In the midst of some torrid September heat, Ole Miss christened the newly renovated Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and natural grass playing surface with a 38-13 win over the Wofford Terriers to earn its first victory of the 2016 season.
“It was a difficult week and I thought our kids came out with an edge as far as just to take control of the game, particularly offensively,” head coach Hugh Freeze said. “Defensively, I thought we did well early on, then they did a few things we hadn’t seen on film that we had to make some adjustments too. All and all I thought it was a solid effort.”
It didn’t waste any time doing so either. Chad Kelly threw the ball on four of Ole Miss’ first five plays from scrimmage as it tacked on three points less than two minutes into the game and then added three touchdowns in as many drives.
Ole Miss scored on each of its four possessions in the first half, and all of them after the opening field goal came on Chad Kelly touchdown passes. The first to Markell Pack, the next to true freshman D.K. Metcalf and the last coming on a slant to Quincy Adeboyejo. Kelly finished 20-27 for 219 yards and the three scores. He did not turn the ball over either.
“That’s the best way to play football,” Kelly said. “Coach (Dan) Werner was harping all week on protecting the football and that’s what we did.”
The teams got an extended breather at the half as 30 minute a weather delay halted play. Ole Miss opened the half with an eight-play 77-yard drive capped off by Jason Pellerin plunging three yards forward into the end zone for his first career touchdown as a Rebel.
A looming question all week was whether or not redshirt freshman quarterback Shea Patterson would see action if Ole Miss got a big lead. He did take a snap in the game.
“Again it’s week to week,” Freeze said. “I sit down every week and have a conversation with him. He’s certainly talented enough to play. We discussed it this week and playing him in mop up duty probably isn’t the smartest thing at this juncture.”
Pellerin relieved Kelly of his duties midway through the fourth quarter. He ran for a score and then threw his first career touchdown pass to A.J. Brown on a back shoulder fade.
“I thought he was pretty solid. I thought he finished runs forward, which is very important for us in short yardage,” Freeze said. “Thought the touchdown he threw to A.J. that was a corner fire, that wasn’t a pass play it was a run play and he saw that and didn’t hesitate.”
Ole Miss was hampered with injuries again as Metcalf left the game in the second quarter with an apparent foot injury. Freeze said after the game that Metcalf broke his foot, and with a possible redshirt still in play, it is unlikely that he will return to the field this season.
“Some of those guys that have been here have to step up,” Kelly said. “(Damore’ea) Stringfellow, Quincy all those guys. They’re ready to go. It just gives them another option to be in there.”
Victor Evans was shaken up on a kickoff and left the game with a head injury. Freeze said there was no update on his status.
Ole Miss (1-1) finished with 416 yards of total offense, 174 of which came on the ground.
“The first game it was my fault because I thought we didn’t call enough, this game I saw the stats and we were averaging five yards per carry,” offensive coordinator Dan Werner said. “They guys run a run-stopping type of defense, so the fact that we got a bunch of yards, we were pretty good with it today.”
The Rebels take on #1 Alabama next week at home.
