Vaught Hemmingway Stadium – Oxford, Miss
Two teams coming off lopsided losses face off Saturday when Kent State battles Mississippi.
KSU withstood an opening charge from the Penn State Nittany Lions, getting back into the game in the second quarter. Just before halftime, however, the nationally-ranked Lions took complete control of the contest, eventually defeating Kent State 63-10. That dropped the Flashes to 1-2 on the season.
The Blue and Gold now complete their non-conference schedule this Saturday with a matchup against Southeastern Conference member Mississippi.
The Rebels are 2-1 on the season coming off a 62-7 thrashing at home to defending national Champion -- and currently top-ranked -- Alabama.
This is the first-ever meeting between Kent State and Ole Miss, but the Flashes are 0-13 lifetime against the SEC. Mississippi is 2-0 lifetime against the MAC.
OLE MISS REBELS (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
➤➤ Ole Miss began the season with wins over Texas Tech in Houston (47-27) and Southern Illinois (76-41) at home.
➤➤ The outcome was much different in Week Three. Against Alabama, the Rebels scored on their first offensive play -- a 75-yard touchdown pass. That, however, turned out to be their only score of the game. The Tide took complete control from then on, cruising to a 62-7 win.
➤➤ Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke is in his third season at his alma mater after coming from Duke, where he was the offensive coordinator under David Cutcliffe.
➤➤ A native Mississippian (born and raised in Gulfport), he played center for the Rebels for three seasons. His father and older brother also went to Oxford.
➤➤ In its three games, Ole Miss has averaged 45.3 points and 480 yards per game offensively.
➤➤ The offense leader is QB Jordan Ta’Amu, a senior from Hawaii who has completed 60 percent of his passes (52-of-87) for 917 yards, with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
➤➤ Junior Scottie Phillips leads the rushing attack with 355 yards and four touchdowns.
➤➤ The Rebels have three outstanding receivers. They are led by junior A.J. Brown, who has 19 receptions for 285 yards and a touchdown.
➤➤ Over its first three games, the Ole Miss defense has allowed an average of 43.3 points and 543.7 yards. The Rebels have three interceptions, two sacks, three forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries as a group
➤➤ The defense is led by senior SS Zedrick Woods and junior LB Mohamed Sanogo, each with 20 total tackles (15 & 13 solo tackles respectively)
➤➤ The Rebels return to SEC play next Saturday, traveling to Baton Rouge for their annual battle with the Tigers of LSU
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (1-2)
➤➤ Last Saturday, KSU faced its second Big Ten conference opponent in the season’s first three weeks. The Flashes fell to nationally-ranked Penn State 63-10, dropping KSU to 1-2 on the campaign.
➤➤ Sophomore QB Woody Barrett has completed 57.3 percent of his passes (61-of-106) for 602 yards and nine touchdowns. His 47-yarder to Mike Carrigan in the first quarter was the Flashes lone touchdown on the afternoon.
➤➤ Junior RB Justin Rankin leads the ground game with 199 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown.
➤➤ Carrigan leads KSU receivers with 13 catches for 117 yards and a pair of scores.
➤➤ The defense is led by fifth-year senior LB Matt Bahr with 27 total tackles (14 solo).
➤➤ Next week KSU opens MAC play while completing its current three -game road trip with a battle against Ball State.