Rebels open 2015 with 76-3 rout of UT-Martin

DaMarkus Lodge reels in his first touchdown catch as a Rebel. (Photo taken by Ariel Cobbert)

The Rebels opened the 2015 season with a bang as they ran over UT-Martin at home 76-3.

Head coach Hugh Freeze said earlier in the week that all three quarterbacks will get their fair share of reps throughout the game and that certainly was the case.

Junior transfer Chad Kelly was the star of the day for the offense as he finished 9-15 passing for 211 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. His first touchdown as a Rebel came in the first quarter when Kelly hit sophomore wide receiver Markell Pack for the 56-yard strike to make it 20-0 Ole Miss. Kelly aired out another bomb  in the second quarter to senior wide receiver Cody Core for 57 yards to make it 41-0 Ole Miss. Kelly also added a 20-yard rushing score in the third quarter to make it 53-3.

Redshirt sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade both got reps throughout that game and made the most of their opportunities under center. Buchanan finished 4-6 passing for 58 yards and two touchdowns. Kincade finished an efficient 6-7 passing for 55 yards and one score. Kincade also added 24 yards on the ground.

The running game made a big splash in the opener as Freeze and the coaching staff made sure it would improve after an abysmal performance in 2014.

The ground game reached 338 yards total and five touchdowns. Leading the rushing attack was senior Jaylen Walton, who finished with three carries for 65 yards and two scores. Adding on to the onslaught was freshman Eugene Brazley, who finished with six caries for 88 yards and one score. Seven Rebels had at least double-digit rushing yards for the game.

In his first game action since his gruesome leg injury last season against Auburn, junior wide receiver Laquon Treadwell led the receivers with four catches for 44 yards. There was a little rust for Treadwell with some dropped passes and one resulting in the lone interception for Kelly.

The defensive star for the game junior defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche as he finished with three total tackles, three quarterback hurries and one blocked field goal.

That wasn’t all for Nkemdiche as he was a presence on the offensive side the ball as well. Nkemdiche lined up in the backfield with Buchanan under center in the second quarter. Nkemdiche spilt out of the backfield and caught the pass in the flat from Buchanan and ran 31 yards for his first offensive touchdown.

At the end of the first half, UT-Martin had the rushing advantage with 94 yards compared to Ole Miss’ 91. The Rebel defense held the Skyhawk offense to only 22 yards rushing in the second half and 116 yards for the game.

The secondary continued their dominant ways from last season by holding UT-Martin to 176 yards through the air and forcing one interception.

The 76-3 win for the Rebels was the most points scored and largest margin of victory in a game since 1935.

The 1-0 Rebels will host Fresno State next Saturday at 2:30 p.m.