Momentum builder
MSU’s program-changing 12-game winning streak, which propelled it to the first No. 1 ranking in school history, started last season with a win at Arkansas and ended two weeks ago with a loss on the road at Alabama.
But it was a 17-10 come-from-behind win against Ole Miss in the regular-season finale in Starkville that really kick-started MSU’s recent run. The victory helped the Bulldogs become bowl eligibility and made a star out of then-sophomore quarterback Dak Prescott.
Last November, Prescott was injured in a 51-41 loss at Texas A&M and missed games against Alabama and Arkansas. He also was ruled doubtful for the game against Ole Miss. For three quarters, MSU barely missed him, as third-string quarterback Damian Williams held his own and MSU trailed Ole Miss 10-7 entering the fourth quarter. But when it became apparent the Rebels’ defense wasn’t going to break against Williams, Mullen went to Prescott, who entered the game midway through the fourth and changed the fortunes of MSU’s season. Prescott threw for 123 yards and engineered two late scoring drives for the Bulldogs, the first ending in a game-tying field goal with three minutes left and the second the game-winner, capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Prescott.
“I wanted to go in,” Prescott said. “I told coach Mullen I was ready to play. He went with me, and I just remember the stadium and atmosphere. It was a great game.”
For Mullen, the win was big in building momentum for MSU’s run this season.
“All of the other stuff is great, but winning the game is the most important,” Mullen said. “It got us bowl eligible. It got us some extra practices. But winning the game is the biggest deal.”
In Oxford, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said in weekly press conference that the Rebels haven’t focused on Prescott’s late-game heroics.
“We haven’t talked in specifics about the exact way it ended,” Freeze said. “I’m sure for individuals that have a clear memory of exactly what happened on the last series there or play or whatever things happened I’m sure it’s a motivator for them. We haven’t talked specifically about the way it ended as a team.”
The importance of Bo
While Prescott came on in relief to pull the Bulldogs through last season, Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace could face the same scenario this week.
Last week in a 30-0 loss at Arkansas, Wallace left the game in the second quarter with an apparent ankle injury. He spent time in the locker room before returning briefly. Early in the fourth quarter, Wallace was lifted for good, and his injury is a key storyline heading for Saturday’s game.
“He’s been limited some, but you would have to chain him down to keep him from going in this game,” Freeze said. “He’s getting better every day, so I anticipate him being ready to go.”
Wallace, a senior from Pulaski, Tennessee, is in the conference in passing yards. He has 22 touchdown passes.
Clash of titans
While Prescott and Wallace will each be key figures, MSU’s offense and Ole Miss’ defense might determine a winner.
Behind Prescott, MSU’s offense leads the league and ranks 12th nationally in total offense with 511 yards per game, while the Ole Miss defense, behind safety Cody Prewitt and cornerback Senquez Golson, is second in the league in total defense behind Alabama. The Rebels’ defense is especially strong against the pass, leading the league in passing yards allowed and interceptions. Golson, who has nine interceptions, is a major reason the Rebels are second in the country with 19 interceptions.
“They’re good all the way around,” Prescott said. “They have a solid defense. We’re just going to worry about being sound on offense and taking care of what we have to do.”
Pleading for a fifth
Since his arrival in Starkville before the 2009 season, Mullen hasn’t hidden his desire to beat Ole Miss.
Mullen is 4-1 against the Rebels. The only blemish is a 41-24 loss in 2012. Aside from that season, Mullen has led the Bulldogs to wins in 2009 (41-27), 2010 (31-23), 2011 (31-3), and 2013 (17-10).
For a coach who continually stokes the fire of the rivalry, Mullen has had no problems backing up his words.
“That’s all I did was embrace it,” Mullen said. “Rivalry games are so important. I’m fortunate enough to have been involved in some. I don’t know that any have been as big or as nasty (as the Egg Bowl). USC vs. Notre Dame, Florida vs. Florida State, and Utah vs. BYU are all big games, but they aren’t like this. I think this is bigger than all of those rivalries.”
Turnover troubles
For seven weeks, MSU and Ole Miss rose to national prominence. The Bulldogs rode three-straight wins against top-10 opponents to the top of the polls. while Ole Miss used a 23-17 win against then-No. 2 Alabama on Oct. 4 to catapult to No. 3, where the Rebels and Bulldogs were tied for a week.
But Ole Miss lost its undefeated start in a 10-7 setback at LSU. Since then, it has lost to Auburn and Arkansas. MSU’s only loss was a 25-20 defeat at Alabama. Turnovers were the story in all of the losses.
Wallace, who has thrown the most interceptions in the Southeastern Conference since he arrived at Ole Miss in 2012, had three turnovers against Auburn and four last week against Arkansas, a game that saw the Rebels turn the ball over a season-high six times.
Prescott threw a career-high three interceptions against Alabama. MSU outgained Alabama by 97 yards, but it couldn’t overcome the turnovers.
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