OXFORD — The Ole Miss football team’s four-game winning streak is history along with its short stay in the national rankings.
The Rebels (7-4, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) didn’t play well Saturday in a 24-10 loss to then-No. 8 Missouri. Ole Miss struggled in the red zone and now must regroup for a road game against Mississippi State (5-6, 2-5) at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (ESPN).
Even though it is already bowl eligible, the game will give Ole Miss a chance to build on the momentum from a seven-win season in 2012. Coach Hugh Freeze then landed a nationally lauded recruiting class, which added to the enthusiasm following a 41-24 victory in the Battle for the Golden Egg. That victory ended MSU’s three-game winning streak in the series and helped erase the disappointment following a 2-10 record in 2011.
MSU needs a victory to become bowl eligible for a fourth-straight season. History could be on the Bulldogs’ side. The home team has won eight of the past nine Egg Bowls. Last season, Freeze and the Rebels had a 5-6 record before their victory against the Bulldogs.
“The Egg Bowl intensity is always about as high and you can get,” Freeze said. “But with them having to win to go to a bowl, like we were last year, if it’s possible to ratchet it up more, that would do it.”
Freeze hopes Ole Miss can improve its productivity in the red zone. Against Missouri, Ole Miss scored only three points in three trips into the red zone. Penalties, dropped passes and the lack of a power running game were all partially to blame.
“There were some opportunities to have some really nice plays and we didn’t get it done,” Freeze said. “There are three or four that stand out in our mind — they’re our fault. And then you’ve got to give (Missouri) some credit.”
MSU beat Arkansas 24-17 in overtime on Saturday, but might be down to its third-string quarterback. Coach Dan Mullen said Monday that starter Dak Prescott will miss his third-consecutive game because of a nerve injury in his non-throwing arm. Backup Tyler Russell played most of the game against Arkansas, but he had to leave in the fourth quarter with an injured throwing shoulder.
Mullen said Russell’s status will be evaluated this week, but if he can’t play, freshman Damian Williams will move in.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Williams hasn’t played much this season, but he scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on a 25-yard run in overtime.
Freeze said MSU’s offense is fairly consistent no matter who is under center. He sounded more concerned about MSU’s defense — which held top-ranked Alabama to a season-low 20 points two weeks ago.
“The windows to throw in, they don’t stay open long,” Freeze said. “It’s an excellent defense, and over the past few games they’ve improved.”
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