Rebels kick off four-game homestand against Arkansas St.
By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Oct. 10, 2003
Ole Miss will play their final non-conference game of the year on Saturday as they begin a four-game homestand against Arkansas State.
The Rebels, 3-2 (2-0 SEC) after a 20-17 win over then-No. 24 Florida, are coming off their first win against a ranked opponent since they downed the Gators a year ago.
One week after that win, Ole Miss manhandled Arkansas State 52-17 and briefly earned a Top 25 spot for themselves before losing five straight conference games the longest losing streak for Ole Miss since 1991.
If the Rebels are to build momentum heading into the second half of their season, quarterback Eli Manning said it starts in Saturday's homecoming.
Many of the mistakes that have haunted Ole Miss this season never materialized against Florida. Ronald McClendon rushed for over 100 yards something that no Ole Miss running back had done in over a year and the nation's worst passing defense came away with three interceptions.
Rebel head coach David Cutcliffe said the difference was that the defense simply did a better of job of being in the right place at the right time.
Rebel defensive back Von Hutchins, whose interception, sack and pass deflection against Florida helped him garner SEC defensive player of the week honors, said the defense must continue to make its assignments.
The Rebels' defensive secondary will probably spend more time on Saturday creeping up to help against the Indians' running game than dropping back into coverage. Arkansas State completed only 12 passes for 138 yards in Saturday's game versus Louisiana-Monroe a team that Manning scorched for 353 yards and three touchdowns in less than three quarters of play.
The Indians' running backs have been the key to their offense. Led by sophomore Shermar Bracey, who has 401 yards and is averaging 6.0 yards per carry, Arkansas State has put together three games of 200 rushing yards or more.
However, the Rebels' defense one of the SEC's worst against opposing running backs in recent years has played well in 2003. Ole Miss is surrendering only 88 yards per game on the ground, ranking their run defense 18th in the nation.
Despite giving up just 234 yards to Florida quarterback Chris Leak, Ole Miss is still ranked defending the pass. Still, Cutcliffe saw fundamental improvements against the Gators that he hopes will carry over.
While the Indians pose little threat to the Rebels' record Arkansas State's only win against Ole Miss came in 1915 Cutcliffe knows his team must improve and try to take advantage of the Rebels' homestand.
