Rebels escape near disaster

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Nov. 3, 2003
OXFORD Eli Manning's excitement thinly veiled a fear of what almost was.
And while the Rebels, 7-2 overall, are 5-0 in Southeastern Conference play for the first time in 40 years, old demons nearly arose to haunt Ole Miss.
After all, it was fourth-quarter comebacks that downed the Rebels in their only two losses of the year against Memphis and Texas Tech and almost did so again Saturday.
Indeed they were. The Rebels led 43-14 late in the third quarter until Gamecocks running back Daccus Turman broke a 29-yard touchdown on the period's final play. Daccus was nearly stopped for a loss, but landed on top of his tackler. His knees having never touched the ground, Daccus raced down the sideline and scored in front of a motionless, confused Ole Miss defense.
South Carolina came up with three more touchdowns including a 98-yard scoring strike before Ole Miss was able to gain a first down on three straight running plays and run out the clock.
Driesbach's defense was matched in its late unproductivity by the Ole Miss offense. Though Manning had 391 passing yards, he had just 62 in the fourth quarter. Running back Tremaine Turner, the team's leading rusher with 117 yards against the Gamecocks, gained just 18 yards in Saturday's final period.
During the same period of time, South Carolina's offense had 231 yards.
It is that false sense of premature comfort that the Rebels must strive to avoid, according to Cutcliffe.