Once again, Mississippi's flickering bowl hopes hinge on Arkansas game

Mississippi doesn&#39;t want Arkansas to snuff out its faint bowl hopes again.<br> <br> For the second straight year, the Rebels have five losses entering their game against Arkansas and need a perfect finish to qualify for a bowl game.<br> <br> Ole Miss last year was anything but: The Rebels allowed the Razorbacks to gain 452 total yards in a 35-3 rout, giving them a sixth loss and locking them out of the postseason.<br> <br> ``We just broke down. ... Just couldn&#39;t get the ball moving,&#39;&#39; defensive lineman McKinley Boykin said of last year&#39;s loss. ``We had some breakdowns (this season) and we&#39;re just trying to redeem ourselves.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Arkansas (2-6, 0-5 SEC) already is eliminated from bowl contention, thanks to last week&#39;s 14-10 loss to South Carolina. The Razorbacks, who played in six straight bowls from 1998-2003, will be home for the holidays for the second straight year.<br> <br> ``We don&#39;t want to quit the season right now, even though we can&#39;t go to a bowl,&#39;&#39; defensive lineman Desmond Sims said. ``We&#39;re going to keep a positive attitude, and we&#39;re just going to finish up finish strong.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> New Rebels coach Ed Orgeron hopes a change at quarterback can lead to an improbable run at a winning season. After Arkansas, Ole Miss plays host to nationally ranked LSU and visits rival Mississippi State.<br> <br> Ethan Flatt, who started nine games last season but fell out of favor with the new coaching staff in the offseason, will start for the first time since last year&#39;s finale against Mississippi State.<br> <br> ``There has to be a reason he&#39;s going with him, and he probably feels good about Flatt,&#39;&#39; Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said.<br> <br> Flatt, a pure pocket-passer, has gotten the hang of Oregeron&#39;s scheme and gave the Rebels (3-5, 1-4) an offensive jolt when he replaced Micheal Spurlock late in the Auburn loss two weeks ago.<br> <br> ``We will need (the offense) to be rejuvenated,&#39;&#39; Orgeron said. ``I think it will happen this week. We should be able to move the football and open up our running game. We should be able to create some mismatches that we&#39;ve been wanting to create and get the ball down the field.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Flatt started last year in Fayetteville and was 11 of 21 passing for 126 yards. The Rebels&#39; leading rusher that day, backup quarterback Robert Lane (94 yards), now is playing fullback.<br> <br> Both teams boast exciting freshman running backs: Arkansas&#39; Darren McFadden leads the SEC and is 19th nationally with 108.6 yards per game, while Ole Miss&#39; Mico McSwain is eighth in the league with a 76.6-yard average and already is the school&#39;s most productive freshman rusher ever.<br> <br> Arkansas ranks fifth in the nation in rushing offense with a 251-yard average, while Ole Miss&#39; defense is in the middle of the SEC pack and allows fewer than 140 yards rushing per game.<br> <br> ``Our linebackers have to be able to fill the gaps because if you give (McFadden) a gap, he will hit it,&#39;&#39; Orgeron said.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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