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The University of Mississippi Athletics
GAME PREVIEW: Ole Miss vs. Wake Forest
9/1/2008 | Football
Rebel fans will have the opportunity to watch the game live as ABC/ESPN2 will air the game with Terry Gannon handling the play-by-play duties, while David Norrie will provide the color analysis. CSS will also air a replay of the game Sunday at 1 p.m.
Saturday's gridiron clash marks only the second meeting all-time between Ole Miss and Wake Forest. In the only other game between the two, the Demon Deacons prevailed 27-3 in a 2006 contest at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Ole Miss, however, is 10-6-1 all-time against schools from the ACC.
"When you watch the film from this year as well as last year, Wake Forest is a team that gets turnovers and flies to the ball like magnets," said Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt. "They are so disciplined and so well coached, and I have a lot of respect for their coaching staff. They get to the football and they just don't give up many big plays. They have solid tailbacks, solid receivers, but it's the quarterback that makes them go."
Ole Miss' (1-0) victory over the Tigers Saturday featured an offensive onslaught as the Rebels put up the most points in a game since a 43-41 victory over South Carolina in 2003. The Rebels also featured a balanced offense attack with a total of 438 yards, including 216 on the ground and 222 through the air.
Rebel sophomore quarterback Jevan Snead failed to disappoint in his Ole Miss debut as he accounted for two TDs on 10-of-22 passing. Junior wide receiver Shay Hodge recorded 79 receiving yards and turned in his first career multi-touchdown performance as he was the beneficiary of both of Snead's scoring passes.
"Jevan Snead, for his first time out, was just outstanding because he sat in the pocket and took some hits," Nutt said. "He kept concentrating on the receiver, which is something a lot of quarterbacks are unable to do because they get antsy when they feel the pressure coming."
Junior wide receiver Dexter McCluster proved to be a valuable weapon for the Rebels as he picked up 125 all-purpose yards. The Largo, Fla., native reeled in four passes for 61 yards and recorded a career high of six rushes, including a 32-yard touchdown run.
"He is almost like a 12th guy on the field because the defense has to find out where he is located and what he is doing," Nutt said. "You are putting a guy with a little more athleticism in certain spots, and that helps everything in your run and passing game."
On the defensive side of the ball, senior safety Jamarca Sanford paced the Rebels by tying his career-best with 13 tackles, including a career-high 11 solos. It was his eighth career game with double-figure tackles. Junior safety Kendrick Lewis picked off her first career pass, while senior Dustin Mouzon collected his fourth career interception and third against Memphis.
Guided by eighth-year head coach Jim Grobe, Wake Forest is coming off a 41-13 victory over Baylor in its season opener. Demon Decon quarterback Riley Skinner threw three touchdown passes and finished the night 27-of-36 for 220 yards to catapult him into eighth place all-time in school history with 24 career touchdown passes.
