Mississippi defensive tackle JJ Pegues rumbled for two rushing touchdowns, and the No. 12 Rebels rebounded from their Southeastern Conference-opening setback in a 27-3 throttling of the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday in Columbia, S.C.
After losing 20-17 last week at home to Kentucky, the Rebels (5-1, 1-1) got back on track behind a trio of first-half rushing TDs, two by Pegues and one by Henry Parrish Jr., who notched 81 yards on 21 carries and his team-leading ninth score.
Jaxson Dart completed 14 of 27 passes for 285 yards but failed to connect on a TD pass for the first time this season.
Ole Miss registered 10 tackles for loss, six sacks and two turnovers.
Coach Lane Kiffin recorded his 100th career win as the Rebels moved to 10-8 in the series.
In losing to a ranked team for the seventh straight time, the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2) saw LaNorris Sellers return after missing a game. He went 20-of-32 for 162 yards with an interception.
In Missisiippi’s first game in South Carolina’s capital since 2009, the Rebels defense put the offense in good position, stuffing the Gamecocks’ fake punt at their own 36 on their first possession. Parrish cashed in from 3 yards out with just 4:24 elapsed.
On the next South Carolina series, Walter Nolen’s recovery of a Robby Ashford fumble set up Pegues’ rushing score. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound senior plunged in on a short run for a 14-0 lead at 5:57.
South Carolina turned the tables on Ole Miss in the second, forcing its own turnover on downs at midfield and getting a 40-yard field goal from Alex Herrera at 10:08. Rebels kicker Caden Davis answered with a 24-yarder to regain the two-TD edge.
Dart’s 41-yard pass to Jordan Watkins on third-and-6 late in the half put the ball near the goal line. Pegues then powered his way in for a 24-3 halftime lead on his fourth rushing score this season, the most by an SEC defensive lineman in the past 20 years.
At 1:56 of the third quarter, Davis nailed a 44-yard field goal to give Mississippi a 24-point lead.
On the Gamecocks’ best series early in the quarter, Trey Amos zipped out of the end zone and notched his second interception of 2024 to end South Carolina’s best scoring chance, a 13-play, 69-yard drive.
–Field Level Media
