While the Ole Miss football team suffered a disappointing loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday night in Nashville, Tennessee, there is no time to be upset because rivalry week is here for the Rebels.
Ole Miss can clinch a fifth-straight bowl game under coach Hugh Freeze with a third-straight win against Mississippi State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) in the Battle for the Golden Egg at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford.
“It’s a game that means an extraordinary amount to this university, to our fan base, and to theirs,” Freeze said. “It’s going to be a great challenge. We’ve had a lot of adversity. To prepare to try to get a sixth win and gain bowl eligibility against your in-state rival, these games are always quite interesting, regardless of records. They’re always highly competitive, and I know this one will be no different.”
“We have a great challenge in trying to stop their offense. It’s a good scheme, and their quarterback (sophomore Nick Fitzgerald) is playing at a really high level with skilled receivers. Defensively, they’ve given up yards and points, as have we, and we’ve got to be sure we’re scoring touchdowns in the red zone when we get those opportunities, because it seems, as you watch them and you watch us, that it could easily be who scores the most touchdowns.”
In freshman Shea Patterson’s second start at quarterback, Ole Miss built a 10-0 lead but struggled defensively in the second half of a 38-17 loss to Vanderbilt. Patterson was 20 of 42 for 222 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Ole Miss couldn’t duplicate the second-half magic from Patterson’s first start. In that game, Ole Miss rallied from a 21-6 halftime deficit to post a 29-28 win at then-No. 8 Texas A&M.
“He’s probably about where you would expect any freshman who came out this early in the season to be,” Freeze said. “He had a great game at Texas A&M by many people’s standards. But we watched the film and you see there are still many things he doesn’t quite understand. The Vanderbilt game, there was some of that also. But he also had about 10 drops. He missed a couple of passes too, he had Quincy Adeboyejo on a touchdown and Evan (Engram) on a touchdown and he missed those, so it’s a combination.
“But he definitely had quite a few drops where if he did make those throws, we might be sitting here feeling differently. There would still be stuff on film that he’s got to get an understanding of. It’s great we have some extra time this week with classes not in session that he can get some extra film. We can make sure he feels great about what we’re trying to do this Saturday. There were a lot of good things he did, but still a ways to go.”
Freeze said Patterson is already playing ahead of the pace of someone with two games experience. However, he will need to continue to progress in the decision-making department.
“More reps would be helpful,” Freeze said. “He definitely got out of the pocket at times the other night where he didn’t have to. He was anxious. I think the answer to that is just more reps. That’s why we need more practices in the bowl time and the spring to get him ready for next season. We’ll work on it some this week, but the best teacher is experience for that. He’ll see it on film. He already has, and we’ll learn from it.
“I believe there was one sack, maybe two. Shea got out of the pocket early some times where I thought they had good protection. We got away from running the ball a little bit. They changed some things after we hurt them on the first two drives running the ball. They found some answers, and we didn’t respond really well to handling the different fronts they went to. It was an average performance for us offensive-line wise.”
The Rebels will look to contain a Bulldogs’ squad playing their best offensive football of the season. In a 58-42 home loss to Arkansas, quarterback Nick Fitzgerald threw for 328 yards, rushed for 131 yards and accounted for six touchdowns.
“We have to win first downs,” Freeze said. “They’re like a lot of us. When they get into their third-down packages with a quarterback like that, it’s very difficult to plan for and to stop and have success. We have to win first down against a guy like him. I think that’s a critical stat to follow in this game, being able to win that down and get them into third-and-long. If you’re always worried about, if it’s either run or pass, it can be difficult.”
Freeze knows the significance of the rivalry. While a fifth straight bowl will be important for the program, so will the chance to win a third straight in the rivalry. Freeze said playing at home will be an advantage.
“I hope (the game is not high-scoring), but when you look at it realistically, the things they do, they have a good scheme,” Freeze said. “Dan (Mullen) does a good job at that, and their quarterback is making them efficient in the run game. He’s a talented runner and he’s throwing the ball well, particularly last week. It’s going to be a great atmosphere Saturday afternoon here. Our fans will show up and help us defend the Egg Bowl.”
n In related news, Engram accepted an invitation Monday to participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The NFL Network will broadcast the game. ESPN2 and NFL Network will broadcast live from the practices the event.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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