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No. 15 Ole Miss beats Mississippi St. 26-14 to win Egg Bowl and keep slim CFP hope alive
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) Ulysses Bentley rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown and No. 15 Mississippi defeated in-state rival Mississippi State 26-14 FRiday in the Egg Bowl, keeping its slim College Football Playoff hope alive.
Jaxson Dart completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown for the Rebels (9-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference).
Dart became the Ole Miss career passing yardage leader with a 17-yard strike to Jordan Watkins in the second quarter. He entered the game 49 yards behind Eli Manning and finished the day with 10,213 career yards. Dart, who played at Southern Cal as a freshman, entered the game leading the FBS in total offense and passing efficiency.
The Rebels, who lost to Florida last week, will need some help in other weekend games in their bid to make the CFP. They struggled against the SEC’s worst defense, trailing twice in the first half before Bentley broke loose for an 89-yard TD run that gave Ole Miss a 17-14 lead with less than nine minutes before halftime.
Mississippi didn’t manage to get a two-score lead against the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8) until Dart passed 19 yards to tight end Caden Prieskorn with 9:56 to play.
“This is a huge game in his state, and I think we felt that early, even though we told them records don’t matter. Weird things happen in these Egg Bowls,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said.
Kiffin said he wouldn’t “politic” for a playoff spot, but continued to spotlight the SEC.
’The SEC’s different. It’s different when you go on the road and play at these places," Kiffin said. (Some teams in other conferences go) “the whole year without playing in places like that."
Mississippi State, which entered the game as the SEC’s worst defense (461.8 yards per game), closed out its first winless SEC campaign since 2002. The Bulldogs have dropped 12 consecutive conference games since last October. Michael Van Buren completed 17 of 32 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions.
Ole Miss failed to reach 400 yards for just the fourth time, due in large part to State’s defensive scheme that often used three safeties, Kiffin said. The Rebels rushed for 254 yards.
MSU coach Jeff Lebby, Kiffin’s former Ole Miss offensive coordinator, said his team didn’t take advantage of opportunities.
“We’ve got to make the layup," Lebby said. "That’s something that’s critical. The turnovers were something that didn’t need to happen at all. You go on the road and play a rivalry game against a top-15 opponent, these things can’t happen.”
The Bulldogs had three turnovers -- two interceptions by Van Buren and a muffed punt - but its defense limited Ole Miss to three points in the quick-turn situations.
The Rebels stopped State on four plays inside the 5 yard line late in the game to spoil Bulldogs’ comeback bid.
The Rebels could climb closer to the top 10 depending on the outcome of other rivalry games this weekend.
Mississippi State: The season is over.
Ole Miss: The Rebels are most likely headed to a bowl game - with a remote chance at a CFP bid.
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M. Van Buren Jr.
0 QB 280 PaYds, PaTD, 2 INTs, -9 RuYds, RuTD |
|
U. Bentley IV
24 RB 136 RuYds, RuTD, 7 ReYds, REC |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 16 | 21 |
Rushing | 5 | 11 |
Passing | 10 | 9 |
Penalty | 1 | 1 |
3rd Down Conv | 4-15 | 8-18 |
4th Down Conv | 3-4 | 2-2 |
Total Net Yards | 330 | 397 |
Total Plays | 63 | 75 |
Avg Gain | 5.2 | 5.3 |
Net Yards Rushing | 39 | 254 |
Rush Attempts | 30 | 51 |
Avg Rush Yards | 1.3 | 5.0 |
Yards Passing | 291 | 143 |
Comp. - Att. | 18-33 | 14-24 |
Yards Per Pass | 7.4 | 5.0 |
Penalties - Yards | 6-46 | 4-40 |
Touchdowns | 2 | 3 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 2 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 2-1 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 2 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 6-43.5 | 6-45.3 |
Return Yards | 11 | 10 |
Punts - Returns | 4-11 | 1-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 2-10 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
M. Van Buren Jr.
0 QB
|
M. Van Buren Jr. | 17/32 | 280 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Barr-Mira
82 K
|
N. Barr-Mira | 1/1 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Booth
21 RB
|
D. Booth | 16 | 38 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Daniels
20 RB
|
J. Daniels | 6 | 10 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Van Buren Jr.
0 QB
|
M. Van Buren Jr. | 8 | -9 | 1 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
K. Coleman Jr.
3 WR
|
K. Coleman Jr. | 11 | 6 | 118 | 1 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Akharaiyi
1 WR
|
K. Akharaiyi | 4 | 3 | 54 | 0 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mosley
6 WR
|
J. Mosley | 6 | 2 | 50 | 0 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Booth
21 RB
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D. Booth | 4 | 3 | 40 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Traore
18 TE
|
S. Traore | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ball
84 TE
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J. Ball | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Daniels
20 RB
|
J. Daniels | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Craver
7 WR
|
M. Craver | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
I. Smith
2 S
|
I. Smith | 5-7 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Blanton
7 LB
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S. Blanton | 5-8 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Mitchell
40 LB
|
N. Mitchell | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Ellington
10 S
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C. Ellington | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Pollock
14 CB
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B. Pollock | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Tillman
16 LB
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Z. Tillman | 3-2 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Lanier
3 S
|
B. Lanier | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Russell
36 LB
|
D. Russell | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Kpaka
8 DL
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S. Kpaka | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. Washington
21 S
|
H. Washington | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Purvis
26 LB
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J. Purvis | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Cooper
11 LB
|
T. Cooper | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Jennings
44 LB
|
B. Jennings | 2-6 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Jones
1 CB
|
K. Jones | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Russell
9 DL
|
D. Russell | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. McClendon
90 DL
|
K. McClendon | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Shepphard
98 DL
|
A. Shepphard | 0-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Head Jr.
46 DL
|
J. Head Jr. | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
K. Ferrie
80 K
|
K. Ferrie | 0/0 | 0 | 2/2 | 2 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
N. Barr-Mira
82 K
|
N. Barr-Mira | 6 | 43.5 | 4 | 55 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
K. Coleman Jr. 3 WR
|
K. Coleman Jr. | 4 | 2.8 | 10 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
J. Dart
2 QB
|
J. Dart | 14/24 | 143 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
U. Bentley IV
24 RB
|
U. Bentley IV | 20 | 136 | 1 | 89 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Dart
2 QB
|
J. Dart | 13 | 77 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Thomas
26 RB
|
D. Thomas | 7 | 22 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Davis
4 WR
|
M. Davis | 8 | 18 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Pegues
38 DT
|
J. Pegues | 2 | 6 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Wells Jr.
3 WR
|
A. Wells Jr. | 1 | -5 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Prieskorn
86 TE
|
C. Prieskorn | 5 | 4 | 53 | 1 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Watkins
11 WR
|
J. Watkins | 8 | 5 | 39 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Lee
19 WR
|
C. Lee | 4 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Wright
8 TE
|
D. Wright | 3 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
U. Bentley IV
24 RB
|
U. Bentley IV | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Wells Jr.
3 WR
|
A. Wells Jr. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. Canady
28 S
|
J. Canady | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Paul Jr.
11 LB
|
C. Paul Jr. | 4-2 | 1.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Amos
9 CB
|
T. Amos | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Umanmielen
1 DE
|
P. Umanmielen | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Nolen
2 DT
|
W. Nolen | 2-6 | 1.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Graves Jr.
32 CB
|
C. Graves Jr. | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Saunders Jr.
5 S
|
J. Saunders Jr. | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Washington
25 S
|
T. Washington | 1-4 | 0.0 | 1 |