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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Holds Off Memphis in Season Opener
9/1/2007 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Dustin Mouzon returned one of his two interceptions 99 yards for a touchdown and Ole Miss stopped Memphis' potential game-tying 2-point conversion with 31 seconds left in a 23-21 victory Saturday.
Martin Hankins connected with Duke Calhoun on an 8-yard touchdown to pull Memphis within two points. But Hankins' pass was incomplete as Ole Miss (1-0) won its third straight in the series that dates to 1921. Rebel coach Ed Orgeron has never lost to the Tigers.
Seth Adams threw for 201 yards and another touchdown for the Rebels.
Hankins finished with 343 yards on 41-of-60 passing.
Mouzon's scoring return late in the first half was one of two Ole Miss touchdowns not by the offense. The Rebels' special teams got on the board in the first half when they blocked a Memphis punt and recovered the loose ball in the end zone.
Turnovers were aplenty as Memphis (0-1) committed five and the Rebels had three fumbles.
Ole Miss led 20-0 at the half. Adams completed his first seven passes, one of them a 16-yard scoring toss to Greg Hardy on the first Ole Miss possession.
Mouzon was providing the defensive strength for Ole Miss, intercepting Hankins twice and recovering a fumble. On the second interception, Mouzon stepped in front of Calhoun near the end zone, and sprinted down the left sideline for a touchdown late in the half.
Between Hardy's touchdown catch and Mouzon's return, the Rebels benefited from another Tigers' mistake. Jamarca Sanford blocked a Memphis punt and the ball was recovered in the end zone by Kendrick Lewis for an Ole Miss touchdown.
Memphis rallied in the second half as Joseph Doss scored on a 1-yard run late in the third period, and reserve quarterback Matt Malouf added a 4-yard run in th fourth to set the stage for the final Memphis drive and Calhoun's touchdown catch.
