Mississippi 17, Vanderbilt 10

Published 11:29 pm Saturday, October 7, 2006

BenJarvis Green-Ellis ran for 102 yards and two scores and Charles Clark had a game-saving interception for Mississippi in a 17-10 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Clark intercepted Mackenzi Adams’ pass inside the Ole Miss 10 on the games final play as the Rebels (2-3, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) snapped a six-game losing streak in Southeastern Conference play. Green-Ellis had 24 carries and scored two in the first quarter.

Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-3 SEC) turned the ball over six times and was dominated in the kicking game. The Commodores missed a pair of field goals, fumbled a punt return and took a sack by the punter that led to an Ole Miss touchdown.

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Vandy quarterback Chris Nickson was lost to an ankle injury late in the first half and did not return. Nickson was 11-of-13 for 95 yards and directed the Commodores to their only touchdown.

Adams was 10-of-20 for 176 yards in a relief role, but the Commodores managed only a 38-yard field goal by Bryant Hahnfeldt on four scoring opportunities in the fourth quarter.

Ole Miss defensive end Rory Johnson was the decisive defensive factor.

Johnson stripped Adams of the ball and recovered the fumble to stop a drive that carried inside the Ole Miss 5. Johnson, a junior college transfer making his first start, had 16 tackles, forced three fumbles and broke up a pass.

Johnson set up the first Ole Miss touchdown on a 28-yard return after a fumble by Vanderbilt receiver George Smith. Three plays later, Green-Ellis scored on a 2-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing series, Vanderbilt punter Brett Upson was forced to hold the ball at the Commodore 17-yard line to avoid a blocked punt. Four plays later, Green-Ellis scored on a 1-yard run to give the Rebels a 14-0 lead with 1:26 left in the first period.

Vanderbilt pulled within 14-7 at halftime on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Nickson to Sean Walker. Nickson was 4-for-4 for 56 yards in the scoring drive, but was hurt on the following series.

Ole Miss took a 17-7 third quarter lead on a 32-yard field goal by Joshua Shene on the opening possession of the second half. Brandon Jenkins recovered a fumble by Commodore running back Cassen Jackson-Garrison at the Vanderbilt 42-yard line to set up the score.