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SE Louisiana-Mississippi Preview

Sep 16, 2009 - 2:00 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Southeastern Louisiana (2-0) at No. 25 Mississippi (1-0), 7:30 p.m. EDT

Mississippi could have spent its week off resting up for its final tuneup before SEC play or basking in its highest ranking in almost four decades.

Instead, the Rebels were busy with a different kind of opponent.

With more than 30 players suffering from flu-like symptoms, Mississippi used its bye week to focus on getting healthy.

All but recovered, the fifth-ranked Rebels will try for their longest win streak in nearly 37 years in Saturday night's home opener against FCS opponent Southeastern Louisiana.

Mississippi's scheduled week off couldn't have come at a better time as nearly 400 students were affected during an outbreak in Oxford. Among those were Rebels quarterback Jevan Snead and versatile wide receiver Dexter McCluster, who spent a night in the hospital.

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said if his team had to play the Lions a week earlier, it might have been missing five or six starters on both sides. Only cornerback Cassius Vaughn and backup quarterback Raymond Cotton are still sick this week, the coach said.

"(The bye week) was really a blessing," Nutt said. "That would have been a pretty big blow."

The Rebels, however, could be without star defensive end Greg Hardy, whose left ankle remains swollen and discolored after he sprained it in the season-opening 45-14 win at Memphis on Sept. 6.

Nutt said the Tigers' Duke Calhoun should have been penalized for the cut block that injured Hardy, and SEC officials reviewed the play. The conference agreed a penalty should have been called but took no further actions.

After enduring the flu, Snead had to leave for his grandfather's funeral in Texas last weekend, but is expected to play Saturday. He will try to help Ole Miss (1-0) reach eight straight victories for the first time since a 10-game streak Oct. 16, 1971-Sept. 30, 1972.

The Rebels figure to accomplish that goal, but they - and Snead - likely want a better performance than their win over Memphis.

Ole Miss never trailed but its slow start on offense helped the Tigers stay close until midway through the final quarter. Snead had two interceptions in the first half but recovered to throw a pair of touchdowns in the final 6:14, part of the Rebels' 21 unanswered points.

After going 8 of 17 for 102 yards through three quarters, Snead completed four of his final five passes for 73 yards.

"Another thing you have to love about Jevan is that when things don't go just right, he doesn't put his head down," Nutt said. "You don't have to be concerned about that. He's a winner, and the guy really came back and played well."

Ole Miss posted 45 points in a school-best third straight game, but its 349 offensive yards was its worst output during the win streak and fewest since gaining 325 in its 31-30 upset at No. 4 Florida last season.

The Rebels, however, moved up a spot in the latest poll to reach the top five for the first time since they were No. 4 in October 1970.

Southeastern Louisiana (2-0) is off to its best start in five years but hasn't played an FBS opponent. The Lions opened with a 41-7 win over Division II Texas A&M-Commerce on Sept. 5 and followed with a 69-20 victory over NAIA-ranked Union (Ky.) College on Sept. 10.

Brian Babin completed 71.6 percent of his passes for 665 yards and eight touchdowns in the two victories with most of those going to Simmie Yarborough (16 receptions, 224 yards, four TDs).

Zeke Jones added three rushing touchdowns and 145 yards. All-American safety Tommy Connors also returned in last week's win after sitting out the opener with a knee injury and recovered a fumble.

This is the first meeting between the schools, but Southeastern Louisiana used Ole Miss' facilities to prepare for last season's game against Mississippi State after being forced to evacuate campus because of Hurricane Gustav.

The Lions are winless in 10 games against FBS schools, including a 34-10 loss in Starkville.