OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Jeff Scott rushed for three touchdowns and scored another on a punt return as Mississippi beat Southern Illinois 42-24 on Saturday night.
The 5-foot-7, 175-pound sophomore rushed for 118 yards on 16 carries, scoring three touchdowns in the first six minutes of the game, including a 67-yard punt return down the right sideline to give the Rebels a 21-0 lead. Scott was the Rebels’ third-string running back coming into the season, but injuries to Brandon Bolden and Enrique Davis in the season-opener against BYU forced him into a starting role.
The victory wasn’t easy. Ole Miss (1-1) had a 35-10 lead early in the third quarter before Southern Illinois responded with two touchdown drives in the second half to pull within 35-24.
Steve Strother rushed for 116 yards for Southern Illinois (1-1), but the Salukis couldn’t overcome four interceptions thrown by Paul McIntosh.
