COLUMBIA, S.C. — After a gut-punch loss to Kentucky last week, Ole Miss got back on track with a 27-3 victory over South Carolina.
The win marks Lane Kiffin's 100th career win as a college head coach.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart went 14-of-27 for 285 yards as the Rebels racked up 425 total yards of offense. Two-way star JJ Pegues had a standout performance, rushing for two touchdowns and recording two tackles, including one for a loss.
Wide receiver Juice Wells notched a season-high 97 yards on three receptions.
Dart and the Rebels found their rhythm early. On Ole Miss' second drive, Henry Parrish Jr. scored the game’s first points with a 3-yard rushing touchdown.
On the next drive, Ole Miss marched 59 yards down the field, capped by Pegues powering his way in for a 1-yard touchdown.
The Rebels added a field goal in the second quarter to extend the lead to 17, but head coach Lane Kiffin wasn’t satisfied.
With less than two minutes left in the first half, Dart connected with Jordan Watkins for a 41-yard gain to set up a red zone opportunity. Pegues finished the 59-yard drive with his second touchdown of the game.
Ole Miss failed to score a touchdown in the second half, but the defense held South Carolina to just three points.
Spreading the Love
After targeting Tre Harris 11 times last week, Dart spread the ball to five different receivers in this game. Watkins, who had zero catches against Kentucky, bounced back with five receptions for 72 yards in Columbia.
Juice Wells emerged as a potential X-factor for the Rebels, posting a season-high 97 yards on three catches.
Third-Down Struggles Continue
Kiffin emphasized the need to extend drives after the Rebels converted just 1-of-10 third-down attempts against Kentucky. The struggles continued, with Ole Miss converting only 3-of-13 third downs against South Carolina.
However, the Rebels didn’t rely heavily on third-down conversions, as they racked up 17 first downs.
Two-Way Terror
JJ Pegues has proven to be a key weapon in short-yardage situations, adding two more touchdowns to bring his season total to four. The versatile big man gives Ole Miss a different look at the goal line.
Defensively, Pegues made his presence felt with two tackles, including a crucial tackle for loss in the first half.
