Ole Miss comes to life in third quarter, wraps up perfect 2023 home slate
Nov. 17—OXFORD — After a slow first half offensively that saw No. 13 Ole Miss average just 4.9 yards per play, the Rebels scored touchdowns on three-straight possessions against Louisiana-Monroe in the third quarter Saturday — all coming via touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Ole Miss finished up its 2023 home slate a perfect 7-0 with a 35-3 win over the Warhawks on Senior Day at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2 SEC) will play in Thursday's Egg Bowl with a chance at the second 10-win regular season in program history. The Rebels achieved the feat in 2021 as well.
Dart finished 24 of 31 for 310 yards and three touchdown passes.
Ole Miss came up empty on its first two possessions of the game but found pay dirt on the third drive as senior running back Ulysses Bentley IV ran into the end zone from 14 yards out. After another failed fourth-down attempt inside the red zone, the Rebels appeared to find new life when junior safety Trey Washington picked off ULM's (2-9, 0-8 Sun Belt) Jiya Wright in Ole Miss territory. The Rebels were again unable to capitalize, however, and punted back to the Warhawks.
ULM kicked a field goal as time expired in the second quarter to make it 7-3 at halftime. Ole Miss was 4 for 9 on third downs in the first half and just 1 for 3 on fourth-down tries. 199 yards
The Rebels came out of halftime with a bang, as they forced a punt on ULM's opening possession. Ole Miss scored a touchdown on the ensuing nine-play drive, a 13-yard strike from Dart to senior receiver Tre Harris. Dart threw a short touchdown to senior tight end Caden Prieskorn on the next drive. It was Prieskorn's first touchdown reception of the season. Senior Dayton Wade wrapped up the Rebels' third-quarter scoring, catching a pass over the middle and taking it 58 yards to the house.
Senior quarterback Spencer Sanders and the second-team offense came into the game midway through the fourth quarter. Freshman wide receiver Cayden Lee caught a short Sanders pass and tiptoed down the sideline for a 51-yard touchdown.
Ole Miss plays at Mississippi State Thursday at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
