By Angie Ledbetter

As Ole Miss Rebel Panola County standouts Jamarca Sanford and Peria Jerry savored Friday’s Egg Bowl win over Mississippi State, they reflected on their team’ development during the 2008 season

“This November was big for me, not to lose a game in November. That was what Coach (Houston) Nutt always preached to us. He told us that everybody was going to remember the wins in November and so far I feel like everybody has responded to what he was saying,” Jerry said.

Jerry said the day and win were emotional to him.

“I may not see a lot of the guys for awhile or whatever. They are family and I look at them as family. I am going to miss them. My time is up but while I was here, we grew up together.”

 Jerry ruminated on what changed from beginning of the season for the team

“I feel like the defense was one of the problems at the beginning of the season and now we’re a totally different defense from the first few games. Our defense has become one of the top in the nation now.”

Sanford said the win meant a lot but they knew they had to finish.

“We knew they were in our way of going to the Cotton Bowl or to a bigger bowl,” he said. “We looked at them as a good football team like LSU or somebody. We just put the game plan together and went out and played.”

Sanford said they played together as a team and he likes the results.

“I knew the results could be like this if we went out and played like we knew we could play and not turn the ball over or make stupid mistakes. We played together as a team and played with enthusiasm and excitement. We got the job done.”

Sanford was redshirted his first year at Ole Miss and the team had some down years during his tenure there. He said his senior year makes up for the rough times.

“I wouldn’t trade this year for any other year. You can’t go out any better with being a senior and going to a bid bowl game, beating LSU and getting that trophy and beating Mississippi State. It was just a great year. Words really can’t explain it. It was just a blessing that I feel God sent to us as a team. He sent the coaches our way. We were just blessed to get Coach Nutt and his staff.”

His words to the younger ones left to build on the legacy is, “To just enjoy the moment and the time that they have here. Their time is going to fly back quick.”

Ole Miss is awaiting a bowl invitation bid.

Note: As South Panola prepares to play for its sixth straight state championship, Sanford and Jerry were part of the dynasty that started the amazing 89-game win streak the team now enjoys.