Ole Miss Capitalizes on LSU Mistakes, 35-24
10/27/01



LSU's chance to gain ground in the race for the Southeastern Conference Western Division went by the wayside Saturday night as 91, 941 fans shivered and watched the Tigers fall 35-24 to Ole Miss in a chilly Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers fell to 4-3 overall, 2-3 in conference play despite one of the greatest single game performances in LSU history. Dominick Davis, who played most of the game at tailback for an injured LaBrandon Toefield, used rushing yards, receiving and some fantastic returns to total 266 all-purpose yards for the contest.

Three Eli Manning touchdown passes and 249 yards helped Ole Miss improve its record to 6-1 overall, 3-1 in the SEC.

"We just made a lot of mistakes," LSU head coach Nick Saban said. "You have to give Ole Miss a lot of credit. They did a good job. We're just going to retool and reload."

Ole Miss scored the game's first points when fullback Toward Sanford plunged into the endzone with 6:41 to play in the first quarter capping a seven-play 36 yard drive. Rebel linebacker Matt Grier set up the drive with an interception at the LSU 43.

LSU answered the score with a 26-yard John Corbello field goal with 42 seconds left in the first. The Tigers set up the field goal with 13 play, 71-yard drive all on the feet of tailbacks Davis, Toefield and quarterback Rohan Davey, who had a big 13-yard scramble to pick up a first down. Davey finished the game with just nine completions on 23 attempts and 183 yards.

The Tigers then took the lead at the 7:00 mark of the second quarter when freshman wide receiver Michael Clayton showed off his open-field running skills with a 29-yard reverse for a touchdown. Clayton's nifty scamper capped a six-play, 75-yard drive made possible when Tiger cornerback Randall Gay picked off Rebel QB Eli Manning at the LSU 25.

But the interception didn't distract Manning for long as he guided the Rebels 80 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing possession. Manning beat an LSU blitz on fourth and 10 at the LSU 30-yard line for a 26-yard completion to wide receiver Chris Collins. Rebel tailback Joe Gunn dove over the pile two plays later, giving Ole Miss a 14-10 advantage with 2:25 to play in the half.

Ole Miss stunned the LSU crowd on the next drive by turning a blocked punt into a four-yard TD pass with :27 left in the first giving the Rebels a 21-10 advantage at the half. LSU was forced to punt after three-straight running plays netted five yards. Ole Miss took the ball back with just :37 left in the half. Wide receiver Omar Rayford hauled in the Manning pass five plays later for the touchdown.

Manning finished the first half completing 13-21 passes for 126 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Davis was LSU's top yard gainer in the first half with 58 rushing yards on 13 carries and 63 yards on three kick returns.

Davis really showed off his return skills early in the second half taking a 41-yard Cody Ridgeway punt for a 71-yard touchdown, cutting the Ole Miss lead to 21-17. Davis broke three tackles in the first 10-yards of the return before juking the punter and beating another would-be tackler to the right side of the endzone.

LSU took the lead back late in the third when Clayton hauled in a 39-yard touchdown grab that is sure to go down as one of the greatest catches in the history of Tiger football. Blanketed by double coverage and with a defenders hand in his face, Clayton stretched out his right arm for a one-handed, diving snag giving LSU a 24-21 advantage with 3:49 left in the third.

The two teams traded punts throughout the rest of the third and most of the fourth quarter until Ole Miss took the lead again on a 17-yard TD catch by tight end Doug Zeigler with ----to play, putting the Rebels ahead 28-24.

LSU then tried to mount a comeback of its own, driving the ball to the Rebel 43 thanks in large part to a 34-yard reception by Tiger standout receiver Josh Reed. But, the drive was turned around on the next play as tailback Devery Henderson fumbled after picking up two yards on a tailback dive. Reed finished the game with three catches for 85 yards.

Manning and Zeigler teamed up ----plays later when the tight end made spectacular grab of his own between two defenders in the back of the end zone. The extra point gave the Rebels a 35-24 win and sealed their sixth win overall and third victory conference play.

Ole Miss travels to Arkansas next week to try and extend its current winning streak to six games. LSU will try to rebound at Alabama against the 3-4 Crimson Tide.