The Best of MSU-Ole Miss
These players stepped up during Saturday's Egg Bowl:
Ole Miss receiver Mico McSwain: McSwain finished the day with modest numbers (two carries for 15 yards and three catches for 29 yards), but I was impressed with his toughness. He bailed out quarterback Brent Schaeffer several times. Early in the second quarter, Schaeffer fired high in traffic, McSwain hauled in the pass by making a good adjustment. He then turned upfield, juked a defender, and gained 11 yards. McSwain made another nice catch with defenders around him in the third quarter for a gain of seven. Both of those catches came on drives that ended in Ole Miss field goals. Those points would not have been on the board without McSwain's grabs.
Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis: I finally got a chance to see one of the best defensive players in the country. Willis didn't have his best ball game. He finished with 13 tackles, but I honestly thought some of those were handed out generously by the stat crew. Still, Willis impressed with his ability to be everywhere on the field. He also played defensive end on numerous third downs, and he crushed quarterback Omarr Conner on a vicious sack that made MSU settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown.
Mississippi State defensive end Michael Herd: Herd finished the game with only three tackles, but his effort combined with the rest of the MSU defensive line made BenJarvus Green-Ellis' day miserable. On the opening Ole Miss drive, Herd stuffed Green-Ellis just in front of the line of scrimmage. On the next drive, he forced a false start on Michael Oher and then stopped Bruce Hall for no gain on the next play. Herd didn't do quite as much in the second half.
Mississippi State linebacker Gabe O'Neal: O'Neal was outstanding near the endzone. Ole Miss had the ball, leading 7-3, first and goal at the three yard line. O'Neal tackled Green-Ellis on first down for a two yard loss. On third and goal, O'Neal had the coverage to force an incompletion in the back of the endzone. The Rebels settled for a field goal. Then, in the third quarter, O'Neal made a great tackle on Schaeffer's quarterback keeper on second and goal to save a touchdown. Again, the drive ended in a field goal.
Ole Miss special teams: This was where the game was decided. Marshay Green ran back a punt 47 yards for a touchdown to give the Rebels a 10 point lead. Punter Rob Park had a strong day. He pinned the Bulldogs inside their 20 three times. Here are the starting points for the Bulldogs drives in the second half: Own 20; Own six; Own 28; Own 48; Own 16; Own 8; Own 27. Then, their last possession began at their own 48 after stopping Ole Miss on fourth and inches. Park's punts and Green's returns helped the Rebels win the field position battle.
