J. CURTIS SANFORD TROPHY (OFFENSIVE MVP) OLE MISS WR DEXTER McCLUSTER

Even if Tommy Lewis came off the bench decked out in neon orange, he probably still couldn’t stop Ole Miss running back Dexter McCluster.

Lewis became part of AT&T Cotton Bowl lore when came off the sideline and kept Rice’s Dicky Maegle from scoring in 1954. Officials awarded Maegle a 95-yard touchdown in what is widely regarded as the most infamous play in bowl history.

McCluster’s blazing 86-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against Oklahoma State became the second-longest scoring run in bowl history and helped him capture Offensive MVP honors.

“Everybody had a hat on a hat, everybody blocked their man and after that, it was nothing but speed,” McCluster said. “And speed kills.”

And as for Lewis?

“I would have made him miss,” he said.

The senior from Largo, Fla., finished with 182 yards on a career-high 32 carries. McCluster also had five catches for 45 yards. His 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter helped the Rebels cement their second straight AT&T Cotton Bowl championship.

This was McCluster’s second time to win the Sanford Trophy, presented annually to the game’s most outstanding offensive player. McCluster was named the Offensive MVP after the 2009 Classic as Ole Miss defeated Texas Tech, 47-34. In that game played in Fair Park, McCluster had 97 yards rushing on 14 carries and caught six passes for 83 yards.

Coming into the 2010 Classic, Oklahoma State had not allowed anyone to rush for more than 100 yards. In fact, the longest run the Cowboys throughout the regular season went for 29 yards. But McCluster had 141 yards by halftime and it was clear he wasn’t done yet.

“Dexter, just keep feeding him the ball,” Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead said. “We were working hard and when he’s making the plays he is, you know it’s best to just keep giving him the ball and it worked out best for us.”

OSU coach Mike Gundy said McCluster has such great speed, he’s able to overcome even the best defensive maneuvering.

“In our opinion, when he’s dangerous is when he hits up in there and you stuff it and he jumps outside,” Gundy said. “Our defense understood that taking a good angle on him is important. Everybody knows how fast he is, but it’s still somewhat deceiving.”

There was no deception on McCluster’s long run. Rebels tackle Reid Neely made a perfect seal block, and McCluster quickly got into open space. From there, he simply hit the gas pedal.

McCluster was grinding it out the rest of the day. Considering how both teams turned it over with impunity, the Rebels needed to capitalize when they reached the Cowboys’ 2-yard line in the fourth quarter.

McCluster lined up in the “Wild Rebel” formation, took a direct snap from center and headed to the left side. He leaped in the air, got hit at the goal line and dove in for a score. That gave Ole Miss a 14-7 lead with about four minutes remaining.

With plays like that, McCluster became the first player in Southeastern Conference history to rush for 1,000 yards and post 500 receiving yards in the same season.

“Nobody else,” Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said. “Bo Jacksons, I’m talking about great player in this league, he’s the only one. That’s why this is so special, because this guy has done something. His heart is bigger than this stadium, I promise you.”