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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Fresh off the Field: Egg Bowl Won by a Dozen
11/30/2024 | Football
Presented by Kroger
As expected, all rankings, records and statistics went out the window when the ball was kicked in the Battle for the Golden Egg as the visiting Bulldogs claimed a 14-10 lead through the first quarter of play. After the initial flurry, the Rebel defense pitched a shutout in the final three frames, and the offense eventually broke through to improve to 4-1 against State in the Lane Kiffin era.
Click here for a full recap of the Egg Bowl victory, including notes, quotes and highlights, and scroll on for our top three takeaways from the game in this week's Fresh off the Field, presented by Kroger.
It's State and it's hard for players or coaches to really understand until you get here to witness it yourself. Now, being in five of them, I understand that," Kiffin said. "I think our players probably felt that pretty early, but for some new players to understand, even though we told them a million times, records don't matter. It happens in these games… weird things happen in these Egg Bowls.
Defended the Egg
MSU head coach and former Rebel offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby gave his former boss everything he had. The Bulldogs used a fake punt and a 4th-and-7 conversion to score their first touchdown, then hit a few explosive plays for their second TD to stun Ole Miss and grab the early lead, but the elite Rebel defense won out in the end.
Chris Paul Jr. and Trey Washington each had interceptions as Ole Miss won the turnover battle 3-0. Walter Nolen had a monster performance with a team-high eight tackles, 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss, one of which came inside the Ole Miss 5-yard line to help the Rebels turn the Bulldogs away one last time on their final drive to keep the Golden Egg in Oxford.
I give Lebby credit, he had them ready to go, and they did a great job offensively early. He took risks which is what you've got to do as an underdog, so I respect that," Kiffin said. "Happy our guys finished…16 to nothing to end the game. For our guys to make four plays in a row to stop them there, you know we were up twelve and we could have just let them score, for me that was just a really cool memory for that to happen during this game.
Bentley's Breakaway
Mississippi State was also ready with a tough defensive gameplan, showing a three-high-safety look for much of the night to frustrate the Ole Miss passing attack, putting the onus on a Rebel rushing attack that has struggled of late. Enter Ulysses Bentley IV.
The Bulldogs led 14-10 midway through the second quarter, and the Rebel offense was coming off consecutive three-and-outs, in need of a spark and sitting at their own 11-yard line. It took Bentley just one play to break free for the longest touchdown run in the SEC this season, dashing 89 yards to put Ole Miss on top, 17-14, and the Rebels never looked back.
On that play call I knew the guard was pulling and once I saw that hole and hit it in the inside I knew, you know I'm fast so ain't nobody catching me," Bentley said. "Once I hit it I just knew I was gone at that point.
All-Time Leader
Jaxson Dart claimed another record in his final game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, throwing for 143 yards and surpassing Eli Manning to become Ole Miss' all-time career passing leader at 10,213 yards.
Dart had to be patient in his home finale but ran for 77 yards, then came through late with a touchdown strike to Caden Prieskorn to put Ole Miss up by two scores. After the win, Dart found Kiffin for an emotional embrace, and in speaking with the media postgame, the senior from Kaysville, Utah, reflected on his career in Oxford.
My emotions have been running high all week, honestly," Dart said. "I've been taking time to reflect on my career here and the position that I felt we collectively all put in. I don't know what is going to happen in the postseason, but there are a lot of things to be grateful for and thankful for. I give all the credit to my coaches and my teammates. It's hard flipping across the country from the West Coast and leaving your family. This place just took me in with open arms and took my family in. I've said it multiple times, this is the best place I could have picked and it definitely means a lot to go out with a home win like this with the guys that I came in here with. Honestly, I am still trying to take in everything that has happened so far. The biggest word I could use is gratitude.
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