Ole Miss takes Egg Bowl, 31-0

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
Nov. 28, 2003
STARKVILLE Heavy rains could not wash away Mississippi State's ill fortunes on Thursday.
Eli Manning threw for 260 yards on 19-of-27 passes as No. 17 Ole Miss routed archrival Mississippi State 31-0 in the annual Battle for the Golden Egg.
It was the first time the Rebels have shut out their in-state rivals since Ole Miss won 48-0 in 1971.
Mississippi State head coach Jackie Sherrill failed to pick up a win over his biggest rival in the final game of his coaching career.
Sherrill, whose 75-75-2 record with the Bulldogs makes him the most successful coach in school history, finished his career 7-6 against Ole Miss. Thursday's loss marked the first time he had lost consecutive games to the Rebels in his 13-year stint with the Bulldogs.
Drizzle began falling at Scott Field shortly before kickoff and gradually swelled throughout the first half. By the beginning of the third quarter, torrential rain caused a handful of fumbles.
With the win, Ole Miss finished its regular season with a 9-3 record and a 7-1 record in Southeastern Conference games. The Rebels clinched at least a share of the SEC West title and will appear in the conference championship game if Arkansas beats No. 3 LSU today.