DOMINATING

Offense breaks out and defense smothers Kentucky's high-octane attack to propel Rebels to 35-17 win.

PETER ROSS
DM Senior Staff Writer

Kentucky's high-powered offense entered Saturday night's matchup against the Rebels garnering all the attention, but it was the Rebel offense that finally played to expectations as Ole Miss cruised to a 35-17 victory in front of 51,448 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The Wildcat offense entered the game averaging 466 yards per game and their big quarterback Jared Lorenzen led the nation in passing, but Kentucky managed only 99 yards in the first half as the Rebel offense built a solid 32-3 advantage at the break.

"We have a lot to correct, but you saw a football team out there tonight," Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe said. "It was a phenomenal job by our defense, and our offense made plays."

Not much defense was expected to be played in the game, as the teams entered the contest with the two worst defenses in the SEC. But the Kentucky offense was in for a rude awakening, as senior defensive end Derrick Burgess sacked Lorenzen on the first and second plays of the game.

"They (Rebel defense) came at us really aggressively," Lorenzen said. "They pretty much whipped us from the beginning of the game."

Ole Miss scored early and often in the first half. The Rebels took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 36-yard pass reception by true freshman Chris Collins from senior quarterback Romaro Miller. The reception by Collins was the first of his Rebel career.

If there was a turning point in the game, it was a few minutes later when a 91-yard pass to the Rebel one-yard line from Lorenzen to Derek Smith was called back due to a holding penalty by Kentucky's offensive line. The holding call was made inside the Kentucky end zone, resulting in a safety and a 9-0 lead.

"It just took the wind out of our sails," Lorenzen said. "We went from having the ball on the one-yard line to giving up two points and the ball."

Ole Miss' next possession resulted in another score, a Deuce McAllister one-yard run with 1:44 in the first quarter that extended the lead to 16-0. On the drive, Miller completed 2 of 3 passes for 43 yards.

After a Kentucky field goal by Seth Hanson, the Rebel offense continued the scoring as they scored 16 straight points on their next three drives. The first score came on a 23-yard pass play from Miller to wide receiver Grant Heard to extend the lead 22-3. The touchdown pass by Miller was the 31st of his career, tying an Ole Miss record. Five minutes later the Rebel offense was in the end zone again, as Joe Gunn scored his first rushing touchdown of the season on a 5-yard score. Ole Miss' last scoring drive of the half ended with a 22-yard field goal by Les Binkley to increase the lead to 32-3.

Ole Miss outgained Kentucky's offense 317 yards to 99, and Miller completed 12-of-20 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Lorenzen had a horrible first half, as the Rebel defense limited him to 7-of-24 passes for 87 yards and two interceptions.

The Ole Miss lead increased to 35-3 early in the third quarter as Binkley connected on a 20-yard field goal. After that drive, the Rebel offense shut down the heavy artillery, going into a conservative mode and only attempting two passes the rest of the game.

Kentucky managed two late fourth quarter scores to trim the lead, but it was not enough as Ole Miss easily won 35-17.

"We approached this game as a team effort," Ole Miss cornerback Justin Coleman said. "All week we worked hard and played as a team. We had a good feeling as we came out on to the field that the defense was going to have a good game. All the talk I heard all week was about Kentucky's passing game, and the defense just fed off that and decided it was time to step up tonight."

Miller finished the game with 238 yards passing, two touchdowns, and no interceptions on 15-of-25 passing. Heard led the team in receptions and receiving yards with five catches for 69 yards, while L.J Taylor had three receptions for 52. Collins and tight end Doug Zeigler each added two receptions for 52 and 39 yards, respectively.

McAllister led the Rebel ground attack with 75 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries, while Gunn added 62 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries. McAllister ended the game with 135 all-purpose yards on 22 touches.

Kentucky's offense was held to just 231 yards compared to the Rebels 417 offensive yards. Lorenzen had the worst game of his young career, completing 17 of 42 pass attempts for 192 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Quentin McCord led the team in receptions with five for 59 yards, while Derek Abney had four catches for 72 yards.

The Rebel defense caused five sacks and intercepted three passes. Burgess and Syniker Taylor led the defense in tackles with seven each while linebacker Lanier Goethie recorded six tackles. Burgess also had 2.5 sacks and one interception. Safety Anthony Magee and cornerback Justin Coleman each had interceptions, while Amzie Williams and Jesse Mitchell each recorded one sack.

Marlon McCree led Kentucky's defense with 17 tackles and one sack, while Ryan Murphy and Willie Gary added 13 and 10 tackles, respectively.