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College Football

Rapid Reaction: Ole Miss shrugs off scary start, downs Vanderbilt to remain undefeated

Ethan Stone

By Ethan Stone

Published:

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Ole Miss fans started to breath some time around the middle of the third quarter in the Rebels’ 52-28 win over Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt wanted to play upset Saturday and the Commodores gave Ole Miss much more than it was bargaining for. Still, when all was said and done the Rebels came out on top with a perfect 6-0 record.

The first half was all Vanderbilt’s and the catalyst for the Commodores’ strong opening act was AJ Swann. The freshman quarterback looked calm as can be against the No. 9 team in the country, throwing for 278 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

He connected with Jayden McGowan for the Commodores’ first touchdown of the afternoon. What an effort here from McGowan to turn a 3-yard loss into 6 points:

But Jaxson Dart and Ole Miss were far from ready to roll over and let Vanderbilt walk all over them. The USC transfer answered right back with a 61-yard touchdown connection to Jordan Watkins to bring it back to a one-score game.

Vanderbilt kept its foot on the gas on offense, escorting Ray Davis to the 5-yard line before the senior punched it in on 4th and 5 for the second touchdown of the day. Ole Miss halted all Vanderbilt momentum at the end of the first half. Down 10 points, the Rebels marched down the field for a 7-play, 62-yard scoring drive.

Quinshon Judkins did the honors to cut the deficit to 3.

That just about did it. The Commodores looked like a different team in the second half, and Ole Miss, unlike in quarters 1 and 2, was willing to take advantage of mistakes.

It was the Ole Miss defense that tightened up when things started to get serious. The Rebels cut the nonsense

They capitalized on Swann’s mistakes too. This play was particularly Vanderbilt-esque.

Judkins was in the end zone just a few plays later.

Zach Evans and Judkins both found the end zone less than 10 minutes into the second half. The power running duo made Vanderbilt’s front line look silly more often than not Saturday.

Judkins and Evans combined for over 120 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns.

Dart got in on the fun in the second half, too. He connected with Jonathan Mingo for a 71-yard score to put the nail in the coffin for the Commodores.

Not sure Mingo could have been more wide open here.

Mingo wasn’t done. He put the game on ice with a 72-yard touchdown Jaunt to increase Ole Miss’ lead to 25.

With that catch, Mingo became the third Ole Miss receiver to total 230 yards and 2 touchdowns in a single game. His 247 yards on the day are the most by a Ole Miss receiver in its history

Blink and you’ll miss it. Vanderbilt went from 3-point lead to 25-point loss and quick as it came.

The Rebels travel back to Oxford next week to host Auburn at Noon on ESPN. Competition slightly ramps up the following week against LSU in Death Valley.

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.

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