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OXFORD — Following a shocking loss at home to Kentucky, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was keen on not being reactionary. One game in 12-game regular-season slate doesn’t have to tell the entire story.
The then-No. 6 Rebels (4-1, 0-1 SEC) began their SEC opener about as well as they could have Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, driving 83 yards in just over two minutes on their opening drive against the Wildcats to jump out to an early lead. After four games versus overmatched competition, it looked like Ole Miss was going to blow things open against Kentucky the way it had for most of the season’s first month.
But that didn’t end up being the case.
The Rebels struggled to find much of an offensive groove the remainder of Saturday and were held to a season-low 353 yards, not scoring another touchdown until late in the third on a catch-and-run on fourth down from senior wide receiver Tre Harris. Kentucky’s offense kept keeping drives alive, whether it was via clutch plays from quarterback Brock Vandagriff or mistakes from the Rebels’ defense. Vandagriff made the play of the day with about four minutes left in the game deep in his own territory, hitting Barion Brown down the sideline for a 63-yard gain on fourth-and-7. The Wildcats scored a touchdown later on the drive on a fumble recovery from Josh Kattus into the end zone.
Ole Miss senior quarterback Jaxson Dart tried his best to save the day, completing a 42-yard strike to senior tight end Caden Prieskorn on fourth-and-11 to keep the Rebel’s hopes alive. Senior kicker Caden Davis’ 48-yard game-tying attempt swung wide, though, and the Wildcats notched a 20-17 victory, the program’s first in Oxford since 1978.
The Rebels will try to get back to their winning ways next Saturday at South Carolina at 2:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
“All…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lane-kiffin-ole-miss-not-010100907.html
Author : Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo
Publish date : 2024-09-30 01:01:00
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