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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels, Bulldogs To Battle In 77th Annual Egg Bowl
11/22/2004 | Football
Nov. 22, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss Rebels (3-7, 2-5 SEC) finish out the season this Saturday when they play host to in-state rival Mississippi State (3-7, 2-5 SEC) for the 101st time in the annual "Egg Bowl". Kickoff from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field is 1:00 p.m.
Saturday's game will mark the final time that 25 Ole Miss seniors will take the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. With emotions running high, Ole Miss Head Coach David Cutcliffe knows that he will have to prepare extra hard to get his team ready for this weekend's matchup.
"This is an extremely important game because there is a lot of pride at stake for both teams," said Cutcliffe. "Saturday will also be the last game for both sets of seniors. I think our players and coaches understand the importance of playing well against Mississippi State."
Ole Miss continues to use a two-quarterback rotation entering Saturday's game. Sophomore Ethan Flatt has played in nine of the Rebels 10 games this season, starting eight. The Nashville, Tenn., native enters Saturday's contest having completed 120-of-212 passes for 1,500 yards and six touchdowns. While Flatt has handled most of the starting duties, redshirt freshman Robert Lane has seen more reps as the season has progressed. The Monroe, La., native enters this weekend's matchup having completed 15-of-40 passes for 134 yards. Lane has clearly established himself as mobile, rushing 44 times for 212 yards and two touchdowns.
Junior Vashon Pearson enters Saturday's game as the overall leading rusher for Ole Miss. The Ripley native has 138 carries for 726 yards and three TD's. Redshirt freshman Alan Abrams is second on the team in rushing with 48 carries for 235 yards.
Senior wide receiver Bill Flowers will mark his final game as an Ole Miss Rebel this Saturday as one of the most prolific receivers ever to play for the Rebels. The senior ranks second in the Ole Miss career record book in receptions with 149, and enters the State game with a streak of 20 games with at least one catch. The Pelham, Ala., native currently ranks second on the team this season with 29 catches for 349 yards and two TD's. Junior Mario Hill leads the team in both catches and total yards with 34 catches for 401 yards.
Senior captains Rob Robertson and Eric Oliver will be honored on Saturday as two of the hardest working individuals to play defense for the Ole Miss Rebels. The pair enter Saturday's game ranked second and third on the team in total tackles with 71 (44 solo) and 65 (47 solo), respectively. The duo trails sophomore defensive back Charles Clark who has 73 total stops, 50 solo. Oliver enters Saturday's game as the SEC's leading active career leader in total tackles with 323. Sophomore Trumaine McBride leads the Rebels in interceptions, having recorded three on the season, including a 48-yard pick for a touchdown against LSU last Saturday.
Senior place-kicker Jonathan Nichols continues to play with the same kind of determination that won him the 2003 Lou Groza Award. The product of Greenwood, enters his final game for Ole Miss having made 18 of 24 field goals this season, including a perfect 7-for-7 from one to 19 yards out, and going 5-of-6 from distances of 40 to 50 yards away. Nichols currently leads the nation in consecutive PAT's made, riding a streak of 115 without a miss. Senior punter Cody Ridgeway enters Saturday's game with an average of 42.5 yards per punt.
Mississippi State will be led by junior running back Jerious Norwood and sophomore Omarr Connor at quarterback. Norwood enters this weekend's contest with 1,026 yards on 184 carries and seven TD's. Connor has completed 99-of-178 passes for 1,074 yards and six TD's. Sophomore Will
Prosser and junior Tee Milons have been Connor's favorite targets, as both have recorded 21 receptions apiece.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are led by senior free safety Slovakia Griffith, with 69 total tackles (33 solo). Junior defensive end Willie Evans leads the team in both tackles for loss and sacks with 10.5 and 4.5 respectively. Sophomore Jeramie Johnson leads the team in interceptions with three.
Saturday's meeting will mark the 101st meeting between the two schools and the 77th time the two will battle it out for the Golden Egg trophy. Ole Miss holds a 57-37-6 record over the MSU Bulldogs, including a 31-0 shutout last season in Starkville.