Auburn’s Newton takes his game to a new level

Just how good is Auburn quarterback Cam Newton? That was the question that Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix attempted to answer prior to the Rebels’ game with the No. 3 Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The plan heading into the contest was to stop Newton from running, from beating the Rebels with his legs like he has so many other teams this year.

Nix’s plan worked as the Rebels held Newton to 45 yards on 11 carries and no touchdowns. But Newton was effective in a lot of other ways for the Tigers, who piled up 51 points and 572 yards, both season highs allowed for the Rebels. (November 1, 2010, Page 1B)

Weather will be most-remembered

Saturday’s game between the Ole Miss Rebels and No. 21 Arkansas Razorbacks at Reynolds Razorback Stadium will not be remembered for Ole Miss quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s big offensive day, or the performance of Arkansas running back Knile Davis as much as for the weather.

Heavy rainstorms that moved across the Northwest Arkansas area Saturday afternoon caused play to be stopped twice. The first delay was 58 minutes in length, while the second took up 31 minutes. Those two delays, coupled with regular game action of 3 hours and 24 minutes, made the atmosphere surrounding the game very interesting to say the least. (October 25, 2010, Page 2B)

Rebs stacking building blocks with defensive effort

Heading into Saturday’s game, it would be have been fair to say Ole Miss’ defense had been a liability, allowing a league-worst 32.6 points per game.

That wasn’t the case at all on Saturday at Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium as the Rebels held a Tide team that had been averaging 35 points to 23, its second-lowest output of the season.

Ole Miss also held Alabama to 97.5 fewer yards rushing (100) than its average dictated.

With the exception of Trent Richardson’s 85-yard touchdown on third-and-long, the Rebels played sound defensively and swarmed to the ball carrier when either Richardson or Mark Ingram had the ball.

Following the game, the coaching staff agreed it was a performance the team can build on moving forward. (October 18, 2010, Page 1B)

Rebels fall at Alabama despite solid defensive effort

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Hello from No. 8 Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium. Tonight’s kickoff is set for 8:10 and will be broadcast on ESPN2. (more…) (October 16, 2010)

Rebels turn turnovers into points in win over UK

Two weeks after turnovers and general miscues cost Ole Miss in its Southeastern Conference opener against Vanderbilt, it was turnovers by Kentucky that ultimately propelled the Rebels past the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Three turnovers by UK directly led to 21 points for Ole Miss and proved to be the deciding factor in a 42-35 win in front of a crowd of 55,344 and a regional television audience. Instead of seeing another team return an interception for a score or scoop a fumble up deep in their own territory, it was the Rebels (3-2 overall, 1-1 in the SEC) who played the part of ungracious hosts to the Wildcats (3-2, 0-2). (October 4, 2010, Page 1B)

Lockett lost for season

After injuring himself during the first quarter of Ole Miss’ 55-38 victory over Fresno State on Saturday, senior defensive end Kentrell Lockett is done for the year.

During the Bulldogs’ second possession of the game, Lockett jumped in an attempt to block a screen pass and landed awkwardly. He remained on the turf until trainers helped him limp off the field.

During his postgame press conference, head coach Houston Nutt confirmed that Lockett will likely miss the season with an apparent ACL injury. (September 27, 2010, Page 1B)

Rebel offensive line continues to deal with shuffled lineup

Ole Miss’ offensive line continued to have its struggles in Saturday’s 28-14 loss to Vanderbilt at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The line was unable to gain a consistent push on short yardage plays in the first half which led to another shuffle in personnel. Redshirt freshman Michael Brown started the game at right guard but he was replaced in the second quarter by junior Logan Clair.

Offensive line coach Mike Markuson, who also serves as the team’s co-offensive coordinator, said he was planning to play both Brown and Clair and that after Brown gave up a sack, he thought it was time to make a change. (September 20, 2010, Page 2B)

Masoli leads Ole Miss past Green Wave

Ole Miss’ most important offseason acquisition single-handily led the Rebels to their first win of the 2010 season Saturday night at the Louisiana Superdome.

Senior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli continued to thrill the Ole Miss faithful by pacing the Rebels in their 27-13 win over Tulane with 281 yards and a touchdown passing while adding another 27 yards and a score on the ground. In a game where the Rebels (1-1 overall) failed to gain a single yard in the third quarter, it was Masoli’s early success and one long completion to Markeith Summers in the fourth quarter that made the biggest differences in the victory for a team that was bound and determined to put the disappointing overtime loss to Jacksonville State last week firmly behind them. (September 13, 2010, Page 1B)

Rebs still looking to put four quarters together

An inability to make plays on offense or defense in the third quarter reared its ugly head again for the Ole Miss Rebels Saturday night against Tulane. While the miscues didn’t end up leading to a second-straight come-from-behind win for the opponent, the Rebels were visibly stagnant on offense and unable to slow down the Green Wave on defense coming out of halftime.

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said he wasn’t as worried about the third quarter lull because the Rebels held on to win this week, but it’s obvious more has to be done to prevent a slow start in the second half with Vanderbilt on the horizon. (September 13, 2010, Page 2B)

Ole Miss’ Ingram back at practice

Ole Miss’ beleaguered defense got some more good news Tuesday with the return of free safety Fon Ingram to practice. A day after senior defensive end Kentrell Lockett said he hoped to play against Tulane on Saturday, Ingram told the media that it was his goal to see his first action of the year against the Green Wave as well.

Rebel coach Houston Nutt said it was great to see Ingram, who missed the last half of summer practice and the Jacksonville State game with knee injury, back on the field. (September 8, 2010, Page 8)