SEC INSIDER

Egg Bowl means ‘everything’ for Rebels

The Sports Xchange

November 24, 2015 at 9:28 pm.

Nov 21, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) makes a pass during the third quarter of the game against the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi won 38-17.  Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Nov 21, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) makes a pass during the third quarter of the game against the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

seems even more distant than that.

“I’m just a kid from Buffalo (New York) who never hears a cowbell in Buffalo,” Kelly said when the subject of Mississippi State’s loudest game ritual is brought up.

But most of the Rebels’ quarterback’s teammates call Mississippi home, and that’s not lost on him. Kelly said he’s ready to experience first-hand what those in his own locker room are trying their best to convey — Saturday’s meeting between Ole Miss and Mississippi State is no ordinary game.

“It means everything,” Kelly said. “Being around here the past nine, 10 months in Oxford, this is the biggest game of the year to get out there in front of a big-time crowd.”

More than pride and bragging rights could be on the line in this year’s rendition of the Egg Bowl depending on what happens between Auburn and Alabama, which will play in the afternoon. An Auburn upset coupled with an Ole Miss win over the Bulldogs would put the Rebels (8-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) in the SEC Championship Game.

But the only thing the Rebels can control is what happens in Starkville, a place they haven’t won since Eli Manning’s senior season in 2003. It’s been a series dominated recently by the team playing in its own stadium with Mississippi State’s 31-23 win in Oxford in 2010 being the only time the visitors have won in the last 11 meetings.

“The stands are going to be packed out and the (Mississippi State) fans are going to rally behind their team,” Ole Miss safety Chief Brown said. “It’s going to be a really tough environment for us. Probably the toughest all year.”

For Ole Miss to have a shot to end the decade-long misery at Davis Wade Stadium, the defense will have to do something it’s struggled to do all season and contain a potent Bulldog passing attack behind senior quarterback Dak Prescott, who’s thrown for 3,159 yards and 23 touchdowns for the SEC’s second-ranked passing offense.

Arkansas is the only team in the SEC that’s given up more passing yards than the Rebels, who have surrendered at least 270 yards through the air in six games. Prescott’s ability to tuck it and run could make it even more of a chore for Ole Miss to contain the Bulldogs, who can attack any part of the field with their spread offense.

Prescott has added 478 yards and nine scores on the ground.

“They spread you from sideline to sideline and give (Prescott) a lot of options once the ball is snapped,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said.

The only quarterback who’s been more prolific in the SEC than Prescott is Kelly, whose 3,504 passing yards and 25 touchdown tosses are tops in the league. The wide-open offenses and little resistance against them could make for a game that won’t be decided until the final possession.

“I wouldn’t say a shootout,” wideout Laquon Treadwell said.

But ?

“It’s going to be a great game though,” Treadwell added. “High intensity. They’re going to be flying around. We’re going to be flying around. It’s going to be a great rivalry game.”

NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH

–QB Chad Kelly continues to tear up the SEC in his inaugural season in the league. The junior college transfer leads the conference in passing yards (3,504) and total offense (3,857 yards). He accounted for four touchdowns against LSU to break Eli Manning’s school record for the most touchdowns in a single season (34), and his 361 yards of total offense broke Bo Wallace’s record for total offense in one season.

–WR Laquon Treadwell is putting together a memorable season in what’s likely to be his last in an Ole Miss uniform. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior caught a touchdown for the sixth straight game against LSU and leads the SEC in receptions (72) and yards (1,060). He’s a physical specimen that’s open even when he’s not and will likely be the first wideout taken in next year’s NFL draft.

–LB DeMarquis Gates stepped in for Denzel Nkemdiche at linebacker and turned in a career performance against LSU, tallying 14 tackles and a pass breakup to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Gates has been rotating with Nkemdiche at the Stinger, or outside, position and has been producing all year. He entered last week’s game third on the team in tackles and now is the leader in that category with 72 stops.

–Mike Hilton continues to do a little bit of everything for Ole Miss’ defense. The senior defensive back started the season at rover, moved to Huskie to fill in for the injured Tony Conner and is now splitting time between Huskie and corner with Conner’s knee injury still bothering him and the cornerback play being suspect. Hilton produced at both spots, recording nine tackles, including one for a loss. His 55 stops are third-most on the team.