Rebs Vs. NW State

It should be a very small crowd in Oxford this weekend, probably 30,000 in attendance this weekend at the game. You never know how the Rebels will play but they will probably win this one by about 14-17 points.

Hopefully and I mean hopefully some of the younger guys like Cordera Eason will get a chance to play in this game. On defense it will be interesting to see how much Chris Strong and Lawon Scott continue to play and if Tony Fein shows up to play again like he has the past couple of games. Personally, as weird as it may sound, I would like to see Brent Schaeffer start at QB. The real Seth Adams has played the past few games and Brent Schaeffer in my opinion brings more life to the field.

All in all, it will more than likely be a very laid back weekend in Oxford and more people will be concerned with the LSU-Bama game than there will be fans interested in the Ole Miss-Northwestern State game. It is weekends like this that make the Grove special, when football is not very important.

Some UMAA Notes

SERIES INFO: This marks the second meeting between the Rebels and the Demons. Ole Miss claimed a 27-7 victory last year in Oxford.

NORTHWESTERN STATE SCOUTING REPORT: After opening the year 2-0, the Demons have dropped five of their last six. Northwestern State is coming off a 20-17 homecoming loss to Southland Conference rival Texas State in Natchitoches. The Demon offense is averaging 19.6 points and 328.9 yards per game and is led by sophomore quarterback Germayn Edmond, who has completed 63-of-129 passes for 793 yards with seven TDs and eight interceptions. Edmond has also run for six TDs and ranks second on the team in rushing with 323 yards. Junior RB Byron Lawrence has rushed for a team-high 917 yards and three TDs, while junior WR Dudley Guice is the top receiver with 22 catches for 300 yards and three scores. The Northwestern State defense is surrendering 36.9 points and 381.9 yards per outing. Junior LB Mack Dampier has posted 69 tackles and 7.5 TFLs, while sophomore LB Blake Delcambre has 64 stops and five for loss. In the secondary, junior S Justin Perry has notched five pass break-ups, and sophomore CB Kasey Brown has four break-ups and three interceptions. Junior K Robert Weeks has connected on 4-of-6 field goals and 13-of-14 PATs.

COACHING TIES: Not only an alumn, Rebel mentor Ed Orgeron began his coaching career at Northwestern State, serving as a graduate assistant in 1984 following his senior season. During the 1983 and 1984 campaigns in Natchitoches, Orgeron played and coached under current Ole Miss defensive coordinator John Thompson, who had two separate stints as D.C. for the Demons. From 1983-86, Thompson helped Northwestern State top the nation in scoring defense. He returned to that capacity 1988-89.