The Traveler

Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Chris Bryan Arkansas running back Darren McFadden breaks through a whole in the Ole Miss defense for a big gain. McFadden ran for 110 yards on 22 carries in the Razorbacks' 44-8 victory.

OXFORD, Miss. - The old saying goes, "Offense wins games. Defense wins championships." When the two meet you get blowouts, evident in Arkansas' 44-8 win Saturday at Ole Miss in a battle of the last two winless teams in the Southeastern Conference.

Much maligned for not having played a complete game this season, the Razorbacks were out to prove their pundits wrong. Arkansas did so with a fast-strike offense in the first quarter and a defense that held Ole Miss scoreless for the first 53:34 of the game.

Arkansas coach Houston Nutt stressed it was a new season to the team during practice last week and echoed the same sentiment following the win.

"I told our players after last week that the season has started all over," Nutt said. "This was the first game of the season, here in Oxford. It's a tough place to play. I'm really pleased with the play of our offensive line. They practiced hard all week after last week. It showed today. We got back where we need to be."

The offensive line was embarrassed after Arkansas ran for just 67 yards in a loss to Auburn, in which Arkansas' defense didn't yield a touchdown. Against Ole Miss, the Razorbacks rushed for 293 yards and the running game sparked Arkansas early.

Arkansas (4-3, 1-3 SEC) used two Felix Jones touchdowns on its first two possessions to take a 14-0 lead, and Casey Dick hit Andrew Davie for a 1-yard touchdown on the second play of the second quarter, leaving the Rebels (2-6, 0-5 SEC) down three scores.

"It's real big to get off to a good start," Jones said. "The offensive line created some big holes for us. We came out ready to play."

Jones and junior Darren McFadden each eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the sixth time this season. Jones finished with 101 yards on 15 carries and the two early scores.

McFadden rushed for 110 yards on 22 carries, but was held out of the end zone for the second consecutive game. A lack of touchdowns wasn't a concern to McFadden, however.

"I think this is my first 100-yard game against Ole Miss," McFadden said. "It is just a great feeling to go out there and get one of them. I felt like I came out there and boosted everyone up."

Continued...

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