON: Ed Orgeron (Northwestern State, 1984) is in his third season as the Ole Miss head coach, having been hired on Dec. 16, 2004. He has a career coaching record of 10-23. 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 0-2 against LSU as a head coach.

LSU HEAD COACH LES MILES: Les Miles is 31-5 in his third season as the head coach of the LSU Tigers. He has a career mark of 59-26 (.694 winning pct.) in seven seasons as a collegiate head coach. Prior to LSU, Miles served four seasons as the head coach at Oklahoma State from 2001-2004, posting a 28-21 record and guiding the Cowboys to three bowl appearances. One of those postseason berths was the 2004 Cotton Bowl, where his OSU squad lost to Ole Miss 31-28 in Miles' only confrontation with the Rebels. The 2002 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Miles served as an assistant with Michigan, Colorado and the Dallas Cowboys before taking over at OSU. He is 2-1 against Ole Miss.

LSU SCOUTING REPORT: LSU has clinched a spot as the Western Division champion in the SEC Championship game. The Tigers have five wins over teams ranked in the top 18 and knocked off Louisiana Tech 58-10 Saturday on homecoming. LSU leads the SEC in total offense and is second in rushing at 220.2 yards per game. Senior RB Jacob Hester leads the way with 706 yards and eight TDs. Senior QB Matt Flynn has completed 144-of-260 passes for 1,856 yards with 14 TDs and 10 interceptions. Sophomore WR Brandon LaFell boasts 39 receptions for 535 yards and two scores, while senior Early Doucet and junior Demetrius Byrd have each hauled in four TDs passes. LSU continues to have one of the nation's best all-around defenses as the Tigers are ranked in the top 10 nationally in five categories this week - total defense (236.8 ypg), pass efficiency defense (92.6 rating), rushing defense (66.0 ypg), pass defense (170.8 ypg) and in scoring defense (16.7 ppg). Senior SS Craig Steltz tops the squad with 68 total tackles and four interceptions, and sophomore LB Ali Highsmith has collected 60 stops with six QB hurries. On the line, senior ends Kirston Pittman and Glenn Dorsey have each notched 11.5 TFLs and six sacks. Junior K Colt David is the SEC's second-leading scorer with 111 points, connecting on 19-of-25 FGs and all 48 PATs.

OLE MISS-LSU AND THE TOP SPOT
The highest-ranked game for both Ole Miss and LSU was the 1959 Halloween Night win for the Tigers in Baton Rouge, 7-3, when LSU was ranked No. 1 and Ole Miss was ranked No. 3 ... Later that season, the Rebels were second and the Tigers third when Ole Miss avenged that loss 21-0 in the 1960 Sugar Bowl.
In 1958 in Baton Rouge, LSU was No. 1 and Ole Miss was No. 6, and the Tigers prevailed 14-0.

OLE MISS VS. NO. 1
Ole Miss has been involved in 11 games when one of the teams was ranked No. 1 at the time.
The Rebels are 5-1 when they have held the top spot.
Ole Miss is 0-5 all-time against the nation's top squad, and two were against LSU.
The No. 1 team has played in Oxford twice: Sept. 19, 1964, No. 1 Ole Miss beat unranked Memphis State, 30-0; Oct. 1, 1994, No. 1 Florida beat unranked Ole Miss, 38-14.

OLE MISS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
Ole Miss is 10-22 all-time vs. teams ranked in the top five ... The last victory over a top-five foe was a 20-13 triumph over No. 3 Notre Dame in 1977 in Jackson.
The last Ole Miss victory over a top-10 team was No. 6 Florida, 17-14 in 2002 in Oxford.
Ole Miss' last win over a top-25 team was a 31-28 road win at South Carolina in 2004 ... The Rebels are looking to snap a 13-game skid to ranked teams.
Ole Miss is 43-120-2 all-time versus ranked teams.

REBEL NOTEBOOK
The 38 points against Northwestern State was the most scored by the Rebels under head coach Ed Orgeron ... The previous high was 28 in the 2006 win over Memphis.
Ole Miss is 0-6 in SEC play for the first time since 1982, when the team played only six league games and finished the conference slate with that mark.
The Rebel football program is three wins short of 600 ... Ole Miss boasts an all-time record of 597-458-35 (.566 winning percentage).
This is the 113th football season at The University of Mississippi dating back to 1893 ... Ole Miss did not field teams in 1897 due to an epidemic of yellow fever, and also in 1943 when football was abolished at all Mississippi state-supported institutions by the Board of Trustees.

LOUISIANA REBELS: Along with head coach Ed Orgeron (Galliano), 20 members of the Ole Miss roster hail from the Pelican state, including key personnel BenJarvus Green-Ellis (New Orleans), Mike Wallace (New Orleans), Robert Lane (Monroe), Marshay Green (Bastrop) and Kendrick Lewis (New Orleans). Other Louisana natives in the Red and Blue include Jeremy McGee (New Orleans), Rob Campbell (Slidell), Lionel Breaux (New Orleans), Ryan Favret (Metairie), Colby Arceneaux (River Ridge), Kentrell Lockett (Hahnville), David Hankins (Shreveport), Nathan Juleff (Mandeville), Ben Benedetto (Metairie), Don Hargroder (Abbeville), Paul Hurd (Monroe), Daverin Geralds (Baton Rouge), Alex Washington (Monroe), Rishaw Johnson (Hammond) and Chris Bowers (Shreveport).

DEBUTS: A total of 25 players have made their Ole Miss debuts this year, including nine true freshmen in Colby Arceneaux (DB), Lionel Breaux (DB), Johnny Brown (DB), Fon Ingram (DB), Ted Laurent (DL), Lawon Scott (DL), Chris Strong (LB), LaDerrick Vaughn (DE) and Scottie Williams (LB). Other players seeing their first action this fall include Christian Albarracin (Sr., K); Ben Benedetto (RFr., DL) Lamar Brumfield (So., LB); Derrick Davis (RFr., RB); David Densmore (RFr., DL); Tony Fein (Jr., LB); George Helow (RFr., DB), Reggie Hicks (RFr., RB); Kentrell Lockett (RFr., DL); Jacarious Lucas (Jr., WR), Ashlee Palmer (Jr., LB); Jamie Phillips (So., LB); Justin Sparks (So., P); Markeith Summers (RFr., DB); Allen Walker (RFr., LB) and Josh Zettergren (Sr., WR).

STARTERS: True freshman Lionel Breaux (WR) made his first career start ... Sophomore Dexter McCluster (FL) earned the starting nod for the first time this year.

CAPTAINS: Serving as team captains for the Northwestern State game were Jason Cook (Jr., FB) and Viciente DeLoach (Sr., DE).

ATTACKING THE RECORD BOOK: At 967 rushing yards on the year, senior RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis is now 33 yards short of 1,000 yards. If he reaches that mark, he would become only the second player in school history to reach the 1,000-yard single-season mark twice in his career, joining Kayo Dotley (1949 and 1950). Green-Ellis is on pace to finish the year with 1,162 yards, which would be the second-highest single-season total in school history behind Kayo Dottley's 1,312 in 1949. Green-Ellis has risen to sixth on the career list with 1,967 yards.

THRICE IS NICE: BenJarvus Green-Ellis turned in the first three-touchdown game of his career against Northwestern State. The 41-yard TD trot in the first quarter was his second-longest run of the year. He boasts five rushing TDs this year and 12 for his career.

OTHER OFFENSIVE NOTES
With 120 rushing yards against Northwestern State, BenJarvus Green-Ellis posted his fourth 100-yard game of the season and eighth of his career ... Green-Ellis ranks fourth in the SEC rushing at 96.7 yards per game.
Sophomore WR Shay Hodge tallied a career-high 88 receiving yards on four catches vs. the Demons with his fourth TD of the year, a 10-yarder from Brent Schaeffer.
Making his first start of 2007, sophomore WR Dexter McCluster hauled in the second-longest pass of his career with a 46-yard reception against Northwestern State ... McCluster finished with three catches for 57 yards ... He has caught at least two passes in each game since his return six games ago.
Senior QB Seth Adams finished 7-of-15 for 113 yards with one interception against Northwestern State.
In relief, senior QB Brent Schaeffer completed 3-of-13 passes for 64 yards with a 10-yard TD to Shay Hodge.
Senior RB Bruce Hall rushed for a season-high 54 yards on nine attempts against the Demons.
The Ole Miss offense posted its second-most yards of the season against Alabama with 420.
The Rebels' 534 total yards against Missouri was the most in the Ed Orgeron era, and the most since 567 total yards against Wyoming in 2004 ... It also marked the first time since the 2004 Wyoming game that Ole Miss has had a 100-yard rusher (BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 226) and 100-yard receiver (Mike Wallace, 136).

PERIA IN THE BACKFIELD: Junior DL Peria Jerry has been a force of late, totaling 9.5 TFLs and 31 total tackles in the last six games. He is currently tied for sixth in the SEC in TFLs with 12.0. Jerry also notched his first career interception against Northwestern State and equaled his high of six solo stops.

TONY THE TACKLER: Junior LB Tony Fein has put on tackling display of late, totaling 37 stops over the last three games. Fein followed up his 13-tackle performance against Arkansas with a career-high 16 at Auburn. It marked the most stops by a Rebel since Rory Johnson's 16 against Vanderbilt last year. Fein posted eight solos against Northwestern State and is tied for second on the team in total stops with 69.

OTHER DEFENSIVE NOTES
Junior DB Jamarca Sanford was credited with a career-high two TFLs and a career-high tying 13 total tackles against Northwestern State ... After missing two games, Sanford has returned with 24 stops in the last two games ... He boasts four double-figure tackle games this year.
Junior DB Dustin Mouzon totaled 10 tackles and equaled his career best of eight solos vs. the Demons ... It marked his second double-figure tackle outing of the season.
Freshman DB Johnny Brown was credited with seven tackles against Northwestern State ... Brown is averaging 7.6 tackles per game over the last five games.
The Rebel defense recorded its first shutout under Ed Orgeron against Louisiana Tech and first since the 2003 regular-season finale at Mississippi State (31-0).
In the win over Memphis, the Rebels intercepted four passes for the first time since the 2004 Wyoming game ... Ole Miss totaled three interceptions the entire 2006 season.

SPECIALTY NOTES
Junior Mike Wallace notched his first return for a TD with his 77-yard kickoff return against Northwestern State ... It marked the first kickoff return for a TD by a Rebel since Jason Armstead's 93-yard score in the 2001 Murray State game.
Sophomore Dexter McCluster broke free for a 19-yard punt return against the Demons, which was the longest by a Rebel this season.
Sophomore Justin Sparks handled some kickoffs for the first time in his career and averaged 64.7 yards on six kickoffs.

BLOCK PARTY: Ole Miss has blocked three kicks this year two punts and one field goal. Against Alabama, junior DB Dustin Mouzon broke free for the first punt block of his career in the third quarter. The ball bounced out of bounds at the Alabama eight yardline to set up a Rebel TD. Mouzon was also active on special teams against Louisiana Tech. Under three minutes left in the game, senior DL Brandon Jenkins registered his first career block on a Bulldog 37-yard FG attempt, and Mouzon recovered and returned it 55 yards for the TD. In addition, the Rebels scored on special teams in the opener at Memphis, blocking a punt for a TD for the first time since 1995. Junior DB Jamarca Sanford got his first career block, and sophomore DB Kendrick Lewis recovered it in the end zone for his first TD. The Rebels have blocked eight kicks in Ed Orgeron's three years as Ole Miss coach.

MORE MOUZON: Junior DB Dustin Mouzon has not taken an offensive snap this year but has two TDs. Against Louisiana Tech, Mouzon scored on special teams when he recovered a blocked field goal and jetted 55 yards for the touchdown. In the opener against Memphis, he reached pay dirt on defense, returning an interception 99 yards for a TD. It tied the third-longest interception return in school history and was the longest by a Rebel since Louis Guy's 103-yard return in 1962. Mouzon finished the Memphis game with two picks, six solo stops and a fumble recovery in earning SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He became the first Rebel with two interceptions in the same game since Von Hutchins against Arkansas State in 2002, and Mouzon is first to earn weekly honors by the league since LB Rory Johnson following last year's Vanderbilt game.

FAST STARTERS: Ole Miss led at the end of the first quarter against Northwestern State for the sixth time this year with the 17-0 advantage. The Rebels have outscored the opposition 51-31 this season

SCHEDULE NOTES
LSU is Ole Miss' fourth top-25 foe ... The Rebels lost to No. 3 Florida 30-24 in Oxford, No. 15 Georgia 45-17 in Athens and No. 23 Auburn 17-3 on the Plains.
Ole Miss is facing seven teams that went to bowl games last year, including BSC national Champion Florida. In addition, the Rebels encounter Missouri (Sun), Georgia (Peach), Alabama (Independence), Arkansas (Capitol One), Auburn (Cotton) and LSU (Sugar).
For the second straight year, Ole Miss plays seven home games, hosting Missouri (Sept. 8), Florida (Sept. 22), Louisiana Tech (Oct. 6), Alabama (Oct. 13), Arkansas (Oct. 20), Northwestern State (Nov. 3) and LSU (Nov. 17).

The University of Mississippi Athletics

Related News

Related Videos