Tiger defense shuts down powerful Rebel offense
By By Will Bardwell/staff writer
November 23, 2003
OXFORD Ole Miss' date with destiny stood the Rebels up.
Eli Manning and the Ole Miss offense were stifled at nearly every turn on Saturday by a relentless LSU defense as the Tigers took a 17-14 win.
Now 8-2 and 6-1 in the Southeastern Conference, the Rebels must beat Mississippi State on Thursday and hope Arkansas trips up LSU on Friday to win the SEC West title.
Things that had become commonplace for the Rebels never showed up against the Tigers, who have the inside track in the SEC West at 10-1 overall and 6-1 in conference games.
Manning, a Heisman Trophy candidate before the game, had 200 yards on 16-of-36 passing the first time this season he completed less than 50 percent of his passes. The Rebels' running backs, previously a reliable staple of the team's offense, were held to a season-low 27 yards on 21 carries.
Perhaps worst of all for Ole Miss, though, kicker Johnathan Nichols missed two field goals from 47 and 36 yards in the three-point loss. Before Saturday, Nichols had missed just once all season.
The Rebels' surprisingly resurgent defense kept Ole Miss in the game. Though they surrendered 152 yards on the ground to the Tigers, the Rebels intercepted LSU quarterback Matt Mauck three times. Ole Miss cornerback Travis Johnson stole a pass on the Tigers' first offensive play of the game and ran six yards for a touchdown.
It was the only time the Rebels came away with points following an LSU turnover, though. Mauck's second interception came in the second quarter, but the only response Ole Miss could muster was Nichols' 47-yard miss.
Early in the third quarter, Mauck was intercepted again, but Manning threw his only pick of the game two plays later.
Interceptions aside, LSU's junior quarterback had his moments. Mauck beat an Ole Miss blitz to hit Devery Henderson on a 53-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving the Tigers a 17-7 lead. Though the Rebels threatened late, it was all the offense LSU needed.
Ole Miss' star quarterback struggled all day long. Manning appeared rattled and unnerved throughout the game but particularly in the third quarter when he threw for just 27 yards on 3-of-8 passing.
The first time Manning resembled a Heisman contender came about three minutes into the fourth quarter, when he floated a perfect 43-yard pass to streaking wide receiver Bill Flowers. The play set up the Rebels' only offensive score of the game, a 10-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Brandon Jacobs that trimmed the Tigers' lead to 17-14.
Ole Miss never scored again, despite its defense forcing LSU to go three and out on the Tigers' next two possessions. Nichols pushed a potential game-tying field goal wide right from 36 yards with four minutes left, and the Rebels turned the ball over on downs on their last possession.
Facing fourth and 10 from his own 32-yard line, Manning lined up under center but fell to the turf after offensive lineman Doug Buckles stepped on the quarterback's foot.
Buckles skipped the team's post-game press conference.
