Game Recaps
Rebel Power
Ole Miss blows out Rice to open 2061 campaign
Houston, TX - The most anticipated season in recent Ole Miss history got off to a fantastic start, as the Rebels (1-0) defeated the Rice Owls (0-1) 52-0. The offense and defense were both firing on all cylinders. Leading the way on offense was junior quarterback Chauncey Brooks, who finished 14 of 27 for 278 yards and four touchdowns in about three quarters of work. His top target was senior wide receiver Jason Johnson, who finished with seven receptions for 196 yards and a touchdown. The ground game was also very effective, as senior Darren Cook (18 carries for 81 yards and one touchdown) and junior Kareem Hairston (22 carries for 90 yards) produced solid efforts. The defense was marvelous, allowing only one pass completion on the whole day, 45 yards of total offense, and 0 third down conversions. In addition, the defense produced six sacks by six different players.
Ole Miss scored on their first possession of the game, as senior tight end Reginald Wilkes hauled in a 6 yard touchdown pass from Brooks. Later in the first quarter, senior running back Francisco Rey took his first carry of the season into the end zone from 2 yards out to give the Rebels a 14-0 lead. Cook made it 21-0 with a 3 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, and Brooks connected with senior wide receiver Paul Hedrick for a 14 yard score right before halftime to give the Rebels a 28-0 lead at the break. Johnson (54 yard reception) and senior captain Darius Beach (3 yard reception) scored touchdowns in the third quarter, and after leading the team to a field goal early in the fourth quarter, freshman quarterback Donte Cook recorded the first touchdown pass of his career with 14 seconds left in the game from 13 yards out to sophomore wide receiver Andre Wilkinson.
The Rebels were able to avenge their loss at home to Rice last season, the game which Coach Michael Hawkins regretted the most. He would show no mercy this season. Numerous freshmen and redshirts made their debuts in this game, and Hawkins left impressed by the way his team looks. "This is by far the most talented team I've had here at Mississippi, but we still have plenty of room to improve", Hawkins said at his post-game press conference. Ole Miss has a week 2 bye this season, so the next time we will see the Rebels in action will be their home opener and SEC opener, a rivalry game versus Arkansas.
Ole Miss scored on their first possession of the game, as senior tight end Reginald Wilkes hauled in a 6 yard touchdown pass from Brooks. Later in the first quarter, senior running back Francisco Rey took his first carry of the season into the end zone from 2 yards out to give the Rebels a 14-0 lead. Cook made it 21-0 with a 3 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, and Brooks connected with senior wide receiver Paul Hedrick for a 14 yard score right before halftime to give the Rebels a 28-0 lead at the break. Johnson (54 yard reception) and senior captain Darius Beach (3 yard reception) scored touchdowns in the third quarter, and after leading the team to a field goal early in the fourth quarter, freshman quarterback Donte Cook recorded the first touchdown pass of his career with 14 seconds left in the game from 13 yards out to sophomore wide receiver Andre Wilkinson.
The Rebels were able to avenge their loss at home to Rice last season, the game which Coach Michael Hawkins regretted the most. He would show no mercy this season. Numerous freshmen and redshirts made their debuts in this game, and Hawkins left impressed by the way his team looks. "This is by far the most talented team I've had here at Mississippi, but we still have plenty of room to improve", Hawkins said at his post-game press conference. Ole Miss has a week 2 bye this season, so the next time we will see the Rebels in action will be their home opener and SEC opener, a rivalry game versus Arkansas.
Home Cooking
Dominant first half seals home opener for Rebels
Oxford, MS - The University of Mississippi Rebels (2-0, 1-0 SEC) took care of business in impressive fashion in their home opener against the Arkansas Razorbacks (1-2, 0-2 SEC), winning by a final score of 44-10. The offense was led by senior receiver Jason Johnson for the second straight week. He finished with eight receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Darren Cook broke 100 yards for the first time this season, finishing with 115 yards on 22 carries. Junior quarterback Chauncey Brooks, who has cemented himself as the starter for the Rebels, finished 13 of 22 for 192 yards and two touchdowns passing, along with two rushing touchdowns, before being removed along with the rest of the starters early in the fourth quarter. The defense held Arkansas to only 2 for 13 on third down and 0 for 5 on fourth down, and senior captain William Jacques made a key interception in the end zone to stop an Arkansas drive in the first quarter.
For the second straight game, Ole Miss put up seven points on their first drive, as Brooks found Johnson for a 7 yard score. After a 20 yard field goal by Efrain Thomas made it 10-0, Arkansas drove down inside the Mississippi 10 yard line. But Jacques made the momentum-swinging interception in the end zone and returned it to the 35 yard line, setting up another touchdown drive. Captain Darius Beach caught a 6 yard touchdown pass from Brooks to make it a 17-0 Ole Miss lead after one quarter. The teams then traded short touchdown runs in the second quarter - Brooks scored from a yard out to make it 24-0, then Arkansas's Kevin Patrick (19 carries, 118 yards) scored from a yard out to cut the deficit to 24-7, only to see Brooks answer right back with another one yard plunge with 3 minutes left in the second quarter to restore the 24 point lead. Efrain Thomas tacked on field goals of 41 and 36 yards thanks to fourth down stops by the defense to give Ole Miss a 37-7 lead at the break. The second half featured the Ole Miss running tandem of Cook and junior Kareem Hairston (13 carries, 68 yards), who helped put the game on ice. Cook's costly fumble early in the fourth quarter gifted Arkansas possession inside the Ole Miss 10 yard line, but the Razorbacks could only manage a field goal thanks to great work by the noticeably improved defensive unit. Freshman quarterback Donte Cook came in for the second straight week for the fourth quarter, and one again he threw a touchdown pass, this week to senior tight end Reginald Wilkes from four yards out, to complete the scoring.
After the game, Coach Hawkins seemed happy with the result, although he stressed that the team has not reached its full potential yet. "Too many penalties" was his first critique for the team, as Ole Miss had six on the game as opposed to the one penalty they had in the Rice game. Nevertheless, the Rebels are 2-0, something that hadn't been accomplished in Hawkins's first four seasons, and optimism is high. The Rebels are back in action next week as they host the South Carolina Gamecocks, who will come to Oxford with a 2-1 record (1-1 SEC).
For the second straight game, Ole Miss put up seven points on their first drive, as Brooks found Johnson for a 7 yard score. After a 20 yard field goal by Efrain Thomas made it 10-0, Arkansas drove down inside the Mississippi 10 yard line. But Jacques made the momentum-swinging interception in the end zone and returned it to the 35 yard line, setting up another touchdown drive. Captain Darius Beach caught a 6 yard touchdown pass from Brooks to make it a 17-0 Ole Miss lead after one quarter. The teams then traded short touchdown runs in the second quarter - Brooks scored from a yard out to make it 24-0, then Arkansas's Kevin Patrick (19 carries, 118 yards) scored from a yard out to cut the deficit to 24-7, only to see Brooks answer right back with another one yard plunge with 3 minutes left in the second quarter to restore the 24 point lead. Efrain Thomas tacked on field goals of 41 and 36 yards thanks to fourth down stops by the defense to give Ole Miss a 37-7 lead at the break. The second half featured the Ole Miss running tandem of Cook and junior Kareem Hairston (13 carries, 68 yards), who helped put the game on ice. Cook's costly fumble early in the fourth quarter gifted Arkansas possession inside the Ole Miss 10 yard line, but the Razorbacks could only manage a field goal thanks to great work by the noticeably improved defensive unit. Freshman quarterback Donte Cook came in for the second straight week for the fourth quarter, and one again he threw a touchdown pass, this week to senior tight end Reginald Wilkes from four yards out, to complete the scoring.
After the game, Coach Hawkins seemed happy with the result, although he stressed that the team has not reached its full potential yet. "Too many penalties" was his first critique for the team, as Ole Miss had six on the game as opposed to the one penalty they had in the Rice game. Nevertheless, the Rebels are 2-0, something that hadn't been accomplished in Hawkins's first four seasons, and optimism is high. The Rebels are back in action next week as they host the South Carolina Gamecocks, who will come to Oxford with a 2-1 record (1-1 SEC).
Comeback Kids
Rebels erase halftime deficit to move to 3-0
Oxford, MS - Ole Miss faced their most difficult opposition of the season thus far in South Carolina. A strong second half ensured the Rebels (3-0, 2-0 SEC) a victory over the Gamecocks (2-2, 1-2 SEC) by a final score of 55-35. Junior quarterback Chauncey Brooks took over the contest as the running game sputtered and led the team to the come from behind win, finishing 32 of 68 passing for 401 yards and four touchdowns. Senior tight end Darius Beach led the team with eight receptions for 92 yards. Senior wide receivers Jason Johnson (six catches, 101 yards, one touchdown) and Paul Hedrick (six catches, 29 yards, one touchdown) were reliable targets, and sophomore wide receiver Larry Goggins, primarily a special teams player a year ago, had a breakout game with six catches for 89 yards. Despite managing only 37 yards on 24 carries, senior running back Darren Cook did rack up three short touchdown runs for the Rebels. On defense, junior middle linebacker Calvin Holmes was a force, with five tackles for a loss and three sacks. Senior cornerback William Jacques, senior safety Jalen Keller and junior linebacker Thomas Rivera forced fumbles, and true freshman defensive tackle William Handy, who many consider to be the gem of the 2060 recruiting class, recorded the first sack of his short career.
Ole Miss opened the scoring in the contest when Brooks found sophomore Andre Wilkinson open for a six yard score on their second drive of the day. The Rebels added to their lead three minutes later when Cook scored from two yards out. South Carolina responded with a pair of scores - a rushing touchdown by quarterback Christopher Berry late in the first quarter and a three yard pass from Berry to Dominique Herrera early in the second quarter - to knot the score up at 14. Senior kicker Efrain Thomas put Mississippi back on top with a short field goal five minutes before the half, but South Carolina drove down the field and Berry once again connected with Herrera, this time from five yards out, to give South Carolina the 21-17 lead at the break.
The Rebels made their first drive of the second half count, as Brooks connected with Hedrick for a two yard touchdown to put the Rebels back on top. After Keller forced a fumble at the South Carolina 28 yard line, Brooks found Johnson in the end zone on the first play of the ensuing drive to put Mississippi up 31-21. After a South Carolina punt, Brooks led his team down the field and Cook punched it in from less than a yard out to make it a three score game. Berry brought the Gamecocks seven points closer when he found ECAA leading receiver Andre Shapiro, who had 12 catches for 257 yards on the day, for a 47 yard touchdown to make it a 10 point game going into the fourth quarter. Thomas added on a 44 yard field goal for the Rebels to make it a 13 point margin, but with 13 minutes remaining Berry found Calvin Wofford for a 21 yard touchdown to cut the lead to 41-35. The teams traded three and outs until Ole Miss made a fourth down stop with 6 minutes to play inside the South Carolina 30 yard line. Four plays later, Brooks connected with Wilkinson for the second time on the day from six yards out to put the Rebels back up by 13. Cook sealed the victory with two minutes to go, breaking the plain for the third time to make it a 55-35 game.
Ole Miss opened the scoring in the contest when Brooks found sophomore Andre Wilkinson open for a six yard score on their second drive of the day. The Rebels added to their lead three minutes later when Cook scored from two yards out. South Carolina responded with a pair of scores - a rushing touchdown by quarterback Christopher Berry late in the first quarter and a three yard pass from Berry to Dominique Herrera early in the second quarter - to knot the score up at 14. Senior kicker Efrain Thomas put Mississippi back on top with a short field goal five minutes before the half, but South Carolina drove down the field and Berry once again connected with Herrera, this time from five yards out, to give South Carolina the 21-17 lead at the break.
The Rebels made their first drive of the second half count, as Brooks connected with Hedrick for a two yard touchdown to put the Rebels back on top. After Keller forced a fumble at the South Carolina 28 yard line, Brooks found Johnson in the end zone on the first play of the ensuing drive to put Mississippi up 31-21. After a South Carolina punt, Brooks led his team down the field and Cook punched it in from less than a yard out to make it a three score game. Berry brought the Gamecocks seven points closer when he found ECAA leading receiver Andre Shapiro, who had 12 catches for 257 yards on the day, for a 47 yard touchdown to make it a 10 point game going into the fourth quarter. Thomas added on a 44 yard field goal for the Rebels to make it a 13 point margin, but with 13 minutes remaining Berry found Calvin Wofford for a 21 yard touchdown to cut the lead to 41-35. The teams traded three and outs until Ole Miss made a fourth down stop with 6 minutes to play inside the South Carolina 30 yard line. Four plays later, Brooks connected with Wilkinson for the second time on the day from six yards out to put the Rebels back up by 13. Cook sealed the victory with two minutes to go, breaking the plain for the third time to make it a 55-35 game.