Ole Miss, realistically, needed one yard and a few inches. On fourth and one at Texas Tech’s 39-yard line with 1:20 left to play in the first quarter, and nursing a 17-7 lead over the Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas last Saturday, Ole Miss elected to put the ball into the hands of Scottie Phillips.
The former South Jones and JCJC running back – in his collegiate debut for Ole Miss – gained the yard and added 38 more in eight seconds time. His first collegiate touchdown put the Rebels on top, 24-7, after a successful PAT.
For Phillips’ it was just the start to a record-setting day. He finished with 204 yards on 16 carries, including a 65-yard touchdown up the middle midway through the third quarter. Ole Miss won its Week 1 contest 47-27 over Texas Tech with the help of Phillips, quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, and its “Nasty Wide-outs.”
In his postgame interview Phillips – whose 204 yards was the most by a Rebel running back in his debut – said having such a talented group of receivers helped him out.
“They spread everything out, and it gives me a lot more running room,” he said. “We’ve got a veteran offensive line, and that makes my job a whole lot easier.”
It was the 10th time a Rebel runner has gone over 200 yards in a single game. The last to do it was Brandon Bolden in 2010. With his 39 and 65-yard TD runs, Phillips also added a significant gain of 44 yards midway through the fourth quarter, averaging 12.8 yards per run.
On Monday, Phillips, along with teammates’ Luke Logan (kicker) and Greg Little (OT) scored Player of the Week honors for the Southeastern Conference.
“The word I’ve been using is ‘cautiously’ optimistic,” Ole Miss coach Matt Luke said of Phillips after the game on Saturday, “because I’ve seen a lot of really, really good things in the spring and fall camp, but it was good to see him (in a game). He has short, quick bursts, but he also has the breakaway speed that he can finish it when he breaks the line. So, really, really pleased for him to have some success.”
‘Some success’ is an understatement.
As a senior at South Jones, Phillips rushed for 1,630 yards on 181 carries and 22 touchdowns.
