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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Green-Ellis, Rebels Overpower Demons
11/3/2007 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 120 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, as Ole Miss snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday with a 38-31 win over Northwestern State.
With a 17-14 third-quarter lead, Mike Wallace extended the lead with a 77-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for Ole Miss (3-7).
The point total was the most for Ole Miss since a 31-28 win over South Carolina in 2004. The Demons (3-6) rallied with two late scores, and the Rebels held the ball for the last 3:16 to preserve the win.
Ole Miss built a 17-0 first-quarter lead with 222 yards of total offense and Green-Ellis' touchdown runs of 41 and 25 yards.
Northwestern State pulled within 17-14 in the opening six minutes of the second half on a 28-yard reverse by Tyler Cheramie and a 16-yard pass from Germayne Edmond to Adam Varnado.
Ole Miss answered with Wallace's kickoff return and a 10-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Brent Schaeffer to Shay Hodge that made it 31-14.
Defensive tackle Peria Jerry intercepted a pass to set up Green-Ellis' 4-yard scoring run with 12:01 left for a 38-17 cushion. The Rebels forced three turnovers, converting two into second-half touchdowns.
But Northwestern State scored twice in the final eight minutes to make the game close. Edmond scored on a 3-yard run, followed by a 37-yard touchdown pass from Drew Branch to Kedrin Seastrunk with 3:16 left.
