McCluster carries Rebels to victory

ARLINGTON, Texas – Before having to figure out life without Dexter McCluster in the backfield, Mississippi coach Houston Nutt was going use the speedy back as much as possible.

“We knew were going to run his legs off,” Nutt said.

McCluster responded with a finale for Nutt and Ole Miss fans to remember.

In a Cotton Bowl filled with turnovers and missed opportunities by both teams, McCluster was the clear standout in his final game. He carried a career-high 32 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 2-yard run on a direct snap with 4:03 left Saturday, and the Rebels beat Oklahoma State 21-7.

“When I’m in the zone, I’m all business. I want the ball and I’m going to do whatever I can to make something happen,” McCluster said. “I’m pretty sore. But if we had to play again, I’d get up and go.”

McCluster also had an 86-yard TD run in the second quarter.

Ole Miss (9-4) had five turnovers in the game, but Oklahoma State had six in the fourth quarter, and seven overall.

The Rebels failed to capitalize on Kendrick Lewis’ two interceptions, but McCluster scored after a fumble to break a 7-7 tie. Patrick Trahan picked up another fumble and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown less than a minute later, then intercepted a deflected fourth-down pass by Oklahoma State’s Zac Robinson on the next drive.

“It’s hard to overcome giving one away,” Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said. “At some point we’ve got to make some plays. We’ve got to step up. I told the team the same thing.”

The Cowboys (9-4), who were in the preseason AP Top 10 with Ole Miss, missed a chance for their first 10-win season since 1988 when Gundy was their starting quarterback. Nutt, also a former Oklahoma State quarterback, was then one of their coaches.

Nutt has led the Rebels to consecutive 9-4 seasons, both capped by victories in the Cotton Bowl.